# Google Voice invite **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131 "2009-07-06T22:04:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/1 "2009-07-06T22:04:34Z")
I received a [GV invite](http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html#)today but never heard of it before the invite came, I signed up mainly for the idea of one phone number for both my home and cell. Has anyone else used it, and if so is it any good? It seems to have lots of features and was wondering if anyone with more computer savvy has any thoughts on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/2 "2009-07-06T22:08:09Z")
Moved from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion. \*\* Gfactor\*\* General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/3 "2009-07-06T23:51:47Z")
It’s a very cool idea but its plagued by a lot of technical problems. It quite often fails to pull calls back from the various numbers it has forwarded them to meaning that voice-mails get left god-knows-where and often cut off. It’s been a very frustrating period of adoption. Also, the speech to text translation is virtually worthless, correctly translating less than about one in three words. That said, it’s very much my preferred way to deal with SMS’s, it can save you a fair amount of money if you forward it to something like Skype and use your cell phone a minimal amount. In retrospect, I wouldn’t rush to adopt it just yet if you are satisfied with your current telephone service. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/4 "2009-07-06T23:58:36Z")
A friend used to have the service Google bought and is turning into this. She was very excited to see it happening and sent me an invite. I have no idea what I would use it for. ---
**Author:** ![akwally1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akwally1/32/3220_2.png) [@akwally1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akwally1)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/5 "2009-07-07T01:30:03Z")
How’d you end up with an invite, any ideas? I signed up on the website but who knows how long until they get around to signing up the general public. If anyone has an invite available, let me know, I’d love to get a signup. And will forever speak of you in hushed and awed tones. Mark ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/6 "2009-07-07T01:37:24Z")
No, not a clue why they sent me one, I have a Gmail account but that is not the address they sent the invite to. Like i said I never heard of it till I got the invite ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/7 "2009-07-07T01:44:00Z")
I’m using it and I love it. I haven’t had any of the problems with it not stopping ringing devices as threemae mentions. I agree the speech to text transcription of voice mails needs work, but most of the ones I got were understandable enough to get the gist of it before I listened to it. And I have no doubt it will improve. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/8 "2009-07-07T01:59:17Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I’m using it and I love it. I haven’t had any of the problems with it not stopping ringing devices as threemae mentions. I agree the speech to text transcription of voice mails needs work, but most of the ones I got were understandable enough to get the gist of it before I listened to it. And I have no doubt it will improve. I’m with **Revtim** - I have not experienced what **threemae** mentions. I guess I’m not even sure what’s meant by “It quite often fails to pull calls back from the various numbers it has forwarded them to meaning that voice-mails get left god-knows-where and often cut off.” Voice mails get left on Google voice, and I get an email & an SMS telling me I have a voice mail. The email includes a transcript, which is so-so but is getting better, and there’s a link to click to listen to it so any ambiguity can be resolved. As far as I know, I’ve yet to miss a voice mail. I’ve been using it as my primary work phone number, and it’s been great - very nice to have Skype, my cell phone, and my home phone ring all the time, so even if I’m downstairs fixing a sandwich I know if a work call comes in. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/9 "2009-07-07T03:27:29Z")
I’ve been using it since the Google acquisition (it was called Grand Central at the time), and I think it’s great. I actually find the voicemail transcription to be excellent, considering what it’s doing. I just peeked at the last ten voicemails I’ve received, and I’d estimate that it correctly (or almost correctly) transcribed upwards of 75% of the words. More than enough to understand the message. Even 50% would be plenty to get the gist and know whether it’s something that needs immediate attention. I really hate voicemail, so this is great for me. It turns voicemail into an email (and SMS) message. I don’t use it as my main phone number, but I’ve received a lot of calls there, and I’ve never had any major issues in the roughly two years I’ve been using the service. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/10 "2009-07-07T04:29:34Z")
Yep I’ve been using it since it was Grand Central. I do laugh at the voice mail transcriptions but I have an idea of the general jist of the message. I give it out if I have the concern that I’m going to want to be able to block the caller in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/11 "2009-07-07T05:33:05Z")
I don’t think I have much use for it right now, but I’ve applied for a job where it could be very handy. If anyone has an invite, I’d appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/12 "2009-07-07T17:56:00Z")
I’ve been using it for about 2 years and really like it. If GC had become a fee-based service, I would have likely paid, I liked it that much. I was upgraded to Google Voice about 6 months ago. I like it even more now that SMS is possible and all of my contacts are in one place. Transcription isn’t great, but it’s kinda neat and I actually get a kick out of reading them. I often get voicemails intended for both myself and my husband, so I like that I can just forward them as an email to him. Love that I can block telemarketers and choose who can reach me where - work, cell, Gizmo. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/13 "2009-07-08T08:24:17Z")
Very cool idea. Thanks for the link - I registered for an invite. Anyone know how this works for calls from Europe? I get many calls from Germany, and wonder if they will pay the same as for a regular call - my guess is yes, but just wanted to make sure they won’t be charged for some kind of mobile phone fee or something. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/14 "2009-07-08T19:03:13Z")
I’ll pipe up as another person who’d love an invite, if anyone has one they’re not using. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-voice-invite/502131/15 "2009-07-10T00:10:39Z")
I was talking about GV with somebody (an interviewer, as it happens), and he raised a good point I hadn’t really thought of: privacy. Now Google not only has my email, it has my voicemails and a record of my phone calls. That is something to think about.