Google Voice

August 22, 2010

Google recently launched voice integration with Gmail—users can make and receive phone calls from their Gmail inbox. To promote its new technology, Google is setting up dozens of bright red phone booths in airports and colleges. They're free, cool, hip, and retro!

Users will be able to send and receive phone calls over the internet which are linked to their Gmail account using their computer microphone and speakers rather than a headset. The service is even designed to let you ring multiple phones at once.

But before you jump in there.

Google is not just a search engine company anymore. The eager Gmail user is creating a phone book and a record of voice mails—not just an email contact list. Individuals, families and businesses should think through the benefits and potential pitfalls of accumulating voice records of private conversations on your Gmail account. Just remember more is not always better.