Google Voice aka GV

Google continues to move forward with innovations regardless of hurdles.  Google has been busy sending out millions of free invites for its Google Voice (GV) service and released related applications for Andriod and Blackberry phones.  Its iPhone application for GV was rejected by Apple. Google will continue its development on making its web version of the application compatible with iPhone.  For those of you unfamiliar with GV, it is a VOIP (voice over IP) service that is free with free unlimited SMS, free unlimited calling within the US combined with free transcription and a host of other services.  As is typical of VOIP services, it works on top of a data connection so, if you have a cell phone with unlimited data connection, you could run the GV client and make your calls or send/receive SMS – free.  Something, that your friendly cell phone provider would rather that you did not have.  Plus, the calling rates for international calls are pennies versus dollars – comparing cell phone provider international charges per minute versus VOIP provider international charges.  In the longer term, Apple is going to pucker up and make out with Google.  Especially, now that Yahoo and Microsoft have inked a 10 year deal. If that is not incentive enough, the FCC just sent out letters asking Apple as to why it rejected the GV client along with a host of other questions. This does not bode well for Apple given that the senate and FCC are already looking into whether it is detrimental for consumers for cell phone providers to have exclusive agreements with manufacturers.

Lot of you may have been introduced to VOIP with Vonage. VOIP.com offers identical service as Vonage but, at a lower cost and with more options.  Zoho.com is a competitor for Google in the online applications arena.  So, I would not be surprised to soon see zoho launch its own VOIP.