Google Poised to Become Your Phone Company

[Pluvious]

Google is set to become your new phone company, perhaps reducing your phone bill to zilch in the process.

...

Google has reportedly spent $30 million to buy Gizmo5, an online phone company. The service is akin to Skype — but based on open protocols and with a lot fewer users.

...

It’s a potent recipe — take Gizmo5’s open standards-based online calling system. Add to it the new ability to route calls on Google’s massive network of cheap fiber. Toss in Google Voice’s free phone number, which will ring your mobile phone, your home phone and your Gizmo5 client on your laptop.

More at Wired: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/google-gizmo5-phone-company/

[Double T]

1. Google is late to the voip game.

Already plenty of reliable voip providers with extremely low rates and abundant features.

[napi21]

3. They may not be the first, but if their phone service is as good

as theur search engine, I'll go for it. I currently have a cheap VOIP but it's not 100% reliable all the time. We'll see.

[NYC_SKP]

2. VOIP was free nine years ago, it can be free again.

I was using it with friends before 911.

All you needed was a mic and speakers...

[Poiuyt]

4. We are living in interesting times.