Move Over Skype, Google’s Calling

September 8th, 2010 by Erin Posted in Stature Projects | No Comments »

Google Voice is freakin’ fantastic.

It’s better than my landline. It’s better than Skype!

Google added the free e-mail feature last week and it enables U.S. users of Google’s Gmail service to make calls from microphone-equipped computers to telephones virtually anywhere in the world.

And, all calls in the U.S. and Canada will are FREE – for now.

But, what is really so fantastic about Google Phone is…

1. The clarity.

Both my husband and I have placed calls using the Gmail calling feature and we were blown away by the lack of interruption and – more importantly – the clarity! It was as if were were speaking on a landline. Neither of us felt like we were on a conference call nor did the audio have that tin can conference call effect.

2. Its advantage over Skype.

The fact that all Google calls made in the U.S. and Canada are FREE undercuts the most popular PC-to-phone service, Skype. Right now, Skype charges 1.2 cents to 2.1 cents per minute for U.S. calls.

In the meantime, Google hopes to make money on its service by charging 2 cents or more per minute for international calls. Google’s international rate chart is posted.

3. Its services.

While Google Voice is still kind of a work in progress, the service allows most people to receive calls on their PC if they get a free phone number from Google – or if they already have one.

The phone numbers are provided by Google Voice – which, quite frankly, doesn’t have the best track record particularly with iPhone users, nor with available numbers. I have tried to get a phone number in my area code in New Hampshire and there is nothing available yet.

Despite my unsuccessful attempt to get a number, I still love the Google Voice service. It’s easy. It’s super cheap. And, best of all, it works great.

Nexus One may have been a flop… but Google got it right with this one.

 Tags: , , , ,

Leave a Reply




« 5 Free Open-Source Software to Consider for Your Small Business
Sick of Waiting? There’s a Text Service for That »