Although Google Voice is still a members-only application, Google has developed and released handy mobile apps for Android and Blackberry phones.

This is, perhaps, a preparation for the wild success that Google anticipates enjoying once the by-invitation-only Google voice is available to all users. Currently, only early registrants of Grand Central and Google Voice have received their invitation to join the service, though millions have signed up and are waiting in line.

Google Voice portends to revolutionize phone life. While most phone users juggle a home phone, a cell phone, a work phone, and a few phones in-between, Google Voice compresses all those numbers, voicemails, and other features into a single, one-number package: Google Voice. By integrating all of your phones into Google Voice, you can accept calls placed to any one of those numbers from any phone you use.

Ironing Out the Bugs

Google voice is a cool concept, but it was a little cumbersome. The original set-up required an awkward dialing process through Google’s online interface, which would then ring the person being called. All that was a bit much for those accustomed to voice-activated Bluetooth sets.

Now, Google Voice users are entitled to easier calling placed directly from their phone. The calls must still be routed through the online interface, but this streamlining feature eliminates the need for the caller to log on to his or her Google Voice account merely to make a call.

Another erstwhile disappointing feature, now corrected, was the caller ID frustration. While it’s wonderful that Google Voice bundles all your phone numbers into a single, customized number, those who you called would still see any one of the various numbers you use. If the particular number was not in their contact list, they may recognize the caller. With the fix Google Voice will now display your official one-stop-shop Google number to those whom you call. Thus, the extreme convenience of your single telephone number is a feature that your contact list can enjoy, too. The single-identification number applies to text messages, too.

Google is nice about text messages. For mobile phone users who are required to pay an additional fee for sending and receiving SMS messages, Google voice bypasses these charges, since the messages are transmitted through Google’s system.

Features, features, everyone

Google Voice isn’t finished. They have plans, big plans, for making Google Voice a dominant force in telephony. Soon, international calls, number porting and a variety of other bells and whistles will render Google Voice a service that is hard to refuse.

And…uh…what about a Google Voice iPhone app? Apparently, they are still working on that.

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I think if Google Voice is implemented correctly, could shape the way phones are used in our lives. Imagine the power of the voicemail, only being able to link it to the internet. It might not sound that great at first, but just imagine some of the possibilities.

Google Voice is only available as a preview through Grand Central, a site that Google acquired a couple of years ago. Here’s a list of the main features that Google Voice will implement:

“You can get transcripts of your voicemail (see the video below) and archive and search all of the SMS text messages you send and receive. You can also use the service to make low-priced international calls and easily access Goog-411 directory assistance.”

If Google adds email functionality to your transcripts, or allows people to embed them to a site then Google Voice could take off. I can see prank emails, where you hide the transcript code and scare a friend with a ‘Screamer’. The possibilities could be limitless. Let’s just hope Google provides these features.

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I think it’s official now, no industry no matter how strong is recession proof. As the job market continues to shrink, so does the reach of Google. It was announced last week that Google was suspending the hiring of around 100 recruits. Then, Google shutdown three of its offices across the world; Texas, Norway, and Sweden.

What’s even bigger news that those two bits of information is that Google is axing six of their services. Dodgeball, Google Catalog Search, Google Mashup Editor, Google Notebook, and Jaiku, along with uploading options on Google Video will all be discontinued. Granted, none of these services were the most used on Google but show the company is still needing to make cutbacks.

The Google Video decision makes sense, considering YouTube is owned by Google. What’s the point of keeping a service around that’s a direct competitor of something else you already own?

[via: Information Week]

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The first G1 Google Android phones will go on sale tonight, in San Francisco at 6pm PST. It could be debated that the Google Android phones are releasing at, or even more hype than the Apple iPhone. I guess it would all depend on who you talk to, whether or not one is receiving more hype.

Only one store will be selling the G1 today, with all of the 3G coverage areas getting their chance tomorrow. The big piece of news it the MySpace App that will come with the G1, here’s a press release with information.

LOS ANGELES—October 21, 2008—MySpace, the world’s premier social network and leading mobile social network, today announced a free, new MySpace Mobile experience customized for Android and available via the Android Market. More than two million daily unique users visit MySpace’s mobile website, and according to ABI Research 70 percent of people who use social networks on mobile have visited MySpace.

“MySpace users will love the new Android integration with cool features like instant photo uploading and access to the latest shows from their favorite bands,” said John Faith, vice president and general manager of Mobile for MySpace. “We want to ensure that all users have access to their global MySpace network while they’re on-the-go, and we believe Android is a natural fit for an optimized MySpace Mobile experience.”

The MySpace Android application lends itself to a personal, unique MySpace experience and allows for a deep integration with the device including:

* Instant photo uploading from an Android device to a MySpace profile
* Check out tour schedules on band profiles
* View and comment on photos, profiles, and bulletins
* Search and add new friends
* Send and read messages
* Update and view mood and status

The MySpace Android application is integrated exclusively with Shazam, the world’s leading mobile music discovery provider. The integration allows MySpace users to identify music by holding the phone towards an unknown song and connect to the artist’s MySpace page. From there you can see band information, check out photos of the band or artists and even check Upcoming Shows schedules.

“We are excited about this collaboration,” said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. “It allows users to discover music at the point of inspiration and benefit from MySpace’s’ unique and rich content.”

MySpace has a deep commitment to provide our mobile users with the social tools to discover, share, connect, and communicate on-the-go. MySpace’s mobile lineup includes the MySpace mobile website, http://m.myspace.com, and several integrated applications for specific devices. MySpace has developed applications for Android, Sidekick, iPhone, and is currently developing an application for Blackberry.

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