A separate phone number is essential for any home business, but now thanks to Google (again) you no longer have to pay your phone company a fee for a separate line. Google Voice is one of the latest applications the internet behemoth has in beta right now, and it is a fantastic tool for the home business owner.
When you sign up for Google voice (you can request an invitation here) you will be asked to choose from a number of different phone numbers available in your area.
Once you have selected one, this becomes your Google Voice number. The number is then linked to any phone, or phones that you specify. This is very handy as you can link both your home phone and your cell phone to ensure you never miss that important client’s call.
And there’s more. You can customize your message anyway you like and vary the greetings according to the caller. All calls can be announced and calls you don’t want to be disturbed by, can by marked as spam in your Google Voice control panel and sent straight to voicemail.
Any voicemail you receive is sent as a transcribed text right to your online inbox, which is a very handy feature. You can also make use of the Google Voice Listenin feature, which allows you to hear the message as it is being left and decide whether or not to take the call. You can also set the system to require that all callers announce themselves before being connected, great for days when you are busy and want to avoid interruptions.
One can also make free calls from Google Voice to anywhere in the United States. Call your own Google number from any phone, press 2 to place a call and it will be your Google number that is displayed on any caller id system and the call is placed at no charge. You can also purchase credits through the Google checkout system to make international calls at a pretty good discount.
