Use Google Voice from Google Phone Booths
Clark Kent has somewhere to change again.
Google yesterday announced Google Voice calls through Gmail. The idea of it is that if you're in an area with low signal, or you don't have your phone, or you don't want to incur expensive roaming charges, you can just log onto your computer and make calls from inside Gmail, using your Google Voice credit for international calls. However, what if you're not even at your computer? No, problem, use one of Google's Google Voice telephone booths!
Though phone booths are disappearing fast and most of us can't remember the last time we used one, Google is giving the retro idea a new lease of life by using them to promote Google Voice's integration into Gmail. According to TechCrunch, Google will start installing these in universities and airports next week and is hoping the novelty will encourage people to try Google Voice to find out how it compares to alternative methods of communication.
Though Google hasn't announced just how many phone booths it will be installing, they're likely to be a big hit based on the fact that calls inside the U.S. and Canada are free. I can already picture people queuing up outside these things, banging on the doors impatiently if someone is spending too long talking to their relatives in Long Island.
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Lets see, a free telephone booth, at public places like Airports and Universities, I can imagine ONE person talking on that thing for days. People are rather inconsiderate. At least in old phone booths you had to keep inserting change every 5 minutes or something (been a LONG time).
That said, this is nifty, but its only free for now. Obviously, Google can't keep this up forever, how will they make money off your phone calls, listen in and interrupt you ever few minutes with an ad? That would never fly. I imagine it will change over to skype-like prices. In the end, I find MagicJack a lot easier, since I can connect my phone directly to it. I don't have to sit in front of my computer or lug my laptop around the house if I want to make a call and move around.
Obviously, Google can't keep this up forever, how will they make money off your phone calls, listen in and interrupt you ever few minutes with an ad? That would never fly. I imagine it will change over to skype-like prices.
I guess you didn't read the article or didn't quite understand that it says, "make calls from inside Gmail, using your Google Voice credit." Since it's on one's own credit, it means it's not free and that Google isn't covering the costs but that the user pays in the end, not with ads, but money.
I don't quite think this program will fly since they'll need to make a lot of booths to cover any zones without wireless coverage, but Google DOES have a lot of money to make 'em. Will be interesting to try.
I guess you didn't read the article
Maybe you should learn to read before you post
Flaming aside, I don't see this as particularly useful as most people that travel have cellphones as do most colledge students, but hey its a cheap way to advertise and provides a service at the same time.
I guess you didn't read the article or didn't quite understand that it says, "make calls from inside Gmail, using your Google Voice credit." Since it's on one's own credit, it means it's not free and that Google isn't covering the costs but that the user pays in the end, not with ads, but money. I don't quite think this program will fly since they'll need to make a lot of booths to cover any zones without wireless coverage, but Google DOES have a lot of money to make 'em. Will be interesting to try.
not sure you read it either, here or anywhere else for that matter.
for the present and next four months, it seems all calls will be free. after that they wont be.
I'm all for VoIP services however I still like using a traditional handset and I'm not for having to keep a computer running to receive calls (thus nixing Magic Jack). Ooma isn't that horrible of a deal if you really look it over and see VoIP as a serious asset. With some minimal knowledge of your router's Quality of Service settings you won't notice the difference between a good VoIP solution vs standard land line.
When this becomes an android app, I'm getting a Sprint 4G mifi and connecting my Nexus One to it. 60 bucks a month for unlimited everything.
I guess you didn't read the article or didn't quite understand that it says, "make calls from inside Gmail, using your Google Voice credit."
Yeah, finish reading the sentence...for international calls. Maybe next time you'll try to not be such a deliberate ass.
Article wise though, I see no major negatives...Google makes money with ads to let people connect for free!
*wonders if he could take one home...*