Google Voice to ride with Verizon

One big piece of info coming out of the Google/Verizon announcement today is that Google Voice will be a big part of the Google phones Verizon will carry, starting with two this year. Verizon and Google have been working together for over a year on this and they expect the multi-year partnership will produce more phones every year.

Google Voice made the headlines when it was denied from the Apple App Store for the iPhone and prompted government questioning from the FCC. The service from Google allows you to have one phone number that can ring other numbers along with a host of advanced digital services. The service has the potential to shift costs from a mobile line to a landline but Verizon doesn’t seem to pay that any mind. Instead, Verizon is using it as a differentiator to keep AT&T at bay.

“Verizon plans to support Google Voice. You either have an open device or not. This will be open.” Lowell McAdam, CEO Verizon Wireless.

Also noted in the talk, Google will have input on the hardware. Google is not getting into the hardware game but will advise which form factors might work best with their OS. Interesting huh?

Read [Silicon Valley Insider]