Hangouts gets free voice calling, SMS and voice mail as Google aims to unify messaging
Google wants you to use Hangouts for all your messaging needs, which is why the company is now adding free calls and other Google Voice features to the app.
Hold the phone: Google isn’t hanging up on Voice in Hangouts after all
At last week’s Google I/O event, Google Voice news was noticeably absent from the stage, overshadowed by the new Hangouts service, which doesn’t yet support Voice. Hold tight, says Google, it’s coming.
SMS integration coming to Google Hangouts. Will Google Voice follow?
The new Google Hangouts brings together all of Google’s messaging services and will soon see SMS integration. So where does this leave Google Voice in the big picture?
The perfect murder: How Facebook will kill the phone as we know it
Facebook jumped into an already crowded VoIP market with the update of its Messenger app last week. Robert Gaal, of Karma, says the company’s scale ultimately will allow it to kill off the phone.
In new era, operators scorn over-the-top services at their peril
Consumers are gravitating to an ever expanding array of OTT services – much to the chagrin of telecom operators. Andreas Bernström, CEO of Rebtel, argues that not partnering up means missing out on big revenues and the control of their market.
Google Voice can now boot unknown callers to oblivion (or VM)
Google Voice gained new calling features giving users more control over incoming calls. While you could always customize ringtones or actions, you could only do so for known callers. Google Voice can now handle custom actions for people in your address book and for anonymous callers.
Google Voice VM now part of Android’s phone app
Google Voice on Android 4.0 devices gained a software update on Thursday, allowing users to listen to their Google voicemail directly in the native phone app. This type of integration is unlikely to appear on competing platforms, giving Android a potential differentiator.
Random startups are eating almost $14B in operator sales
Viber. WhatsApp. Google Voice. These services are alternative ways to send IMs or speak across mobile platforms and are challenging the mobile carriers at their own game. In the last year, these apps and more familiar services helped cut $13.9 billion in operator revenue.
Rogers’ new One Number: Is this the future of telco voice?
It was only a matter of time before a major operator abandoned its territorial notions about mobile voice and adopted a true ‘softphone’ service, and that operator appears to be Rogers Communications. It’s severing the bond between the mobile phone number and the mobile phone.
Quick tip: Use a Bluetooth headset with your iPad for making calls
Previously, we told you how you can use your iPad as a telephone. Using a Bluetooth headset with your iPad makes that idea even more practical. The Jawbone ERA is the one I happen to use, but others should work just as well.