 Tcomp
join:2008-07-29 Greenbelt, MD
| Game changer
I do view this as a 'game changer' because Google is bringing unified communications to the masses. It's a brand that everyday consumers know and trust.
'»telecompetitor.com/node/1139'
Skype laid the groundwork, but the Skype brand is still too "geekish" for the average consumer. Google will take this to the next level and will compel traditional service providers to respond. BTW, that response may just mean partnering with Google. |
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  sousademiami
join:2003-02-04 Hialeah, FL | Google
Once again proving that the prices you pay everywhere else are a load of crap. -- OASAASLLS |
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 me1212
join:2008-11-20 Pleasant Hill, MO | reply to Tcomp Re: Game changer
I agree somewhat. google is something every1 knows about and most people trust it, but skype has Opera on it side, so... it could go ether way. |
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  jjoshua Premium join:2001-06-01 Scotch Plains, NJ 1 edit | It's a nice service but...
I really don't use it unless I'm going to forward my calls when I'm on vacation.
I still need to have a cell phone and a home phone.
If google voice wants to offer voip service, then that may be a game changer. |
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 watice
join:2008-11-01 East Elmhurst, NY | jklfkjgdf
this is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Now I won't have to do all the work of setting something like this up on my own. Can't wait. |
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  tiger72 SexaT duorP Premium join:2001-03-28 Saint Louis, MO clubs:
·T-Mobile US
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | reply to jjoshua Re: It's a nice service but...
There is a LOT of talk in T-mobile forums about Google Voice. Why? If you use a MyFaves plan, you can set up one of those faves as a Google Voice number, allowing you to get completely free calls from anyone via your myfaves line and Google Voice.
So you may still need the phone lines, but at least it can bring down some charges on that cell line if you have TMO (or VZW's new myfaves-like plan). |
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 openbox9
join:2004-01-26 Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Tcomp Re: Game changer
said by Tcomp :It's a brand that everyday consumers know and trust. I don't understand how a company that openly admits that they mine all of your data and exploit it for profit is so well liked by the masses when those same masses are eager to point fingers at other companies for doing the same or less. Just wait for the day when Google becomes the new public enemy number one after everyone realizes that Google knows every single thing about them and every communication that they've had. |
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  nklb Premium join:2000-11-17 Ann Arbor, MI clubs:
| reply to tiger72 Re: It's a nice service but...
said by tiger72 :There is a LOT of talk in T-mobile forums about Google Voice. Why? If you use a MyFaves plan, you can set up one of those faves as a Google Voice number, allowing you to get completely free calls from anyone via your myfaves line and Google Voice. So you may still need the phone lines, but at least it can bring down some charges on that cell line if you have TMO (or VZW's new myfaves-like plan). You CAN do this, but if you get caught, you are violating your terms of service. -- for all your Linux questions |
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 Tcomp
join:2008-07-29 Greenbelt, MD
| reply to openbox9 Re: Game changer
You make a great point. Maybe Google's day of reckoning will come - but for now - they are one of the most recognized and trusted brands on the planet. We're talking everyday consumers, who probably don't recognize the issues you bring up. For Google, ignorance is bliss. |
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  TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to openbox9 said by openbox9 :said by Tcomp :It's a brand that everyday consumers know and trust. I don't understand how a company that openly admits that they mine all of your data and exploit it for profit is so well liked by the masses when those same masses are eager to point fingers at other companies for doing the same or less. Just wait for the day when Google becomes the new public enemy number one after everyone realizes that Google knows every single thing about them and every communication that they've had. Some reviewers agree with you. The ability of Google to now see all your transcribed voice mail gives them one more window in to your life. And don't forget all of this can be subpoenaed by the police, as well as by others in civil lawsuits.
»blogs.computerworld.com/google_v···_privacy
Lost in all the hooplah about the release of Google Voice is this disturbing fact: The service will give Google enormous amounts of information about the intimate details of your everyday life, including recordings of your voice mail and possibly your phone calls. Combined with what Google already knows about you, it could mean your privacy is at an end.
Google will know everyone who called you and when they called. They'll have records of your voice mail, and because they offer free transcription, it means they'll have not just the voice, but text of your calls as well. They'll have recordings of your phone calls --- and I would expect them to offer transcriptions of them as well, which means they'll have the transcriptions as well as your calls.
It already does the equivalent of this in Gmail, looking for key words, and then displaying ads based on those words.
Privacy advocates are already worried. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, when interviewed by the New York Times, has this warning about the service: "In the privacy world, it is increased profiling and tracking of users without safeguards." -- My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page |
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 hottboiinnc ME
join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH
·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
| reply to nklb Re: It's a nice service but...
LOL. I never seen that in my terms LOL. Did it for over a year. Unlimited calls It is a phone number and people can call it. T-Mobile says ANY Number ANY Network.
But then again I don't have them anymore since they decided to play screw the customer. |
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  dcurrey Premium join:2004-06-29 3 edits | reply to tiger72 You should be able to do this with Verizion friends and family plans or Sprint to Home plan? |
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  TheHelpful1 Premium join:2002-01-11 Upper Marlboro, MD | reply to TKJunkMail Re: Game changer
Google = Baby Skynet? |
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  DaSneaky1D one wall to block them all Premium,MVM join:2001-03-29 The Lou | "Google announces the release of the NS-5, the helper for every home" -- :: my trivial ramblings :: |
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 watice
join:2008-11-01 East Elmhurst, NY
| reply to hottboiinnc Re: It's a nice service but...
said by hottboiinnc :LOL. I never seen that in my terms LOL. Did it for over a year. Unlimited calls  It is a phone number and people can call it. T-Mobile says ANY Number ANY Network. But then again I don't have them anymore since they decided to play screw the customer. hmmm, think they'll block GV numbers from being added to myfavs when this thing launches? I guess only time will tell. |
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  sousademiami
join:2003-02-04 Hialeah, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to openbox9 Re: Game changer
I think you said why right there "openly admits."
People like to know what's going on, and when the truth is hidden from them their trust is broken. Personally I wouldn't want anything containing sensitive personal information going over Google's network. But at least they let me know what is going to happen with it if I choose to use their services. -- OASAASLLS |
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 keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01 Youngsville, PA
·Teliax VOIP
·WestPAnet Inc.
·WestPAnet Inc. CA..
| reply to Tcomp I do not agree Skype is too "Geekish" for the average. Many people I know, for example execs on the road in other countries, have downloaded and used Skype for years without my "approval" or help.
I never liked Skype. To me VOIP is critical when it comes to voice quality, without it nothing else matters. Skype never really had that for me. (I have always been on T1 or greater connections with QOS enabled, etc) I currently have fiber to my home and I prefer Vonage because of voice quality. To me Skype is MagicJack in a way.
I do think Google will take the product and do what is best for it. I see it becoming a way for not only the average user but all users to take advantage of. I cannot wait to give it a go/look and see what I get.
Off topic, sort of: What I really would like to see is a quality video conferencing part come into play. MSN to name many "free or cheap" services are what they are, just fine. But quality video calls are where is needs to be. I get a lot of crap for saying that but for those that travel with kids and/or need to video conference with employment, it is something that people have been waiting to see. Bandwidth now becoming in the range of video conferencing usability, I see it as a huge advantage to a provider. Example, my kids love to see me or my wife on our big screen high def TV and able to talk to them however ever put MSN on a big screen TV? |
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 BuzzDar
join:2006-01-28 West Frankfort, IL | reply to tiger72 Re: It's a nice service but...
why should i not be able to do this as long as im using a tmo my favs number or a vzw f and f number or any other promo on any other network. this is nothing new this was available before the switch to google voice. |
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  DataRiker Premium join:2002-05-19 Metairie, LA clubs:
| reply to tiger72 said by tiger72 :There is a LOT of talk in T-mobile forums about Google Voice. Why? If you use a MyFaves plan, you can set up one of those faves as a Google Voice number, allowing you to get completely free calls from anyone via your myfaves line and Google Voice. So you may still need the phone lines, but at least it can bring down some charges on that cell line if you have TMO (or VZW's new myfaves-like plan). If this is true, game over on my phone bill ! |
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  nklb Premium join:2000-11-17 Ann Arbor, MI clubs:
| reply to hottboiinnc From the t-mobile site, with emphasis added by me:
said by »www.t-mobile.com/templates/gener···sLrnDemo :*Your five numbers must be US domestic numbers and must not include 411, voicemail, toll-free, 900, calling card, and customers' own numbers; and single numbers allowing access to 500 or more persons. I am a t-mobile customer with a myfaves plan, and were it not for THIS PROVISION I AGREED TO, I would have added my grandcentral account to my "myFaves" list.
So TWO of those provisions prohibit use of grandcentral/google voice numbers with your myfaves list. -- for all your Linux questions |
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