Call phones from Gmail

[Timothee]

The bridge that this is adding between Google Voice and the browser is really great. It really adds a lot of value to Google Voice, because you don't end up starting a call from your browser to then have to pick up your phone. You can, if you want to, do everything from your browser.

They put the accent on Gmail but I see the value more on the Google Voice side where your computer really becomes part of it by being an end point as much as your other phones.

addendum: in my personal case, this is a serious threat to my use of Skype. And I also won't be surprised if a version of this makes it to Google TV. At least, I wish it will: phone screening and conversations from your couch, easy transfer to other phones, etc.

[megamark16]

And if you have Google Voice setup to handle voicemail for your cell phone it will forward missed calls from your cell phone to Gmail before dropping them into voicemail. This is awesome for me because sometimes I'd rather answer a call through my headphones and keep my hands free than pick up my cell phone. This integration is definitely going to increase my use of my Google Voice account.

[jkincaid]

One thing to note: the blog post says that calls in US and Canada are free at least through the end of the year.

I asked about this during the Q&A (seemed like a pretty big asterisk) and they said they have every intention of keeping it free as long as they can, provided that the margins on international calls cover the expenses for the free US/Canada calls. Fingers crossed.

[ugh]

Wait, what? They use the rest of the world to subsidize their free US/Canada calls? That’s certainly a convincing reason for me (= rest of the world) to never ever use that service.

[snorkel]

Way to rain on Skype's IPO hype.

[bradendouglass]

Definitely a comment that is worth a prop. In addition, I am completely impressed with the lack of lag in the voice calling that I constantly have issues with in Skype.

If you could pick up in Gmail, have solid to no lag, Google could produce a podcaster's wet dream

[ebun]

Skype is obviously concerned but I wonder if this is also part of a longterm "Google Me" strategy against Facebook.

Facebook already has email and chat, so one logical next step would be video chat and then calls. People already list phone numbers in their profiles and when I look at FB contacts through their mobile interface, Calling is always an option.

This is, of course, just speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if both turn out to be true

[s3graham]

I suspect it was probably more like Skype rushing to get the IPO done after Google bought Gizmo5. They had to know it was coming pretty quick.

[shrikant]

Currently not for users also outside the USA. (I initially thought it'd be for all users, but calls only to North America) This is as useful as Hulu right now :)

[thought_alarm]

Well, I'm in Canada and it works for me; I just called myself. Google Voice [1] now also works for me and displays my call history, but it won't let me upgrade.

[1] https://www.google.com/voice

[ElbertF]

I'm in Australia and just called myself from Gmail (not free though).

[BvS]

I'm in Germany and I can see it, but it's just not working. I can dial but allways get the message that my call could not be completet (tried to call US, Canada and Germany). My fault, Googles fault or does it show up without working on purpose?

[ebun]

I'm in Japan and can see it. However, I also have a Google Voice number which was automatically associated with it. I suspect that may take precedence over geographic location

[Juha]

Yep, can't see it either (I'm in Finland).

This would be useful for calling my own phone to find it from my apartment :) (I dont have skype open usually).

[callahad]

I wonder if this portends integrated VOIP calling in Android?

[aplusbi]

I was really lucky in that I got a Gizmo5 account shortly before they were acquired by google. They created an Android app called Guava that did just that (limited to 3 minutes at a time unless you pay). It comes in handy when I'm traveling internationally as I can make free 3 minute phone calls to the US.

Since Google owns Gizmo5 now and I'm assuming that this new browser calling feature is a result of the acquisition I wouldn't be surprised if an Android app is going to be out soon.

[gvb]

I'm hoping so. There are many times when I have sucky T-Mobile coverage but have access to wifi (like when I'm in the back corner of our building :-O) where this would be perfect.

[RK]

I hope so for several reasons. One being that I don't normally have gmail open (I prefer thunderbird/IMAP + an XMPP app for IM), but my Nexus One is always on.

[pmjordan]

I'm looking forward to this being rolled out beyond North America. I'd love a sensible Skype alternative (I hate Skype's UI with a passion, and it drops my calls all the time).

[cryptoz]

I'm looking forward to this being rolled out to North America, which it looks like is a long ways off. This is fully USA-only right now and for the near future too.

Sure, Americans can call Canadians. But Canadians can't call Americans! What's up with that?

[johnthedebs]

I don't see this in my Gmail account, and I didn't see any mention of how they're rolling it out.

Any ideas as to when it'll be enabled for all US users?

Edit: Nevermind, found it.

"We’re rolling out this feature to U.S. based Gmail users over the next few days, so you’ll be ready to get started once “Call Phones” shows up in your chat list (you will need to install the voice and video plug-in if you haven’t already)."

[Rhapso]

Looks like Google Voice's integration of Gizmo5 is complete. And they they rolled out to Gmail which gives a bigger starting user base then voice would. I wonder what their profit angle on this is.

[technomancy]

Hopefully it's not complete until you can use the service from a third-party SIP client.

[andreyf]

I wonder what their profit angle on this is.

I'd imagine it would be to integrate voice into Gmail and Gmail into your cell phone.

[JoachimSchipper]

This moves Google one step closer to the telco's businesses. With all the talk of mobile computing, I'm sure they can do something (use it as a basis for a "Google network", bargaining chip, just make them nervous, ...)

[ceelee]

Like many people here, I keep Gmail open all day long -- so this feature goes a long way towards making Gmail a complete communications platform. Combined with browser plugins like Rapportive, the utility of Gmail just keeps increasing.

[pkulak]

What a surprise, it's not available for Apps users.

[BlazingFrog]

I wonder how long can Google pretend to care about Apps users. The Gmail/Apps fragmentation is rapidly heading toward unsustainability.

[cryptoz]

Nor Canadians. But these things will come, in time. :)

[ashishbharthi]

I think now Skype has some real competitor. This is also going to add lots of value to Google Apps product.

[sandipagr]

yeah it really does. I call international a lot and the prices are almost half for me compared to skype. So, if the phone service is good, I am definitely off from Skype.

[megamark16]

Because I have Google Voice setup to handle my voicemail for calls made to my T-Mobile phone number, when I miss a call to my T-Mobile phone number (or send it to voicemail) it pops up in Gmail and gives me a chance to accept the call through Gmail. This is awesome.

[levesque]

Now if only they could get us google voice in Canada...

[Bitmobrich]

So when will this make it in to Google Apps?

[iamelgringo]

I love the idea of Google voice, and I want to like it. I've installed it 3 times on my Android phone, and then uninstalled it.

But, then I realize that they already have my email, schedule, internet search and probably have a very good idea about my web traffic even though I don't use them for analytics.

I'll stick with Skype and Vonage rather than give GOOG access to a library of my voice conversations.

[Locke1689]

I wonder how it will integrate with Google Voice. Unfortunately, I'll probably continue to use Skype because Skype has a working iPhone client.

[saturdayplace]

I just logged into my Voice account. It shows I have a $1.00 calling credit, but when I click on the question mark next to that note, I get the following:

    Calling Credit shows how much credit you have available to make international calls from Google Voice. Calls made within the U.S. and Canada are free and don't affect your balance.

[mad44]

Wouldn't this improve the number of spam calls I get? It looks like there won't be any cost to the caller to place a call.

[nooneelse]

I would dearly love a "report spam" button for phone calls. But then, the land line which needs it most will be the last line to get it.

[RoyceFullerton]

I can't call my Google Voice number from Skype out. It says the number doesn't exist or is not in service. Is it possible that Skype could be blocking known Google Voice numbers? It seems unlikely but possible. Has anybody else encountered this problem?

[qusiba]

Anyone know if it's going to be available in Canada?

[oldpatricka]

I'm a Canadian gmail user, and I can use it.