Google Voice is jam packed with some really cool high tech telephony features but here are just a few of the coolest features that may prove valuable to your business!

Note: If you haven’t already you should sign up for an invite here. I’ve heard that new users are receiving invites within a couple of days!

What is Google Voice?

Some user still seem to be confused as to what Google Voice is. Simply put, Google Voice is a telephony service that provides you with a suite of tools to control how all of your calls are handled. It is not a VoIP service so in order to use Google Voice you must configure your current phones to work with it. I use it in conjunction with my mobile phone and VoIP service. When placing a call you have the option of displaying your “real” number or your Google Voice number as your Caller ID. Since Google Voice rings your phones just like a regular phone you will be using mobile minutes just like a regular call.

Transferring calls in the middle of a call

Ever been in the middle of an important conference call on your mobile phone and the battery is about to die? With Google Voice you just press the “*” key during a call and all phones configured within your Google Voice account will ring. Pick up the new phone and the call is transferred.

Google Voice “Call me” widget for your website

This is a very cool feature for your website and I make use of it here at smartestgeek.com. When a visitor clicks the widget they are prompted to enter a phone number. Then Google Voice immediately calls their phone and when the caller answers connects them to you! (The above image is for display and is not a working widget!)

Listening in and call pick up

You can listen to voicemails as they are being recorded by the caller. You have the option of cutting in to the call at anytime by pressing “*”.

Voicemail delivered as text messages or email

Ever been in a meeting and get that call you’ve been waiting for all morning but are unable to call your voicemail? Google Voice will transcribe the voicemail into text and deliver it to you via email or as an SMS text message to your mobile phone. This feature is not 100% perfect but is definitely good enough and worth mentioning.

Mobile version

Currently, Google only has mobile apps available for BlackBerry and Android. All other users can access Google Voice mobile site via your phones browser: m.google.com.

Need multiple phone numbers?

Have more than one business or need phone numbers in multiple area codes? Currently Google only allows you to have one Google Voice number per Google account. However you could setup more than one Google account and have a couple of different Google Voice numbers forwar to the same phone. In the settings page you can choose which number to display on caller ID. Just choose to display your Google Voice number and you will know which number the caller dialed by the number that appears on your caller ID. When you answer you can still have the option of accepting the call or sending the caller to voicemail.