How long before Google kills Google voice?

[dannyanders]

Using the reasoning they uesed to kill Reader, I can't imagine them keeping voice around much longer. I'm sure it has far less users and obviously has very little development resources allocated to it.

[nickm12]

The writing is on the wall. As a user since it was GrandCentral in 2008, I have to say that the writing is on the wall. I can't think of one substantial new feature that has been added since the initial launch (I guess Android integration would be one). Looking at the Google Voice blog I see it had 19 updates in 2011, 6 updates in 2012, and none so far in 2013. Also, apparently Voice recently moved from the "More" heading on the Google homepage to the "Even more" heading below that. If it makes it through 2014 I'd be shocked. Maybe it will even be killed this fall.

I don't expect it will be killed outright, but my guess is that some of its features will be folded into some other Google product (Hangouts? Google Chat?) and users will be told to migrate.

[canterburry]

ehm...I pay lots of money to Google Voice. I think the difference is Google Voice actually has a revenue stream...

[jfoster]

It's not whether it has a revenue stream or not. It's the opportunity cost of the maintenance overhead on other Google products. Google is trying to become an organization that is very focused on a few big things. So the question is really "what percentage of Google's profit is derived from Google Voice?"

It's still a US-only service after many years. If it were lucrative, they probably would have moved it into other markets by now.

[dannyanders]

As much as I would like to use it, their desktop client has never worked for me so I use Skype instead. Similar rates, much better client. But your point around revenue is definitely a good one. I wonder how much it actually generates.

[kencausey]

I suggest you install the plugin variation and try it through Gmail, at least if that is at all a viable option for you. It has been working quite well for me both in 64bit Debian testing and Win7 on 64bit.

[canterburry]

I use if for international calling on my phone.

[freefrancisco]

Google voice is the main reason why I refuse to use an iPhone even though I am a big fan of Apple and all my other products are Apple. I hate having a number that ties me to a phone company, Google Voice made it possible for me to have a number that is independent from the phone companies. Since it integrates well with Android I would not even consider switching to iPhone. If they kill Google Voice, I will be extremely disappointed and I might as well switch to iPhone. Without Google Voice, there is no killer Android feature to keep me there.

[sinkasapa]

I've been feeling like Google has become the thing I'm tied to. Unlike US carriers, where I could move my number from one service to another, I don't think I can do this with Google voice. I feel a little stuck now.

[magic_haze]

You can absolutely shift your number off of google by paying $10, but since the real value add of Voice is not in the number, but the associated services, there is not much point. Skype doesn't even come close. Is there any other for personal use?

[heliostatic]

I'm a voice user too, but I've been thinking about trying https://callingvault.com/

[arb99]

> I hate having a number that ties me to a phone company

Can't you just keep your number when changing phone companies?

[freefrancisco]

Yes but that requires extra work. With google voice all I need is get a sim card, and I am done, I don't even know or care to know what number is associated with that sim card, my number is my google voice. Also if someone is texting me and I'm in front of a computer I can reply from the chrome extension. Plus I can send anonymous callers to spam. I would hate to go back to the old style phone number!

[stfu]

It is especially great if you are moving around internationally. You don't have to keep track of some old stand-by contract or recharge a prepaid calling card but just can keep your number. I really hope they don't kill that thing.

[PonyGumbo]

I use the Google Voice app on my iPhone. Are there different features on Android?

[Navarr]

Yes. The Voice app on Android will automatically route outbound calls through Google Voice (dependent on your settings) and will add Google Voice voicemail into your visual voicemail queue in your phone's native dialer.

[Fuzzwah]

gwern's amazing analysis puts voice pretty high on the predicted shutdown of google services list.

http://www.gwern.net/Google%20shutdowns#predictions

44% chance of surviving the next 5 years.

[dannyanders]

Great post. I definitely see this as a wake up call to people who think the cloud is the solution to everything. Speed for the price of control over your data....

[hatchoo]

That's what gets me worried about using these "proprietary" PaaS offerings.