Google Voice - Get cheap Pay as You Go phone calls in the UK

Posted in google

Although the United States have had this little service for while, the UK has just had its taster of the new Gmail service called Google Voice. Users can now make free calls to other Google voice users and very cheap phone calls to both landline and mobile numbers (with no connection charges).

Google Voice has been a very popular service in the United States and Google have just launched it worldwide. UK users can now login to Gmail and access Google Voice features for the first time. There's even a new feature that allows you to make very cheap phone calls to both landline and mobile numbers with NO connection charges. It's kind of like your mobile phone pay as you go service but better.

Similar in many ways to Skype, Google Voice offers a pay as you go phone service directly from your PC. There's no need for a handset or any other additional equipment, besides maybe a microphone. Using VoIP (voice over IP, that's jargon for talking through the internet) Google Voice is able to offer high quality phone calls at cheap rates.

How much does a Google Voice call cost in the UK?

Calls to landlines are charged at 2p per minute
Calls to mobiles are charged at 7p per minute (Orange, O2, TMobile, Vodafone)

Don't forget that for UK residents, VAT is charged on all top ups to your Google Voice account.

For an up to date list of charges see the Google Voice charges page

More great features can we still expect from Google Voice

Currently, the United States have the full features list but we can expect these to come to the UK too..

Unlimited free calls and SMS.
Calling international phone numbers with rates from as little as US$0.02 per minute
Call screening. Announcement of callers based on their phone number or by an automated identification request for blocked numbers
Listening in on a live voice mail message before deciding to take the call
Blocking calls from specified numbers
Send, receive, and store SMS messages online
Call routing. Choose a selection of phones that should ring based on a particular calling number
Voicemail transcripts. You PC will read out load any voicemail messages online
Listening to voicemail online or from a phone
Notification of voicemail messages via email or SMS
Set personalized greetings based on calling number
Forward or download any voicemail messages/recordings
Conference calling (press 5 when answering call)
Call recording and online archiving (press 4 while on a call)
Switching of phones during a call
Ability to port your mobile number for a fee