I mentioned on October 4 how I’d managed to sign up for Google Voice (USA) from Australia, but didn’t know what to do with it.
Well, thanks to the assistance of regular American commenters Sue and Delmer, I’ve at least been able to play experiment with it.
Delmer from Ohio left a voicemail on my Google Voice number (276) 546-7390.
GV has this neat transcription feature. I received an email telling me that a message had been left, with the following text:
Hey Michael, This is Debra Wells from Ohio. Just separately for all the other down there, you know. Hello why it i just replied email and a minute ago and thought I’d go ahead and give you a call when your Google Voice. It’s a 2:45. Here in the morning all that with the time setback. It’s now a 1:45. But in any case, I’m gonna go to bed, so you’re welcome to call me, but at your leisure. If you could call me right away. I’m gonna be groggy. Anyway, talk to you later. Bye.
There were obviously a couple of glitches there, but it was a pretty good effort.
Delmer speaks clearly, with a mellifluous accent. I like the way he says “leesure” for leisure.
But if Google can’t transcribe his voice 95 percent accurately, what hope is there for an Australian? Maybe that’s why GV hasn’t been released here yet.
I then sent an SMS to Sue in Pennsylvania, who replied to the GV number. Again, I received an email alert of the message.
For a free service it’s very good.
Unfortunately, I can’t use it to call anyone, but I can receive phone calls and send and receive SMS.
I’ve been meaning to get back to your last message, but the phone died. Have to charge it.
I wish I still had international long distance, or I’d call ya! I would LOVE to here me some more Aussie accent! It’s been too long. Forget Kansas (or, in my case, Pennsylvania), I’m homesick for Oz.
Hi Debra!!! *snort laugh*
Do you have Skype R? That works for free calls from Oz.
No, no skype.
Just a phone that… shoot! I forgot to put it on the charger!! hahahaha! I’m such a blond today!
It took me a minute to sort out what I’d said from the transcript. Any time I say “Delmer Wells from Ohio” I sort of laugh at myself, how many other Delmers is a person likely to know?
I hope I didn’t actually say “gonna.” I was certainly trying for “going.”