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Watch out Skype, Google wants in!

by Alan Petersen
16 replies
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Read the WSJ article (pasted below) about Google taking on Skype then today I saw this pop up in my Gmail:





I installed it and work pretty well.





Man Google is taking over the world.


By SCOTT MORRISON

Google Inc. said it was adding voice calling into its Gmail email service, enabling users to place low-priced calls to phones around the world.


The move puts the search giant in competition with Internet telephony leader Skype Ltd., which is partially owned by eBay Inc., as well as traditional telephone providers.


Google said calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year, while calls to other countries will be billed at rates as low as 2 cents a minute. The rates are similar to those offered by Skype.


Gmail users have for several years been able to talk to each other via their computer's microphone and speakers, but the service didn't enable them to call landlines or mobile phones.
But by adding telephony software to its popular email application and wrapping them together with Google Voice, a phone forwarding and voicemail service, Google will enable users to make and receive calls between their computers and phones. The service requires users to install a software plug-in.


Company watchers have long expected Google to jump into Internet telephony market. The company has since last year bought a couple of key voice-over-Internet Protocol companies, including Global IP Solutions and Gizmo5. Google said in a blog post its new service will be rolled out over the next few days.
#google call #skype #voice
  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Yes I am irritated by that pop up myself.

    Twice as irritated as I see my 'predictions' coming true - that Google is the new Microsoft. Putting everybody else out of business so they can have the whole pie rather than just the largest slice.

    I hope I predict the same anti-trust class action lawsuits cometh.

    ... and still waiting for Goo-Goo-Google Breakfast Cereal.
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  • Profile picture of the author webmojak
    this does not surprise me. I would love to see some serious companies emerge to compete with them in each market.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
      Originally Posted by webmojak View Post

      this does not surprise me. I would love to see some serious companies emerge to compete with them in each market.
      It's too late for "serious"....

      They should have started here...
      Google!
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      Professional Googler
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      • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
        Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

        It's too late for "serious"....

        They should have started here...
        Google!
        Well you never know. Most folks scoffed at Google back then and Yahoo was sitting pretty at #1.
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      • Profile picture of the author KathyK
        Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

        It's too late for "serious"....

        They should have started here...
        Google!

        Or here Not quite live yet...
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        Cheers,
        Kathy

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        • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
          Originally Posted by KathyK View Post

          LOL....I remember the first timeI heard the word "Google", snickering and thinking, "what the hell kind of name is that?"

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          Professional Googler
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          • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
            Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

            LOL....I remember the first timeI heard the word "Google", snickering and thinking, "what the hell kind of name is that?"
            Same here. I was like yea, good luck taking on Yahoo. The one thing of Google, love em or hate em, their stuff works great. I've been using Google Call and I'm liking it more than Skype and I've been using skype for years.

            I downloaded a CSV file from paypal, I was having a hard time formatting it right with Open Office Calc so I just uploaded to Google docs and boom it formatted into a nice spreadsheet without me doing anything but hitting the upload button.
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  • Profile picture of the author savingstuffnow
    I used this today. Its amazing, its finally a easy way to call anyone and everyone you want in the US or Canada. But sadly its only free till the end of the year, so make those phones ring guys.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Google is taking over the world. Soon we will have Google Laptops and Google network marketing.

    Tal
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    • Profile picture of the author reapr
      Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

      Google is taking over the world. Soon we will have Google Laptops and Google network marketing.

      Tal
      Well I am waiting for free Googlecast so I can dump my local cable provider. 130 bucks for just standard cable and broadband internet with no premium channels ... ridiculous. Mayby the will even throw in a free 52 flat screen!
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  • Profile picture of the author cbreceipt
    Thanks for the heads up. Will check it out. It will come in handy around Christmas time :-)

    Check out Google's growth
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_696063.html
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    • Profile picture of the author ericsaintjohn
      Glad they're entering the market... have you ever tried contacting Skype? Another "phantom" we do as we please and get back to you if we want to. I'm hoping Google has better customer service. Skype is something I love... but they angered me about a month ago when they just restricted my account for no reason. Yes, I got it turned back on; but I just hate feeling "at the mercy" of these companies you MUST use due to no other options. Go Google!
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  • Profile picture of the author I.M.Retired
    And to think Canada Pension just bought a good portion of Skype not too long ago.

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle1272492/

    Why Canada Pension would buy anything eBay was dumping is beyond me, but they did.

    This is very scary news for aging Canadian Baby Boomers and their pensions. All Canadians, for that matter!
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  • Profile picture of the author rashbis
    I just love Google, but isn't this feature just for the USA? I really hope they will expand to other countries as well
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  • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
    Over a million calls made during the first 24 hours!

    Twitter / A Googler: Over 1,000,000 calls place ...
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