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: Free Google phone service


hk20000
08-25-2010, 07:17 PM
Anyone else received this new feature on their gmail today?

you can call anywhere in Canada or USA for absolutely free!! I tried it today it's pretty rad the sound quality is excellent and this will be so useful when I have to call USA about parts and stuff.

Totally wicked

source:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/08/25/129434615/gmail-users-get-free-phone-service-is-there-a-price

syee
08-25-2010, 07:25 PM
From what it sounds like in their blog, it sounds like it's for US based folks only. (unless of course you want to go through a US proxy or do something similar)

EDIT: I guess you just need to set your language settings to English (US) in Gmail for this to work.

tiger_handheld
08-25-2010, 09:21 PM
nope its for canada too. already make 2 phone calls using it

BaoXu
08-25-2010, 09:25 PM
WTF. I don't trust google one bit.

MWR34
08-25-2010, 09:35 PM
If you ever used goog411 that is also free. Just like directory assistance but they connect the call aswell and you can talk as long as you want. What they don't tell you is the free service is always recorded and used for voice analysis to create the worlds largest speech recognition database.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

hk20000
08-25-2010, 09:52 PM
ya man Google is out to make some crazy stuff LOL.

On new Google Maps apps on your mobile device they will do voice to text conversion (through sending the whole voice clip to their voice-2-text service and convert it to text) which I think they also store and use it to optimize their v2t technology.

It's quite amazing actually, how it totally caught my Honger's accent.

Let's put our RS brains together to find better use of this service, I have:
1) Call dealerships about used cars. Now they can never call me back and bug me now, bitch!
2) Call about random postings on CL about things in all 50 states and make epic lulz. Record whole conversation on computer -> ??? -> profit!!
3) Call your friend's girl and ask her "can I tap that"

What else do you have?

LanEvoMR
08-25-2010, 10:20 PM
nope its for canada too. already make 2 phone calls using it

I set my interface language to English (US) and it still doesn't work, i.e. I don't see any phone chat icon or anything :(

hk20000
08-25-2010, 10:30 PM
^ It's selective they are rolling it out slowly.

I have 2 gmail accounts and only 1 of them has this feature enabled :/

but it's damn good.

G
08-25-2010, 10:31 PM
Where is it on gmail? I don't see any icons or anything...

henry604
08-25-2010, 10:47 PM
^ It's selective they are rolling it out slowly.

I have 2 gmail accounts and only 1 of them has this feature enabled :/

but it's damn good.

How did you get it to work? I can't even sign up for the thing. It say's its not available to people outside the U.S

hk20000
08-25-2010, 10:49 PM
if you are chosen it'll simply have a word bubble pop up on the left side blocking your damn view of whatever you were trying to read until you take care of the thing and install the phone service add-on.

So if you don't see it, you don't have it.

TRD Rs200
08-25-2010, 10:55 PM
gmail is my main source of emailing, and I DIDNT GET THE MESSAGE? WTF

glovebox
08-25-2010, 11:16 PM
Yeah...why didn't I get the email either!?

TOS'd
08-25-2010, 11:31 PM
http://i34.tinypic.com/2wdc8ht.jpg

hk20000
08-25-2010, 11:34 PM
^ If you have that you lucked out. If you don't you don't have the service...Yup I just checked again only 1 of my 2 accounts have the phone service available.

Peturbo
08-26-2010, 12:38 AM
Just tried it and works great. Caller ID number i get has a 760 area code number.

TOS'd
08-26-2010, 12:42 AM
^ Yup

All calls come from this number 760-705-8888 Escondido, CA

cctw
08-26-2010, 12:55 AM
lol yay just checked gmail i got that feature too!

HonestTea
08-26-2010, 02:29 AM
Weird my old gmail account doesn't have a invitation but my new one does.. lol

RollingStone
08-26-2010, 02:43 AM
Please excuse my ignorance but I have a macbook and I believe it has a built in mic. Do I have to turn it on? And if so how do I go abouts doing that? Thanks in advance! :D

smk
08-26-2010, 05:44 AM
Please excuse my ignorance but I have a macbook and I believe it has a built in mic. Do I have to turn it on? And if so how do I go abouts doing that? Thanks in advance! :D

Should be turned on automatically once you start the voice chat
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

7seven
08-26-2010, 05:51 AM
Showed up on my gmail this morning but haven't tried it yet.

Mananetwork
08-26-2010, 10:48 AM
Didn't get anything :(

taylor192
08-26-2010, 11:18 AM
Is there a USB "phone" I can get for my laptop to use this? I'd rather not wear a headset, or use the mic/speakers on my laptop.

fsy82
08-26-2010, 11:46 AM
sweet i got it!

M.J
08-26-2010, 12:09 PM
Any way to get this service to work on an iphone?

$_$
08-26-2010, 12:56 PM
Any way to get this service to work on an iphone?


already asking the important questions :P

it will be implemented eventually in the future for sure.

and for those that havent tried,



look up google voice.

all these things will go together and take out lots of small companies along the way

J____
08-26-2010, 04:08 PM
i just got this option on my gmail. it's great! super clear!

from the looks of the uber cheap rates atm for other countries, I'll be using this over skype even when it's not free to call US/canada in 2011. 2 cents to call china and uk.... no more need for calling cards lol.

!oHenry
08-26-2010, 04:23 PM
I got this feature too. Damn, googles awesome

Liquid_o2
08-26-2010, 04:31 PM
Wow. My gmail has it but I don`t have a mic on my laptop. Gonna check it out when I get to my desktop at home.

impactX
08-26-2010, 04:58 PM
Any way to get this service to work on an iphone?

Most likely a droid thing...
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

pawdregry4g
08-26-2010, 05:22 PM
nice i have it too

Mizter
08-26-2010, 07:17 PM
Just noticed I had it and tested it out immediately. I called my dad and he said the voice was extremely clear and I had no problems with audio from my end as well. This is really convenient since I'm going to school in the East and will come in very handy calling my friends from all over Canada.

Hehe
08-26-2010, 07:23 PM
I got the offer on 3 different gmail I have (including my wife's mail)... I thought they launched for everyone in N/A... I guess I was just lucky

Delerious
08-26-2010, 08:50 PM
Slick I see it on my account, it's not very old or frequently used either

edit, tried it out, works great!!

G
08-27-2010, 12:02 AM
I just got it too! Nice.

Question: If I called, what kind of number will I have? Will the opposite person be charged long distance?

Oleophobic
08-27-2010, 12:22 AM
i dont think you are EVER charged long distance for picking up calls unless you're using a cell phone and are out of your calling area

Arirang
08-27-2010, 07:20 AM
Nice, I've got this! :D

TOS'd
08-27-2010, 09:07 AM
I just got it too! Nice.

Question: If I called, what kind of number will I have? Will the opposite person be charged long distance?


All calls come from this number 760-705-8888 Escondido, CA

glovebox
08-27-2010, 12:06 PM
VERY NICE!! works!!

StylinRed
08-27-2010, 01:06 PM
nothing new...

their prices for international calls are typical too services like 10-10-###??

JSALES
08-27-2010, 02:21 PM
that's some awesome shit

rsx
08-27-2010, 02:30 PM
http://www.google.com/mobile/voice/