In amazing figures just released by Google, over 1 million free calls were made in the first 24 hours of their new Internet-based phone service. The Voice in Gmail service has only been available since Wednesday, and already more people are using it and loving it than were initially expected.
Voice in Gmail allows users in the United States and Canada to call mobile phones and land lines for free from within their Gmail accounts. While free calls are currently limited to domestic use within the US and Canada, international calls are also provided for a fee. While this is obviously a great service for US and Canadian residents, there is no news yet as to whether this service will expand across the world.
Along with free calls within the US and Canada, international rates have also been kept low to a number of other countries if dialing out from the US or Canada. Prices start from only $0.02 per minute to landlines in France, the UK, Germany, China, Taiwan, and Japan, with higher rates for mobile phones and a few other selected land line destinations.
In a recent tweet from Google “over 1,000,000 calls placed from Gmail in just 24 hours! Thanks to everyone using this new feature”. The implications for these types of online phone services are likely to be great, as the traditional telephone industry tries to make sense of how to compete with a service that is almost 100% free.
This new Gmail feature allows people to use a single number that can be linked to their other phone numbers, much like a single email address can receive messages from multiple accounts. Other high tech features include programmable time schedules for when you want to receive calls, non-disclosure of your telephone number, and advanced caller ID features through your Gmail account.
Using Gmail phone calls is a simple process, with Google Voice phone settings included on regular Gmail accounts. Calls can even be transferred between cellphone networks and Gmail voice, and Bluetooth integration means that you can even stay mobile while you are talking. While the free service in the US and Canada is currently only a one year trial, only time will tell how Google manage to monetise this service in the future.
