Google Introduces Google Voice

After much anticipation, Google is introducing Google Voice. Google Voice is made possible because of Google’s 2007 acquisition of GrandCentral, a phone service that aggregates mobile, office and home phone numbers to one location.

According to Google’s blog, “[t]he new application improves the way you use your phone. You can get transcripts of your voicemail, archive, and search all of the SMS text messages you send and receive”. This is after Google’s work with voice-to-text and text-to-voice capabilities.  The service is currently under beta, but will be primarily free for users. It can also be integrated into Gmail accounts. Furthermore, settings are fully customizable. For instance, if a user does not want their voicemails transcribed, they can turn that setting off. How will Google Voice affect day to day phone use?