New Google App Offers Voice Telecom Features

Apparently having conquered the Web search and advertising fields, Google is now attempting to improve your telephone service with the new Google Voice service. Several of the features might be applicable to the operation of a comm center, although perhaps not for critical operations. Available only by invitation in its early stages, GV will assign you a new telephone number (most area codes are represented) to become your new one point of contact. You can then log into your account with a Web browser and completely configure what happens when someone dials that number, including the presence and content of a recorded greeting, what other cellular or wired telephones will ring, and how voicemail is recorded. You can be notified as someone is leaving a greeting, and you can listen in to hear what they say, and chose to immediately accept the call. Once the voicemail message is left, you can have GV notify you by e-mail or SMS message, and have GV convert the message to text. There are tons of other features that will excite your imagination. Surf here for more information about the service and to sign up to receive an invitation. [By the way, there are several companies offering various roll-your-own telephony applications, including in-bound and out-bound phone lines, custom call handling and no-contract pricing. Check Twilio.]