Ring, ring, ring: Fiber phone
Google has today announced Fiber Phone, a new home phone service that uses Google Fiber, the company’s broadband and TV service, as its connectivity backbone.
In a blog post announcing the service, Google said, “Landlines can be familiar, reliable and provide high-quality service, but the technology hasn’t always kept up. That’s why today, we’re introducing Fiber Phone as a new option to help you stay connected wherever you are.”
Not your typical landline
Available as an add-on only to people who already have Google Fiber’s internet service, Fiber Phone will cost $10 per month.
That price gets you unlimited local and nationwide calling, as well as cheap international calling options, the ability to choose your own phone number, and your voicemails can be transcribed and sent to you via text or email.
If you’ve used Google Voice, Google’s app that provides select phone services, many of Fiber Phone’s features will be familiar to you. Additional features such as spam filtering, call screening, and do-not-disturb are also included with the service. You can also use call waiting, caller ID, and 911 services just as easily.
It isn’t a typical landline. Google’s new super-charged VoIP service will apparently allow users to have a phone that rings when they are in the home, but then acts as a cell phone when you’re on the road, at the office, or wherever. A user’s Fiber Phone number lives in the cloud, which means it can be used on almost any phone, tablet or laptop. Therefore, it can ring your landline when you’re at home, or your mobile device when you’re out and about.
Only available with Fiber
The phone service will only be available to residential customers with Google Fiber. At launch, only a handful of areas will be able to take advantage of Fiber Phone. Google says they plan to slowly roll out Fiber Phone to their other Fiber-enabled cities. As of now, Google’s larger Fiber service is only available in four cities — Provo, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Austin, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia. While there are plans to bring Google Fiber to seven more cities, Fiber Phone will most likely only launch in current Fiber markets. When the Phone service does eventually make it to your city, there’s an easy sign up and installation process.
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