Comments on: How Google Voice Could Change Communication

By: Simon Mackie

Simon Mackie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:44:15 +0000

You’re right – phone numbers are archaic. A contacts system where I just have one contact and can just select how I want to get in touch with them (email, voice, SMS, twitter, whatever) and then the system figures out how to reach them makes much more sense.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:19:33 +0000

Thanks Mike. I agree that Google Voice is under-hyped, but I think that will change dramatically as the service continues to roll out. Since it was essentially only used by old Grand Central members up until recently, I don’t think Google wanted to hype it. Now that they’re opening up the floodgates, the hype should be building and awareness raised.

Google’s service integration is a huge value-add, and not just for the Voice product. As standalone services, each might be mediocre compared to some other competing services. At risk of using a word from my post, it’s the synergy of Google’s services that make the group of them worth more collectively than individually.

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:50:48 +0000

Google Voice is fairly under-hyped, IMO, which is strange given its a Google app. The app is possibly the most disruptive app to hit voice since Skype, which is saying alot. Integration with other Google apps makes it more powerful, and the feature-set on Google voice itself is very impressive (my favorite is transcription – even though it still clearly needs work).

Great analysis, Kevin!