Google Launches Voice Phone Calling for Gmail
Is Google moving in on Skype's turf?
Google has announced that it has begun testing a web-based phone service that allows users to make phone calls from their inbox. The idea is that Voice users won't be stuck without a way to make phone calls if they're in an area without signal, or don't want to incur expensive roaming charges when abroad.
Outgoing calls made using Gchat will display your Google Voice phone number and international calls will use the same rates as Google Voice.
This feature is launched via the Google Chat panel, which sits on the lower left side of Gmail. To get started, check the box next to Google Chat in your list of forwarding phones. From then on, when someone calls your Google Voice number, Gmail will notify you of the incoming call and you can either answer, or listen in on the person leaving a message. It's rolling out to U.S. users first, but there's a chance you'll be among the lucky few who've already got it despite not being in the U.S.
Click through to check out Google Voice's international rates.
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in bahrain, and the netherlands and it works!!!
now lets see if this is a decent replacement for skype!
well the rates are a bit dissapointing....
(compared to skype)
In the US here, made a few calls and seems like the call volume is a bit low. One call cut in and out on me where skype is otherwise stable. Also after ending a call the dial pad vanishes and you have to close it and re-open it to call out again. On a side note it would be nice to see this added to the Google Talk client.
I like Google and it's services, but they need to work out the bugs (as usual).
Let's hope it remains free for domestic calls (US and Canada) after 2010.
is this free?!
Let's not forget to mention this is free nationally! Also, Dialpad.com back in 1999-2001 had free voip calling on their website but they eventually started charging.
is this free?!
If your in the U.S. and call within the U.S., yes.
I wish you could call my google voice number and it come up in G-Mail...
Also, someone needs to implement this in Android, as soon as yesterday.
+20 Thumbs up for the person who creates an auto kill feature for the spam bots. It's getting worse every time I visit Tom's.
I'm just waiting for Google to make "Google Spot". I mean, don't we all want to use GSpot?
guys..please dont thumb down the cloth website propaganda. it is soooo funny, probably a Chinese... but what is for certain is that its not American, despite the us suffix
After reading this article, I went and logged into Gmail and was presented with the feature, I installed it and tried it out, pretty darn good. I'm in Canada, so its not only US. And I will enjoy making free calls to Canada and the US, well until the end of this year.
I'm just waiting for Google to make "Google Spot". I mean, don't we all want to use GSpot?
Even if they made a GSpot, how many of us would be able to find it?
Even if they made a GSpot, how many of us would be able to find it?
LOL! I see what you did there....