Neat technology

[jenett]

So, Google Voice finally got to the point of being able to link an existing phone number with their service. I have set it up so that if someone calls my cell phone number, Google Voice sends me an email with what the voice mail message says (the transcriptions can be amusing, but the ones I've gotten so far, I can at least figure out what the call's about.) I can also play it online if I'd rather.

Since this is me, and I hate being disturbed by the phone ringing, this is lovely - I'm almost always near email if I'm awake, and this way I don't have to dig the phone out, listen to the message, and then call someone back: I can just look at my email, decide if it needs an immediate response or what, and get on with my life. Also really handy during the workday, when I don't answer my cell phone.

(This is, incidentally, how I knew the doctor's office called this morning and could call them back promptly.)

There are also options to send a transcript of the phone to SMS, or to have different messages play depending on who calls you. (I intend to play with this one sometime, so that people who know me through Pagan stuff get the "Hi, this is Jenett" rather than "Hi, this is [legal name]" The accessibility benefits are also pretty substantial.

I've got a couple of Google Voice invites if anyone wants them. (Two, I think).

Comments

[unexpected_finn]

That's interesting -- if you still have an invite, I'd love to give it a try.

[jenett]

Sent to your DW address - let me know if it doesn't get through, and we'll work something else out.

[unexpected_finn]

Hi, it didn't get through (but that doesn't much surprise me -- nothing surprises me on the Internet any more. ^_^

Plan B?

[jenett]

Bounce me an email you'd be okay getting an email such as this at?

jenett@livejournal.com or jenettsilver@gmail.com both reach me easily - pick whichever makes you happy.

[finch]

Ooh, I didn't know Voice could do that now. I'll have to play with it again.

[jenett]

I was waiting for it to be able to take other numbers. But yes. It's way cool. (And it worked again tonight: I got to call someone back about house cleaning without it being disruptive. Yay for living in the future.)

[aedifica]

That sounds pretty cool! I'm interested if you still have an invitation left.

[herbgurl82.livejournal.com]

I don't want an invite, (I don't have Net access at work (which is when I have my cell phone on me, so its' not practical) but I just wanted to say that sounds really nifty.

[zestfive.livejournal.com]

I'd take an invite if you got it. I'll email my gmail address to you.