No, you can’t get a free Android phone, but you can get a free phone number to make free calls. Google never ceases to amaze me in its output of exciting new products, most of which are free. If you’re not aware of the new Google Voice application, listen up.
Basically, what Google Voice will do for you is allow you to have all your phones (work, home, mobile) route to a single number to simplify your life and that of your callers as well
You must apply and be accepted for a free Google phone number, but it’s worth the effort when you consider all it will do for you. I think it took about two weeks for my application to be approved. I don’t know what criteria they use, if any, but I think everyone gets approved eventually. I imagine that they just don’t want to swamp the system while it’s still in its infancy. Maybe Android users get preference?
Not only will it corral all your phone calls coming in from various numbers and put them in one central inbox for convenient access, it will also let you make free phone calls and send free SMS. You get email alerts with an actual audio and text transcription of incoming messages. Sometimes there are redaction errors, but it’s surprisingly accurate for the most part. Voice integrates seamlessly with your mobile phone’s address book
What I appreciate about the transcription service is that you can quickly scan the content of a voice message without having to dial up voice mail and listen to a whole batch of messages to get to the one you want. This service is a real time saver. If, for some reason, you don’t want this feature, you can deactivate it. You can still listen to messages, if you wish. The text words are highlighted as the audio voicemail plays. Of course, you can pick up your voice messages by calling your Google phone number.
Here’s a little video on how it works: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oFVXAqFNgic&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oFVXAqFNgic&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Another nice feature is that you can vary voicemail greetings to identify various callers. You can receive voicemail notifications as email or SMS or both. You can share voicemails by forwarding, embedding, or downloading them. Go here to watch videos of these features in action:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8727D4DE55C89E05
Of course you can give out your new Google number for people to call so that they only have to deal with one number for you. Or you can reserve it as a very private number you only give out to your best pals. On you mobile phone, you can switch to your Google number to make free calls and send free text messages. You can have Google call any of your phones and connect you for free.
On your desktop, you can log into your account inbox and make calls and send text messages as well. There is even an option that allows you to clip the HTML code of a phone call so that you can embed it in a Website if you wish to share it. You can block callers totally, which is really handy for pesky telemarketers. Or you can send the caller an email or send the caller’s message to another party via email (Gmail).
The program labels your incoming messages accordingly to type: SMS, email, voicemail, recorded, placed call, received call, missed calls, starred, and unread messages. Remember that all your messages come to one central repository, which is a huge convenience. You can archive and search them as you would emails.
Voice makes it possible to create and manage groups from your contacts file, which is another useful feature.
Call widgets represent yet another connectivity feature. You can embed a “Call Me” widget on your Website or blog. When a visitor clicks it, Google will connect the party to your Google number, and it will ring on whatever phone you designate, even with a unique tone if you want. Your actual number is kept private so the caller never sees it. You may create as many Call Me widgets as you wish, each with different settings.
Just as you can access your account on your desktop Web browser, you can do the same on your mobile phone by going to www.google.com/voice/m. It will remember your login information for future visits.
For Android phones, there is a free Voice app available that gives you instant access to all the features and settings.
Google Voice allows you to make International calls at a fraction of the standard rates offered by major carriers. You can also easily access Google’s Goog-411 free directory assistance, which can save you charges of up to $2.00 per inquiry.
Note that if you ever change your phone or company, you can take your messages with you.
Conclusion
Google Voice is a must have phone application that will put all your various kinds of incoming messages into a central inbox and allow you to manage them. You no longer have to go through the laborious process of listing to all of your voice messages. You can simply scan the transcriptions as you would email.
Here is a video that summarizes the major features of Google Voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HvRu9bVH14&feature=player_embedded
My recommendation is to apply for a Google Voice account at your earliest convenience. I am confident that you will be glad you did. You will be even happier if you have an Android phone.
This is where you go to apply: http://www.google.com/mobile/voice (from desktop). From your mobile phone, go to http://m.google.com/voice.
Best of all, it’s free, and it will save you time and money—a great combination in today’s economy!
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