CommVerged

There has been a lot of buzz in the VoIP and Unified Communications industries about IP video conferencing over the last couple of years. Much of the talk has been about video conferencing for business meetings and collaboration driving the market.  In “Niche applications driving video calling adoption,” Garrett Smith (Smith on VoIP) suggests that niche applications are also increasing IP video calling usage.

Smith writes, “it’s innovative video phone calling players like Skype and ooVoo that seem to be doing the most to foster new and exciting ways to use video phone technology. Introducing the technology to millions of new faces, in thousands of different ways.”   I agree that niche applications will drive adoption of IP video calling by consumers.  But, I don’t believe video calling will be widely adopted by the masses as a daily communication tool anytime soon.  Communicating via SMS, email or social networks is causing a decrease in telephone usage.  So even as IP video calling becomes easier and more reliable, people will be inclined to use it only in situations where there is some significant benefit to seeing the person on the other side of a real-time conversation.

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A few weeks ago I wrote a blog on why I was using Google Voice only as a spam filter.  I explained that I was impressed with the way the application let me control how select groups of people contacted me and how easy it was to block spam and unwanted callers.  I also expressed a desire to use Google Voice as my only number, so I could have this type of control with everyone that calls me.  But I felt I needed an application for my cell phone that could present my Google Voice number as the caller ID on outbound calls. This would prevent people from returning calls directly to my cell phone and bypassing my Google Voice call routing rules.  Recent developments lead me to believe that the mobile phone application that will allow me to fully embrace Google Voice exists, but it may require I change phones and or carriers.

Since I wrote my first blog on Google Voice, I have switched from a Motorola Q to the Palm Pre. I was excited to learn about a homebrew app for the Pre called dkGoogleVoice.  But while dkGoogleVoice makes it easier to make calls using Google Voice, it does not always replace the cell phone outbound caller ID with your Google Voice number.   The lifehacker Blog titled “Unofficial Google Voice App Lands on Palm Pre“ explains the application in greater detail.  Of course I could switch phones. There are Google Voice apps for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android devices.  Unfortunately, Apple recently blocked all Google Voice apps for the iPhone.  There are rumors that Google is developing a web app for the iPhone that will provide access to Google Voice.  But it is unclear if this app will provide the seamless intergation I want.  As for Blackberry, it is my understanding that the app’s integration with the phone dialer is not tight enough to seamlessly make the Google Voice number appear as the outbound caller ID on all calls.  It seems the Android app is the only option that would allow me to effectively use my use Google Voice as my only number.

So, I’m forced to make a tough choice; my Pre or Google Voice.  As much as I would like to use Google Voice as my one and only number, I think I’ll stay with my Pre for now.  I like it too much to ditch it for an Android phone solely to take full advantage of Google Voice.  But I will be disappointed if there is not an acceptable Google Voice app for the Pre  in the near future. Michael Arrington’s blog  ”How I Learned To Quit The iPhone And Love Google Voice” documents his move from the iPhone to an Android device to get access to a good Google Voice app.  It is a great example of how the availability of a powerful converged communication application can drive consumer behavior.

It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.  I wonder if Palm will make a fully integrated Google Voice app available for the Pre, or will they follow Apple’s lead?   Will Apple reverse their decision?  Will Sprint view Google Voice as a threat or a way to woo customers away from AT&T? What if Apple or any of the cell phone carriers launch their own “single number” application with advanced call routing features to counter Google Voice?  If Google Voice maintains its appeal and continues to add significant numbers of users;  consumers, carriers and handset manufacturers will all face some tough choices.

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I was excited when I finally got an invitation to activate my Google Voice account a few weeks ago.  I was not ready to start using Google Voice as my main number, so I decided to experiment with it as a spam filter.  I found this to be a great application for Google Voice.

There are times when I need to give my phone number to an individual or business, knowing that this may result in unwanted phone calls in future.  My recent new car shopping experience is a great example.  Over the course of a few weeks, I visited several car dealerships to evaluate and price vehicles I was interested in.  At each dealership, I provided my Google Voice number as my contact number.

If a car salesman that I wanted to stay in contact with called me, I added his number to a group list that is routed directly to voicemail.  This allowed me to get voice messages from him without having the calls ring my cell phone.  These voice messages were accessable from my phone or my gMail inbox.  Google Voice also translated the messages to text and sent me an SMS.  This allowed me to get the messages without dialing into the Google Voice system. If I decided I was not interested in doing business with a salesperson, I can blocked their number.  Google Voice allowed me to control how each dealer communicated with me, and allowed me to block their calls if they became spam.

In the future I may decide to use Google Voice as my only number, so I have this type of control with everyone that calls me.  But first I need an application for my cell phone that will present my Google Voice number for the caller ID on outbound calls. This will prevent people from returning calls directly to my cell phone and bypassing my Google Voice call routing rules.  I would also like to be able to manage my contacts and groups from my cell phone.    When that day comes, Google Voice may be the only number I need.

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