My Google Voice Invite Arrived!

I finally got my invite to Google Voice. In a word it is amazing, there is so much that it can do. The most impressive feature to me is it's main feature having voice mail sent to e-mail including a transcription. I hate voice mail dialing numbers, going through menus, and having to listen to a ten minute message to hear the phone number at the very end. This will help me stay on top of my message so much better. Setup is easy and intuitive and only takes seconds. The only tricky part now is getting everyone to start using this number. I think I'll stop answering direct calls and have them call this number instead if they want me to take the call.

Here are some of the basic features. Call forwarding one number can be forwarded up to six phones right now. Call connections, I can initiate a call on the Google Voice website and it will connect me free (in the US) to that number. Now when receiving a call there are some goodies here too.

When you answer a call, they tell you who's on the line. Then, they present you with four ways to handle the call:

• Accept it (press 1)
• Send it to voicemail (press 2)
• ListenIn^TM on the voicemail (press 3)
• Accept and record the call (press 4)

I'm going to start using the "Accept and record the call" option mostly with my wife. so when she tells me to do something I have it written down(transcribed) and if she tells me to do the wrong thing I'll have proof. I love technology.