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Google Testing Voice Calling In Gmail

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the can-you-hear-me-now dept.

Tootech writes "Google could be adding the ability to make phone calls from the Google Chat interface. Google is testing a Web-based service within Gmail that will allow users to place phone calls from their in-boxes. It's launched from the Google Chat window on the lower left-hand side of a Gmail page and allows users to place and receive calls from within their contacts through a user interface that strongly resembles the one used in Google Voice."

6 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Product merger perhaps? by dmgxmichael · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Perhaps Google takes this lesson from Wave's failure -- merge products together, don't dev them out on an island where they won't be used.

  2. Re:Finally by Superken7 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yep, I am still waiting for google voice to be available over here...

    I don't like it when they roll out new products which are only available in certain countries. Checkout (android paid apps) and voice for instance :(

  3. Re:Finally by Ironhandx · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Its great news, and it isn't.

    I for one use chat so that I don't have to talk to anyone... including the option to talk to the person isn't making my day any better.

    This is a very useful calls for cheap feature, but I hope they add a way to disable it. Maybe a sort of "mute" button but the mute hides your ability to talk to the other person.

    I know that sounds anti social, but I spend a good portion of my day glued to a phone for business reasons. I don't feel like being glued to one again at night for family reasons.

  4. Less creepy methods more likely by supermariosd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Voice recognition might be an option, but I think it's more likely that they'll get their revenue from charging for non-Gmail-to-Gmail calls (calling "real" phones) and attracting more users to Gmail (and thus Gmail's targeted advertising) with the new feature.

  5. Re:Open Handset Alliance by iammani · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Making a phone call from your computer has always been available using Skype.

    Available, yes. Free, no!

  6. Re: sound quality by TaoPhoenix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    However, I am faced with a total cell hole disaster on AT&T's network, so anything at all would be a quality improvement!

    --
    My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine