| I find myself increasingly torn when it comes to Google | | | | more mobile front end, fine-tuned its customer |
| Voice. As a very early adopter of the original | | | | acquisition (using Google, ironically) and went full speed |
| GrandCentral's services back in '07, I've always | | | | ahead. |
| appreciated the offering for its innovation and simplicity. | | | | And when I talked recently with the CEO's of market |
| And of course held great respect for GrandCentral's | | | | leaders like Grasshopper andPhone.com, I heard more |
| founders (and for anyone else who can sell voice | | | | of the same: GV is, in a fashion, good for business. All |
| companies to both Yahoo and Google in one lifetime!) | | | | around me, I see other evidence of growth from |
| But since the official launch of Google Voice (GV) - | | | | innovative companies delivering features or services |
| and its gradual evolution of (often compelling) features | | | | that form Google Voice: |
| - I have sometimes grown frustrated of the doomsday | | | | - Long Distance: GV, especially on its app, make this |
| predictions or questions surrounding the sustainability of | | | | easy. But the calling card business does not go quietly, |
| the many micro-business telephony solutions, in the | | | | and next gen mobile services like Truphone orVopium |
| face of this free set of services. | | | | are accelerating. |
| Micro-business is typically understood as companies | | | | - Call Recording: This has gone mostly unsaid, but GV |
| with 1-5 users, of which there are millions in the US | | | | allows for the recording of calls. This is really an |
| alone. I've been fortunate to be on the go-to-market | | | | untapped market that requires demand-stimulation. |
| side of more than one startup focused on this | | | | Companies like Cogi are moving fast and gaining |
| segment; it's a population rich with opportunity, yet one | | | | traction. |
| that that adopts at varying speeds. | | | | - Voice Mail Transcription: This could be the most |
| Google Voice actually serves as an excellent reminder | | | | controversial or talked about feature. But companies |
| to us all of how deep this very small business market | | | | like PhoneTag have so far come through the battle |
| is, and of just how long it takes to get to its long tail. | | | | with flying colors. |
| You see, features such as the ones included in GV | | | | Sure, for all these companies, GV's entry was and |
| have been available to the micro-business for five if | | | | continues to be cause for alert - and surely resulted in |
| not more years now. In fact, the virtual PBX (a name | | | | more than one call of concern from their respective |
| dying for a makeover) was perhaps the first example | | | | investors. But alerts are healthy. It forces a re-check |
| of telephony moving to the cloud. Yet since GV's | | | | on product packaging, customer acquisition/retention |
| market entry, one would think its features just dropped | | | | formulas and on overall focus. And as Google |
| from the sky. | | | | integrates Gizmo5, and possibly it existing business |
| Yes GV is free. But for the micro-business person, | | | | apps, the feature set will grow - and this cycle of |
| free is not always the answer. Value, vendor | | | | alerts will repeat. |
| relationship and access to support play key roles in | | | | For now Google Voice and its ever-expanding set of |
| spend decisions. After all, the telephone experience is - | | | | smart features serves the sole proprietor and the |
| now more than ever with mobile proliferation - the first | | | | mobile professional well as either an over-the-top or |
| impressions theses businesses offer its customers. | | | | primary telephony solution. But it's not killing a market; |
| When Google Attacks: Could be good news. | | | | rather, it's expanding one. Its marketing muscle is |
| In late December, Om Malik wrote an insightful blog on | | | | pushing next gen telephony into the late adopter pool. |
| a related issue called 'When Google Attacks'. It | | | | Besides, as James Siminoff recently declared in his |
| recounts how Toktumi, a small business telephony | | | | keynote address at StartupCamp Telephony...'if you |
| provider, ran into the Google Voice wall. Its original | | | | can't deal with Google coming into your space, then |
| product packaging no longer separated itself | | | | get out now'. 'Cause they're coming. |
| adequately from GV, so it shifted gears, added a | | | | |