Over the past few weeks I've been part of a test group at my firm that is test driving Google apps for business. While I use Gmail personally--and like it--it has been a whole different experience using Google in my day-to-day work flow. One of the features I'm particularly enamored of is Google Voice. The thing about Google Voice is that--like a smart phone--it breaks the barriers between your phone and your computer. Not only that, but it adds a ton of functionality.
The Basics
Google Voice allows you to sign up for a phone number in an area code of your choosing. (You can also port your existing mobile number to Google Voice.) The idea is to consolidate features giving you a single point of contact rather than having mobile, land and office lines.
This number can ring to any phone of your choosing or to multiple phones simultaneously. It also allows you to use your computer as a phone--even giving you the option of clicking on a phone number in an e-mail to dial.
From your account in Google Voice, you can select what times you want to receive calls, and use a feature which asks callers to announce themselves, then giving you the option to accept or reject the call.
You can also quickly send text messages to others using your computer keyboard and avoiding being charged by your mobile provider.
Voice Mail
It creates a single voice mail system for all of your phones, and allows you to receive messages through your e-mail or via SMS as text. This is useful when you are in a meeting and makes past voice mails searchable. While the transcriptions aren't perfect, they are useful enough to save you time. From the Google Voice site, you can also forward voice mails as e-mails to others.
Conference Calls
Typically, conference calls involve a host provider and a long process with access codes to join. With Google Voice, each person simply calls your number; you are then prompted whether or not to add them to the call.
Personalized Greetings
You can have different voice mail greetings based on who is calling you. Simply go to your contact (or group of contacts), and personalize the greeting. This allows you to use a single number for personal and professional use.
Screening Calls
With call screening turned on, you can accept calls or send them to voice mail. You can even listen to the message and "pick up" just like people once did with the old answering machines.
International Calls
Many countries are just pennies per minute. You initiate the call from your web browser. Click the call button in the top left corner of your account and enter a contact's name or phone number. When it connects, Google Voice will call your phone to initiate the call.
Mobile Apps
Mobile apps for iPhone, Blackberry and Android give a visual exploration of Google voice. Calls made from the Google voice ap show as your Google number.
