by Ryan Kellett

Thanks to everyone who left a voicemail in response to my Google Voice post last week. Whether just starting out or using the service since the Grand Central days, the majority of callers had good things to say about it. The callers were, admittedly, a self-selecting group; only one caller didn't have a Google Voice account.

Still, I was surprised that you did not bring up more of the service's shortcomings. The lack of number portability stands out as the main barrier for mainstream adoption. TechCrunch points out that Google is working on ways to let you port your cellphone number over to Google Voice. And although Blackberry and Android mobile platforms now have Google Voice applications, the popular iPhone is missing an application.

Here are some selected responses:

  • Call Screening: Just like on your old tape-based home phone machine, you can screen your calls on Google Voice. Ryan Rollins particularly liked this feature.

More caller responses after the jump...

 
    • The Cell Phone Question: A BusinessWeek article says Google is aiming to work with cellphone companies instead of against them, avoiding a pitfall that has tripped up other VoIP carriers with mobile phone initiatives. Ann VerWiebe calls in with related questions on cellphone-landline emergency calling and work phone extensions.
    • The Switch: Matt Leverton addressed our question directly on how he got his friends to adopt his Google Voice number.
    • Big Brother: It was surprising that only one caller, Ben Lead from Seattle, expressed any concern about Google listening in.