nitzanPremium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
kudos:2 | reply to ConstantineM
Re: [General] Google voice going paid? Last I checked, GV doesn't actually offer VOIP service - so by default ALL providers offer better service than them. The only reason they are successful (defined by number of users) is that the service is free - if and when they start charging for service the grand majority of users will move on to real VOIP providers. |
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Reviews:
 ·Google Voice
·Junction Networks
·Callcentric
 ·T-Mobile US
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| said by nitzan:Last I checked, GV doesn't actually offer VOIP service - so by default ALL providers offer better service than them. The only reason they are successful (defined by number of users) is that the service is free - if and when they start charging for service the grand majority of users will move on to real VOIP providers.
Did you not read what I said?
DO YOU OFFER SMS?
Why would I move to you if you don't offer SMS? Which is exactly what I use Google Voice for. End of story. You guys live in your magic NA VoIP world where noone needs SMS. |
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cell14
join:2012-01-04
Miami Beach, FL Reviews:
·localphone.com
| reply to nitzan
said by nitzan: if and when they start charging for service the grand majority of users will move on to real VOIP providers.
I would not be so sure.
With a real CS and some improvements they could start charging and even with the current set up a 0.25c/min charge would be tolerable for many people. |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | I don't think so, but of course only future may tell...
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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PX EliezerPremium
join:2008-08-09
Hutt River
kudos:13 | We'll see soon, keep checking....
»twitter.com/googlevoice |
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nitzanPremium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
kudos:2 | reply to ConstantineM
said by ConstantineM:End You guys live in your magic NA VoIP world where noone needs SMS. I'd love to offer SMS, but it takes a lot more than wishful thinking. SMS-enabled carriers are very few (I can only think of one) and then they don't even offer it themselves - you have to go through another company to actually offer the SMS capability. Last I checked it costs a few thousands to setup and at least $1/mo extra per DID on top of what we already pay per DID, not to mention the carrier(s) who supports it is more expensive and more of a pain in the ass to deal with than alternatives. It's easy for you to say "you should offer it!" but are consumers really willing to pay $2-3 extra a month just to have SMS? you- maybe, but everybody? that's a risk I'm not willing to take at this point - especially not when there are "free" alternatives like Google Voice. Why would someone port their number over to us and pay us $7-8/mo for an SMS-enabled DID when they could do it for free?
You talk like we (providers) have this secret handshake where we'd agreed on depriving users of SMS. That's not the case- I've been wanting to offer it for years. When I checked multiple times it just wasn't economical. I hope it will get cheaper in the future, but that's not up to providers - it's up to the one company who offers SMS to VOIP providers. |
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nitzanPremium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
kudos:2 | reply to cell14
said by cell14:With a real CS and some improvements they could start charging and even with the current set up a 0.25c/min charge would be tolerable for many people. Real customer service? with Google? lol I don't think so. 
And if they charge it won't be 0.25c/minute - expect more like 1cent a minute or more, plus a monthly charge ranging from $1 to ??? per month - in other words, what everybody else charges because we're all dependent on the cost structure of telephony that doesn't change just because you're Google. |
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