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Free Gmail Calling Extended Through 2011
In the 'spirit of giving' (and taking aim at Skype)
When Google launched integrated voice calling from within Gmail in August, the company tried to ramp up adoption by providing free calls within the U.S. and Canada for all of 2010. Several months later, the company is announcing that they'll be extending this free calling offer throughout all of 2011. According to a blog post, the company is doing this "in the spirit of holiday giving and to help people keep in touch in the new year." In other words, their efforts to take aim at Skype (560 million registered and 124 million active users) aren't quite at the level they'd hoped for -- something that's to every Gmail user's benefit next year.
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mob (banned)
On the next level..
join:2000-10-07
San Jose, CA

mob (banned)

Member

When will this arrive for Google App users?

Seriously, when will be available for my personal domain? I f'n PAY for their services, and I don't get it.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: When will this arrive for Google App users?

said by mob:

Seriously, when will be available for my personal domain? I f'n PAY for their services, and I don't get it.

Can't you just use regular Gmail to make your free calls in the meantime until they make it available to Google Apps users.

BigDaddyChud
join:2002-11-16
Gladstone, OR

BigDaddyChud

Member

Re: When will this arrive for Google App users?

It works on my personal domain, and 2 others I created last week for friends.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: When will this arrive for Google App users?

same here. But if you Pay you don't have the option for some reason. I know someone that PAYS for google apps but they don't get the option. The new "features" are hit or miss with App users.

duh
join:2008-08-18
Atlanta, GA

duh to mob

Member

to mob
said by mob:

Seriously, when will be available for my personal domain? I f'n PAY for their services, and I don't get it.

You may have to transition to the new Google Apps account infrastructure before you can get it. This is because the dialer feature in Gmail is intertwined with Google Voice, which is not available with not-yet-transitioned domains.

»www.google.com/support/a ··· er=72709

Ben
Premium Member
join:2007-06-17
Fort Worth, TX

Ben

Premium Member

They Will Never Reach Those Numbers

     ...unless they change their service so it's not necessary to log in via a browser.

In other words, their efforts to take aim at Skype (560 million registered and 124 million active users) aren't quite at the level they'd hoped for -- something that's to every Gmail user's benefit next year.

     I don't think they'll ever see the numbers that Skype has unless they offer a stand-alone application like Skype, or offer some means to connect to their service through a preexisting application, like a SIP client (a VOIP protocol for the uninitiated).

GlennLouEarl
3 brothers, 1 gone
Premium Member
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA

GlennLouEarl

Premium Member

Re: They Will Never Reach Those Numbers

I actually find using a browser interface instead of having to install another "stand-alone" [dedicated desktop] app to be more convenient, and the Google Talk plug-in provides all the control I need (for selecting the audio input/output etc.). The Skype client does lots of additional stuff that I really don't need. (And since I use Firefox Portable for my Gmail account and little else, it's practically a dedicated client anyway... but then Gmail is a pre-existing interface for me.)

David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

David to Ben

Premium Member

to Ben
said by Ben:

     ...unless they change their service so it's not necessary to log in via a browser.

In other words, their efforts to take aim at Skype (560 million registered and 124 million active users) aren't quite at the level they'd hoped for -- something that's to every Gmail user's benefit next year.

     I don't think they'll ever see the numbers that Skype has unless they offer a stand-alone application like Skype, or offer some means to connect to their service through a preexisting application, like a SIP client (a VOIP protocol for the uninitiated).

I wonder if they added the word "beta" if it would attract more people.

Selenia
Gentoo Convert
Premium Member
join:2006-09-22
Fort Smith, AR

Selenia to Ben

Premium Member

to Ben
said by Ben:

     ...unless they change their service so it's not necessary to log in via a browser.

In other words, their efforts to take aim at Skype (560 million registered and 124 million active users) aren't quite at the level they'd hoped for -- something that's to every Gmail user's benefit next year.

     I don't think they'll ever see the numbers that Skype has unless they offer a stand-alone application like Skype, or offer some means to connect to their service through a preexisting application, like a SIP client (a VOIP protocol for the uninitiated).

You can use an SIP client with a trunk from pbxes.org. I tried it for shots and giggles on my cell phone by forwarding my GV number to Token also. I changed back to my trunk using my sipgate account after the experiment was done. I use sipdroid, for those who are curious.

RR Conductor
Ridin' the rails
Premium Member
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA

RR Conductor

Premium Member

Wow, that many moths huh?

Many Moths ago, our caterpillars brought forth...
Ashtonford
join:2004-05-17
Victoria, BC

Ashtonford

Member

Re: Wow, that many moths huh?

google needs to get the voice quality up to skypes level then they will be a threat to skype. Just because something is offered as free dosent mean its better.

GlennLouEarl
3 brothers, 1 gone
Premium Member
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA

GlennLouEarl

Premium Member

Re: Wow, that many moths huh?

Nothing [yet] beats Skype-to-Skype [stereo] quality. Skype-phone, however, is VoIP like just about every other VoIP; I've had no problems with Google Voice/GTalk call quality--it's been very, very good for me. After all, it only as to approach land-line quality, and it does that.

JamesPC
join:2005-10-12
Orange, CA

JamesPC

Member

Re: Wow, that many moths huh?

Agreed, skype to skype calling is the best but skype voip is basically the same as google talk quality. I like google talk more because I can call from my browser on any computer with a browser (of course mic and speakers) and forward any calls to the number to any phone. OPTIONS

GlennLouEarl
3 brothers, 1 gone
Premium Member
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA

GlennLouEarl to RR Conductor

Premium Member

to RR Conductor
said by RR Conductor:

Many Moths ago, our caterpillars brought forth...


kpfx
join:2005-10-28
San Antonio, TX

kpfx

Member

Good, but still like a BETA product

Honestly I don't think they could charge for it even if they wanted to.

I've been using GV as my primary personal number for close to a year now and I absolutely love it. With one number I get unified text and voicemail to my office, cell, home land-line (old school), and even computer.

HOWEVER it still has some quirks and glitches. There have been several significant outages this year and major call quality issues at times.... meaning that I would never consider using it for a business and would take a close look at other options if I had to pay for it.

So I'm glad they're keeping it free again in 2011. If they shore up the quality and add some missing features (voice dialing, picture mail, call routing) then I would be very open to some kind of pay model.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Good, but still like a BETA product

everything is a Beta product. That way they don't provide support. Just a dead email address that you'll never get anything back from.
gruntlord6
join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON

gruntlord6

Member

It sucks

It cannot call mobile phones, and half the time it can`t make the call at all. Ill stick to skype.

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: It sucks

said by gruntlord6:

It cannot call mobile phones, and half the time it can`t make the call at all. Ill stick to skype.

you're kidding right?

firephoto
Truth and reality matters
Premium Member
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA

firephoto

Premium Member

Re: It sucks

said by AVD:

said by gruntlord6:

It cannot call mobile phones, and half the time it can`t make the call at all. Ill stick to skype.

you're kidding right?

They're in Canada so maybe they don't realize that this service is for US gmail users.
said by thefriendlyarticle :
Calling in Gmail is currently only available to U.S. based Gmail users.

vanDSLuser
from Vancouver 2010
Premium Member
join:2004-07-28
White Rock, BC

vanDSLuser

Premium Member

Re: It sucks

Except it works just fine in Canada....

teddy
join:2002-02-20
Kingston, ON

teddy

Member

Re: It sucks

Unless I'm mistaken, you can't get incoming calls from google voice in Canada. At the very least, you can't get a DID number because Google doesn't pass the E911 requirements up here.
vanDSLuser
from Vancouver 2010
Premium Member
join:2004-07-28
White Rock, BC

vanDSLuser

Premium Member

Re: It sucks

You can, it's a US DID however. It just takes a little geoIP trickery to get the number to start with (or in my case, a hotel room in the US when I signed up)

MyEye
The eyes have it
Premium Member
join:2004-06-07
Natick, MA

MyEye to AVD

Premium Member

to AVD
Interesting. I tested it on my own T-Mobile account across the room from my iMac and it worked fine, but when I call Verizon folks I can hear them, but they can't hear me. Otherwise, non-mobile calls (including more than a few conference ones) have been excellent.

PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD

PapaMidnight to gruntlord6

Member

to gruntlord6
I'm sorry, but what?

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

App Wanted

If Google released (and Apple approved) an application like Skype for the iPod/iPhone I would be on it in a flash. As it is now, I use the Google Voice application on my iPod to initiate calls to my landline.

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: App Wanted

WinMo has had GV integrated into the standard dialer for years now.

duh
join:2008-08-18
Atlanta, GA

duh

Member

Re: App Wanted

said by AVD:

WinMo has had GV integrated into the standard dialer for years now.

*checking calendar*

No, it's not April 1.

Care to elaborate? (In other words, "no, it hasn't," obviously.)

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: App Wanted

sorry, what I meant was that there are several WinMo dialer apps that can automatically dial through GV .

SparkDawg
Premium Member
join:2005-01-06
Ypsilanti, MI

SparkDawg to n2jtx

Premium Member

to n2jtx
said by n2jtx:

If Google released (and Apple approved) an application like Skype for the iPod/iPhone I would be on it in a flash. As it is now, I use the Google Voice application on my iPod to initiate calls to my landline.

Get Talkatone from the app store. You must call out on Gmail's page first ( but only once) so it can call out on Talkatone. No call forwarding required!!

duh
join:2008-08-18
Atlanta, GA

duh

Member

Google Voice and US/Canada free calling

Given that the Gmail dialer is deeply interwoven with Google Voice, this concerns me. Previously, the free calling within this area had been publicized as "permanent". However, an announcement that the free calling period is "extended" (even if the announcement refers to the Gmail dialer) might indicate that GV will introduce per-minute charges for calls to the US and Canada at some point.
dualsub2006
join:2007-07-18
Newport, KY

dualsub2006

Member

Re: Google Voice and US/Canada free calling

Google never publicized free Gmail or Google Voice calling as being "permanent". In fact, it was stated that free calling in Gmail would only through 2010. They have also worded Google Voice in such a way that made future billing a very remote possibility.

You are misremembering things.

duh
join:2008-08-18
Atlanta, GA

duh

Member

Re: Google Voice and US/Canada free calling

said by dualsub2006:

Google never publicized free Gmail or Google Voice calling as being "permanent".

Perhaps not, but my Google Voice account dates back to pre-acquisition GrandCentral. It was advertised as free US/Canada calling then, without timeframes on it.

rchandra
Stargate Universe fan
Premium Member
join:2000-11-09
14225-2105
ARRIS ONT1000GJ4
EnGenius EAP1250

rchandra to dualsub2006

Premium Member

to dualsub2006
Though verbage such as "permanent" (or perpetually, or whatever) was never included, nor were any time limits stated either, implying perpetuity. That is, none at all were mentioned until the GMail (or was that GoogleTalk?) integration announcement. I guess you might count me among the people desperately clinging onto the hope, albeit perhaps irrationally, that the announcement as stated means just what it says and nothing more...meaning for whatever reasons, only the GM or GT interfaces might incur charges at some point, but the other, previously established and used interfaces (e.g., the Web pages) will continue to be free of charge. It's plausible to imply when charging starts it will apply to the entire gamut of GV services, but so far I haven't seen an explicit announcement saying the Web pages I use will at some point no longer be free.

Of course, I guess you could say the same thing about Free World Dialup. They started out as free, announced as free, with no announced ending date for that freedom. But eventually, they instituted an annual service fee. I'm not sure what happened to them after that; I wasn't interested. But I think they differ from Google in that they didn't have a business model to support their operation. Google has pretty much been built on advertising and data mining, enough I would guess to support many ventures which do not support themselves.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Yawn

Take your pick: latency, disconnects, random disappearing numbers, lack of local numbers, no SIP client, no customer service, no port-in for mortals. All "features" of this wonderful beta product from Google.

Skype has major issues as well, especially the lack of a standalone product after FIVE YEARS, but the voice quality is decent.

Neither is ready for prime time.
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

slckusr

Premium Member

meh

If my google voice number weren't free I wouldn't pay for it.

Its been nice to have and works great as a hand out at the bar/facebook, or just general number to list or give to people you dont want to have your real number. But thats all it is for me.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Hmmm

Isn't this predatory pricing?
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: Hmmm

said by sonicmerlin:

Isn't this predatory pricing?

Only if you can show that Google's practice is actually driving viable competitors (Skype, Ooma, Vonage, MagicJack?) out of the same/similar line of business. For that to happen, I'd think they'd have to have an actual, viable, commercial product - which GV isn't. Without port-in, there isn't an audit trail of formerly-paid POTS/Cell/CableVoice services to tally and propose damages.

You'd also have to show Google's intent. And after all, we know they can't be evil.

Given the tenor of the current administration, Google probably has to worry more about their clever 3% net corporate income tax level in a 35% country, than they do persecution for privacy issues or anti-trust.
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22

amigo_boy

Member

Re: Hmmm

said by elray:

said by sonicmerlin:

Isn't this predatory pricing?

Only if you can show that Google's practice is actually driving viable competitors (Skype, Ooma, Vonage, MagicJack?) out of the same/similar line of business. For that to happen, I'd think they'd have to have an actual, viable, commercial product - which GV isn't.

Google certainly must be taking away free skype-to-skype customers. They're offering much more than communicating to users of the same system. (Although, I'm sure Skype is more reliable.).

magicJack's customers tend to be budget-minded. Free versus $20 for essentially the same service would resonate with them. MJ customers are accustomed to outages and quality problems, although things have been pretty good the last few months. MJ customers are also accustomed to non-existent support. (Chat support exists, but it's rarely highly praised. There are quite a few reports of people getting no help.).

I don't think I'd call it predatory. It's a different, advertising-based revenue model. Something MJ has said they'll implement 3 years ago (but still haven't). Nothing's stopping MJ or Skype from implementing advertising to subsidize the cost of their service.