When Google launched Google Voice working from computers via Gmail, last week, they revealed a new marketing tool in an old form factor, big red, Dr Who/London street-style phone booths.
The Google Voice phone booths will be placed in airports and colleges in the U.S. The Google Voice phone booths will let users make free phone calls anywhere in the world.
What's uber-cute about the booth is there is a phone with an actual dial (but with buttons) reminiscent of those groovy phone booths in Austin Powers movies. The date in the middle says 1957. Users pick up the phone handset, hear a greeting, then dial/tap the numbers and press pound.
The fact that you can anywhere in the world, will be boon at booths at colleges with international students. Call connections are not instant, they take a few seconds to connect.
In 24 hours after launch, over 1,000,000 calls placed from Gmail, Google wrote on its Twitter account. That'a heck of a lot more people than can fit into a phone booth.
These booths are glass with what looks like metal mesh for air. Therefore, it would be hard to for Superman to change inside.
Gmail account holders can receive or place Google Voice calls from their computers via Google Chat with a headset or microphone connected to the computer.Google Voice is an IP-based phone managing service that routes home, office and mobile calls through one phone number or Gmail account.
Google Voice features one number, screening, call-blocking, voicemail transcription, SMS support, conference calling, GOOG-411 integration, and call recording, low cost international calling. They also integrated GrandCentral with Google accounts and Google address books. Google reportedly will make their money from the fees for international calling.
The call blocking service, sends the caller "We're sorry the number that has been disconnected or no longer in service." There are Google Voice apps for many smartphones.
Users of the service can have voicemails automatically transcribed. Transcriptions appear in the inbox and are searchable. Transcriptions are also included in email and SMS notifications.
When somebody sends an SMS to a Google Voice number, that SMS will be relayed to each of the forwarding cell phones and stored in the inbox. Replies can be made from a computer or from mobile phones and the conversation will be saved in the inbox.