G is for Google

Google announced yesterday that they would be moving forward with the plans for Google Voice, the end result of the 2007 purchase of Grand Central. The business revolves around the idea of a single phone number that is portable for life (much a like a Google account). The number can then be routed based on time of day or caller or even geography to a specific number of the users choosing, such as a mobile in the evening, or a work phone from 9 to 5.Much of the value comes from Google's presence in the voice-to-text analysis field after their iPhone app and GOOG-411 service which can analyze voice and convert to SMS or text and save for your later reading.The interface is much like Gmail, (so they say) however I have yet to get my updated info in my Grand Central account. Currently, only Grand Central users will have the ability to test Google Voice. As the service matures, the natural next step is the direct competition with SKYPE and other VoiP service providers.

The tricky part here is how Google will integrate ads.  That's their bread 'n butter, so will we have an audio ad at the beginning of our voicemail, and the service will be free?  Will there be a premium service for business that can accomodate all the SLA's required of big-business (that companies like Cisco, Avaya, et al must accomodate)