If you think Google’s services make your life easier, they’ve got a great new tool for you. If you fear Google’s control of your information, you’ll be giving this one a miss.

The new service, Google Voice, expands on technology from a firm Google bought out in 2007. GrandCentral operated what it called a ‘uninumber’, a single phone number which, when called, would ring all the landlines and cellphones you associated with the number. The idea was to cut down on confusion when you moved home or switched providers. The service also included a single voicemail box which you could call from any handset.

With Google’s relaunch, the service will now include automatic transcription of voicemails, which can be forwarded to your Gmail account. Both these messages and any texts sent to your number will be searchable in the same way as your emails.

The firm is also introducing free calls within the United States and reduced rates for international calls. It’s overseas rates will slightly undercut Skype on calls to landlines and save up to a third on calls to cellphones. The revenue from the calls is intended to fund the entire service, meaning there’ll be no need for advertising.

The economics of the scheme are possible because Google is using fully automated transcriptions, unlike rival services which employ humans to polish up any mistakes. Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for stories of amusing or embarrassing Chinese-whisper-style mistakes in the transcriptions.

At first Google Voice will only be available to GrandCentral customers. That’s likely to be a testing phase with an ideal audience before expanding the service, though there may be logistical issues taking it to other countries.

The upside of the service is that, from the date you sign up, you’ll have permanent access to the full contents of every message you’ve ever received. The downside is so will Google.

No doubt the firm will operate tight security and vow to never misuse this data, but there’s something a little creepy about the whole deal, particularly coming in the week Google announced plans for tracking user activities to produce targeted advertising. So if your wife leaves a message on your cellphone reminding you it’s her mother’s birthday, don’t be surprised if you find an ad from Interflora next time you go online.

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Entry was posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 2:01 pm under Uncategorized.

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