Google Phone

[Steve]

Google has become synonymous with the Internet, but in the future, it may also be synonymous with the telephone.

The company behind the US-based internet search engine looks set to launch a free telephone service that links users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and home computer.

Will you be able to "google" for somebody's "telephone number/IP" before giving them a call, I wonder?

Read the full article over at The Times Online.

[DR]

BT should be worried

[autopilot]

BT need to catch up big time. They are going to have to seriously change thier existing business model. In the future, maybe not so distant, I can see BT as being a much smaller company that exclusively deals with line's, exchanges and the backbone technology while not providing any direct customer services themselves. Like the electricity/rail industry we have now. However, i do think VoIP has a long way to go yet and BT still has a chance to hedge thier bets.

[NiROE]

However, i do think VoIP has a long way to go yet and BT still has a chance to hedge thier bets.

Do BT know they have to come up with something good and soon? YES!!!

Will they? LOL hell no

Hopefully google wont record all our conversations and make them searchable on the net

[Lee H]

BT do offer calls over broadband under the following ;

http://www.bt.com/btcommunicator/ and also

http://www.btbroadbandvoice.com/

Pricing is as follows for the communicator software

118 500 Directory
Enquiries

Free (up to 100 searches a day)

Calls using my PC
(Clic2call)
Call charges are the same as the charges from your BT landline (dependent upon your current call option).

Feature costs are charged to a BT residential telephone bill.


Calls using my phone
(Clic2connect)
Call charges are the same as the charges from your BT landline (dependent upon your current call option) but with a 1p connection fee per call. As an introductory offer, the connection fee will be waived until 31st March 2005.

Internet Call Waiting

£1.75 (inc VAT) a month or less as part of BT Calling Features packages.
This is not compatible with Call Waiting on your home phone.

Internet Call Barring

Available at no extra charge if you subscribe to BT Calling Features Call Barring on your home phone (£1.75 (inc. VAT) a month or less as part of BT Calling Features packages).

Related information
See who is calling (Caller Display - used with Internet Call Waiting)
£1.75 (inc VAT) a month or less as part of BT Calling Features packages.

and the broadband voice prices can be found here as well

http://www.btbroadbandvoice.com/broa...s_it_cost.html

Hopefully competition will force them to lower the prices as at the moment they are on par with having a landline really.