Google Voice looking to increase carrier cooperation beyond Sprint
Nearly a year ago, Sprint and Google voice signed and sealed a deal where Sprint would become the first carrier to seamlessly integrate the Google service into its own. Now however, reports have mentioned that Google are out to extend their service to other carriers as well. Vincent Paquet, Group Product Manager for Google Voice told CNET in an interview that they are having discussions with other carriers about the issue but declined to mention which carriers he was referring to.
Google Voice gives users access to visual voicemail that you can read on the phone or online and cheaper international calls among other perks. Although anyone can port their phone number to a Google Voice account, Sprint’s deal does not include the $20 porting charge and is easier to set up online. Moreover, it lets you unlink the Sprint phone if you already have an account.
The possibility of other carriers joining Sprint in bringing Google Voice into the mainstream would mean good tidings for Google by making its products even more indispensable especially where Android devices are concerned but might generate a few hurdles for Sprint which will need to find a new trick to differentiate itself from the other again.
Do you remember the good old days of IRC and later on ICQ? I can still remember my 8 digit ICQ number, although I am quite sure that a fair number of you veterans out there do have an ICQ number that has far less digits, which is a badge of honor even until now. You could more or less see who was online among your list of friends, although there was the option to go invisible. Google has quietly rolled out a new app known as “Who’s Down”, where it will let you check out just who you would like to hang out with. How so?
For starters, when you turn on a switch that mentions you’re available and would like to do something specific (it is up to you, actually, so whether it is you carving out time to hang out at the mall or to grab a bite), then your desired status will appear with a question to invite anyone who has the same mind among your friends to join you. This status will last for three hours, and makes it easier to coordinate your desired plans with your mates.
I guess the Who’s Down app’s goal is to provide a platform where a group of friends can check out what you would like to do at a glance, as opposed to messaging one another on a group chat channel or the like. Your ego will also be protected in some way, since there is no way you can get turned down – because technically speaking, you didn’t ask anyone to join you directly. Who’s Down is available for the Android and iOS platforms.
I am quite sure that many people have already heard word concerning a Verizon-branded model of the Nexus 6 for quite some time already. Well, one can only say that the stock-powered Android phablet has been a rather difficult “creature” to spot – where even Google CFO Patrick Pichette did admit last month that they were unable to obtain enough inventory in order to cover demand for the device. The Nexus 6 can be considered to be a success in this sense, and it seems that Verizon subscribers can hope to see it arrive soon.
After all, that is what it looks like through a leaked marketing material that points to such a possibility. The label that is on the package itself did mention that it is Merchandising material from Verizon, and there was the specific phrase “Nexus 6 Launch” spotted there. True or otherwise, all that we can do is sit tight and wait.
It looks like we live in the age of speed, where delays are frowned upon on. In fact, it seems that Google too, wants to deliver near instantaneous translating with their Google Translate app on mobile devices by minimizing the amount of delay, making it feel as though it works in real-time. Word on the street has it that Google is preparing to roll out a brand new service which will be able to translate words in real-time, pretty much in the same manner as a current market solution known as Word Lens is able to do.
The update to the Android ‘Translate’ app will also be able to automatically recognize when someone is speaking another language, before going about with its translation magic to turn it into text that you can understand. The mechanics behind this app remain to be understood, but changes are one will need to have it configured to translate popular spoken languages into written text in a language of your choice, allowing it to be ever ready to see action. Anyone interested?