GigaOm: Google Voice for Android, Blackberry Could Cause a Shakeup
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This morning, reports that Google Voice is headed for Blackberry and Android handsets started making the rounds on the web. Google had previously announced that this was in the works, but provided official confirmation today, in this post.
According to the post: "The mobile application makes using Google Voice with your cell phone simpler by letting you place calls and send SMS messages directly from your Google Voice number. You can call from your phone's address book or enter in numbers directly, and your outbound calls will display your Google Voice number as the caller ID. You can also listen to your voicemail and read transcriptions of your messages." As GigaOm points out, some people may be underestimating how far-reaching this could be, with Google standing between users and their carriers.
From the GigaOm post, titled "Meet Google, Your Phone Company":
"These mobile versions of the Google Voice service will allow folks to not only manage their Google Voice connections –- to access and playback voice mails, send and receives SMS messages and read message transcripts — but also make local and long distance calls from mobile phones...The mobile app for Google Voice uses the regular PSTN connection to place a call to Google Voice, which then places a call out to the person you need to reach...The service needs a data connection but it isn’t necessary to have a Wi-Fi connection to place and receive calls. The wireless number you buy from the cell phone company becomes less relevant."
That last part may be very significant for many mobile phone users, including Android users. As Todd Weiss notes, it could turn wireless carriers into "dumb pipe" providers, and change the economics of mobile phone usage.
GigaOm points out that others have staked out a similar type of middleman position as Google may be asuming here, but notes that Google's size could help it swing a big stick. Check out more details, including a very good screenshot, here.
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