Google Voice - Google re-launched its phone management service GrandCentral ( Acquired by Google in 2007 ) renaming it Google Voice. The service keeps most of the original core GrandCentral features and adds voicemail transcripts, conference call functionality, and archived searchable SMS text messages.

One of the core advantages of this service is that your Google Voice phone number can act as your master phone number - allowing you to program it on the fly to forward calls to whatever existing phone numbers you have.

Google Voice Features

• A single phone number to ring your home, work or mobile phones
• A central voicemail inbox accessible over the Web and call screening capabilities
• Blacklist and screen your calls
• Using Google Contacts, you can create groups and decide who can reach you, on which number and whether they are directed to voicemail straight away or put through to you.
• You can use your Google Voice number to send and receive SMS messages, which will be forwarded to your mobile phone

Google Voice is still in closed beta stage but the company expects to open the service up to the public within the coming weeks. Google Voice will be free to use and users will also be able to place free U.S. calls through the service. International calls can be made for a small fee (lower than Skype’s or your wireless carrier) with credits purchased via Google CheckOut. Also, Google Voice will remain a solely U.S. based service.

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