Google launched its Voice service in New Zealand today, offering low-cost calls from within Gmail to a traditional landline or mobile phone number.
Voice is being rolled out progressively, with the first Google account holders connected this afternoon.
The Skype-style service charges US2 cents a minute for calls to a landline (against US2.3 cents with Skype), and US20 cents for calls to a cellphone ((against Skype's US32 cents).
And like Skype, at registration you're required to put a minimum balance into your calling account (via credit card) before you can make your first call. Google Voice asks for $US10 against Skype's minimum kickstart of €10.
NBR made a quick call to a New Zealand mobile. The call quality - on an internet connection that's slow and laggy this afternoon - was echo-y. Your correspondent gave up after about 15 seconds, but Google Voice duly deducted US20 cents from his account. The call recipient called your correspondent's mobile from his Google Voice account. Quality was so-so, with the watery and, again, echo-y quality. There also seemed to be some lag. All in all, it was at the poorer end of the VoiP quality scale by any measure. Others report "okay" quality for domestic and international calls.
For the time being, this VoIP is not as potent as it is in the US, where you can port (take) your traditional phone company number with you if you want to go all-Google Voice, and free calling within the domestic US is standard.
Another issue: earlier Twitter feedback had people complaining they could not make 0800 calls, but NBR was able to connect a toll-free call - albeit with the standard landline fee of US2 cents deducted.
Still, it's yet another headache for Telecom and other tradtitional telcos, who have already seen steep erosion in their earnings from once-lucrative voice calling.
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