Google Voice is a telecommunications service launched by Google in 2009 that allows users to make calls and send texts from existing phone numbers or new Google numbers for free within the US and Canada. It offers features like voicemail transcription, call recording, call blocking, and conference calling. While it faces challenges from competitors and phone companies, Google Voice is seen as having potential for success due to its cost savings and managerial benefits. However, some view its invite-only status and recording of calls as potential limitations.
2. Background Telecommunications service by Google Launched on March 11, 2009 Formerly GrandCentral Originally founded in 2005 by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet Acquired by Google on July 2, 2007 for $95 million Google team worked on the project secretly after the time of purchase until the launch Added many additional features while still keeping the same general services previously provided
3. How It Works Google Voice can be used with an existing phone number or a new Google phone number http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
4. Features With an existing number: Google Voicemail Voicemail Transcription International Calling Notifications Share Voicemails With a Google number: One Number Free SMS Block Calls Record Calls Conference Calls Screen Callers
6. Additional Overview Inbound and domestic outbound calls (including calls to Canada, Alaska and Hawaii) are free International calls are billed according to a schedule posted on the website Currently, it is only available in the United States Rural areas within the U.S. are not heavily supported Invite Only As of October 30, 2009, Google Voice reported over 1 million users
8. Lowering Costs Cutting costs of long distance calls Free calls and SMS in the US and Canada International calls as low as $0.02 per minute
9. Managerial Benefits Voicemail transcripts. Reading of voicemail messages online. Downloading of voicemails. Call recording and online archiving. Blocking calls from specified numbers.
10. Personal Benefits Answering incoming calls on any configured phone Switching of phones during a call Conference calling Notification of voicemail messages via email or SMS
13. Tech giant Apple has already denied the usage of Google Voice because it alters the way the iPhone is used.
14. Google Voice must challenge with all phone companies for a spot in the game
15. Google Voice has already been looked at for hiding information, even though, it is not known what they were hiding.
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17. If you want to take your number elsewhere if you are displeased from the service can you take it? NO
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19. Google Voice Applications For Blackberry and Android phones GV Dialer- routes your call by dialing to your Google number and connecting you to the destination number. GV Mobile- dial, retrieve and delete recent call history, playback and delete voicemails take calls from different phones other than your iPhone, forward calls, etc. Google Voice Desktop App- quick desktop access to your voicemail and SMS messages.
20. Partners Partners supporting Google Voice, Google’s find-me-follow-me-help-me-manage-my-calls service includes: Level 3 Communications, Global Crossing, Broadvox Communications, Bandwidth.com, Pac-West Telecomm, IBasis, Neustar and Syniverse Technologies.
21. Competitors Jaxtr -first launched in March 2007 with 10 Million users Ribbit – offers Voice 2.0 applications Skype, Google Talk, & Developing Flash Apps RingCentral -small to medium sized businesses
22. Verizon Google and Verizon Wireless -ship Android phones together. Two devices coming this year where Google app store will come pre-loaded on devices and Google Voice will be supported. Verizon Droid
23. Likelihood of Success While there are still glitches in its processes, we believe that Google Voice will succeed Allows for companies to minimize the number of phone lines and improve sharing of information Positive from a managerial standpoint, because it allows a manager to more closely monitor his/her employees Very economically feasible Already, Google Voice has a large following, and its launch date was less than a year ago, and it continues to grow quickly
24. Questions for Discussion With Google Voice initially being “invite only”, do you think it creates more hype and popularity or hinder its chances of success? Do you consider the fact that Google Voice records and documents all phone calls and text messages would be considered an invasion of privacy in a work setting? Would you implement Google Voice in a business setting? Do you think Google Voice would be effective in businesses of all sizes? Do you think companies would be more inclined to choose phone service providers that are partnered with Google Voice (ex. Verizon and Blackberry)?
