When Google released Google Maps they almost killed companies that focused specifically on GPS tracker services. Now with Google Voice they’re directly challenging almost all telecommunication companies all over the world. The features of Google Voice is just phenomenal, awesome, and just mind-blowing. The possibilities this opens up for business and personal communication is limitless and I can’t wait to have it available here in the Philippines! So what does Google Voice do? Let’s go over them in this article.
Using your existing number you get access to a whole deck of services that will make life much easier. The voice mail, voice mail transcription, and the notifications (via SMS/e-mail) are really helpful in day-to-day activities. The custom greetings feature makes the service very personal and a whole lot more fun as well. What got my attention though was the low-cost international calling. I wonder how low cost this really is and what would make me use this one over Skype (since Skype is totally free). Another fun feature is the share voice mail. Embed voice mail in a site? Now that’s cool!
Those are the services that you get with your existing number. If you sign up for a Google number (also free), you get access to more stuff that you will just LOVE. The closest thing to all the hearts of filipinos has got to be this though:
Free SMS: send, receive & store text messages online
BOOYAH! This probably only works on Google numbers only but I’m sure it will only take a matter of time before people all sign up for Google Voice numbers so that they can avail of this. Having this option literally kills all the unlimited text plans being offered by local telcos (for the market that has internet access anyway).
The ability to record calls and store them online offers a lot of benefits but you have to weigh this carefully because there are a lot of privacy and security issues with this feature. The block calls is definitely interesting since you can now customize who can actually only contact you while those you don’t really want to hear from are automatically directed to voice mail.
GOOGLE VOICE PROMO VIDEO
To those itching to try this out, bad news. It’s invite-only and the first phase will only be for the US. We’ll have to wait a bit before they roll this out to the rest of the world but it’s definitely worth the wait.
Over-all I’m impressed and excited for Google Voice. This service will revolutionize telephony all over the world and I can already hear all the telcos starting to tremble. Because now it’s SUN vs SMART vs GLOBE vs GOOGLE VOICE. 
I’ve been waiting for this to be available here. Maybe google can buy pldt to speed up the process. just sayin
I’m excited…I’m excited to see what the local telcos will do to make sure they don’t get eaten alive.
Oh Google, how I love thee!
Not sure if this is going to fly fast here in the Philippines. Monopoly pa rin kasi ng mga traditional telcos dito. If I remember it right, VoIP is technically illegal to protect the traditional telco’s cash on international calls.
As long as google voice interfaces with the telcos to deliver the call, and as long as the way businesses are handled by the PH telcos stay the same, I doubt if it’s going to fly.
Hi Arnold,
That’s a very interesting point that you raised. Do you mean to say bro that there’s a law in this country which basically makes sure that consumers don’t get more affordable options for communication?
If that’s the case then that’s a very big problem that has to be addressed.
Not sure what exactly the particular laws — it must be something that goes along with the franchises (as approved by congress) of these telcos. Kasi ganito:
Sometime last year, I have some friends who were working for some fly-by-night oversees call card companies. What they do is to basically allow, say Singapore numbers to be called by people at Singapore (meaning, no long distance charges) then routed to VoIP, that then uses a local cellphone (usually Sun) to call a local number. So, technically, the process they use is Telco-VoIP-Telco. Illegal daw yon. Kaya nire-raid yon nila ng NBI.
But here’s what’s interesting. Pag ang telco naman ang gumawa nyan, legal. That’s why PLDT bought huge internet cafe chain (i forgot the name) which basically offers a more direct way to call people abroad through VoIP. Someone told me, too, that those cheapo call cards work that way. The reason why they can offer 5 pesos per minute call to the US is because they use their VoIP facilities to deliver the calls to the US or elsewhere.
In summary: if they are the ones who do it, it’s fine. If others, it’s illegal. So, in essence, if you’ll not get the local telcos cooperate, our dream of a Google-voice land is not going to happen
Thanks for the input Arnold. I’ll look into it and I’ll try to do a follow-up post when I get more data. I’m pretty interested in digging deeper into this but I have a bad feeling I’m opening a can of worms. Hahaha