FREE LONG DISTANCE

It may be mildly inconvenient to use, but the price is right! And in practice the free long distance is only ‘free’ from a landline phone (or perhaps when using a cell phone with a calling circle). OK, here’s the scoop. Yesterday, Google Voice was made available to the general public (https://www.google.com/voice/). Google Voice touts free voicemail, call routing, and ‘voicemail to email’ transcription. But it also comes with a free phone number and free calls to the U.S. and Canada. The way free calls work is that from your Google Voice account control panel (website) you enter the phone number you wish to call. Google calls your phone and the party you are trying to reach, and then conferences the two calls. Provided the incoming call costs you nothing then the call is ‘free’ to you, since Google has to pay for the call it made to the other party. And what if you don’t want Google’s voice mail features? Then turn off the call screening functionality. Note that I am not recommending this service; I am only advising you of its existence. But if you choose to try it, I do recommend that you read their privacy notice carefully, along with Google’s explanation of how this service works.