Google confirmed it is in talks with other carriers besides Sprint to integrate its Google Voice service as core functionality in phones, but Group Product Manager for Google Voice Vincent Paquet would not confirm which ones specifically.
So far the partnership with Sprint has worked out rather well. “We have, since Day One, had a steady stream of people signing up for it,” Paquet commented. About one year after Sprint handsets started launching with Google Voice integration, it seems Google wants to take the next necessary steps to spread Voice.
It’s a pretty good move, but then again, it’s up to the carriers and whether they want to partner with Google. Let’s be honest here: Google Voice is one of the few things the search giant has gotten right in recent years. (Sorry, Google fans, but you have to admit none of the cool kids are using Google+ these days.) If it can expand its potential audience and make more people aware of Voice, I highly doubt people won’t give it a shot. The only problem with this is that since it obviously won’t be on the iPhone or Windows Phone, Android users are more likely to have already heard about Google Voice.
The partnership with Sprint has given customers a few useful benefits. Google Voice normally charges a $20 fee to port an existing phone number over to the service, but that’s waived if you’re a Sprint user. Additionally, the setup process is easier and users can even unlink the Sprint line entirely.
Google’s planning with the carriers is in its early stages, but perhaps we might hear something at Google’s I/O conference in June.
[via CNET]