Gmail Users Dial One Million VoIP Calls in 24 Hours

Gmail users made one million calls in 24 hours using Google's just-introduced VoIP service from within Gmail. An analyst said many of the Gmail calls were people testing the new feature, and the question is whether they will continue to use it. Google could integrate its latest Gmail feature into its Android mobile operating system.

One million calls in 24 hours. That's Google's story with its just-introduced Gmail phone-calling feature. Google sent a message via Twitter announcing the near-immediate milestone and thanking people for trying the feature.

Google has more than 175 million users, and the service isn't even available to all users yet. Google started rolling it out in phases on Wednesday.

Google's service allows users to make telephone calls from the Gmail interface. Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year. Google promised to add international calling at low rates in the near future.

"A good deal of those million phone calls were from folks who were just testing out the feature to see if it works," said Michael Gartenberg, partner at Altimeter Group. "The question is, will they continue to use it? I think the answer is yes."

Gmail users have been chatting through PC microphones and speakers via a service called Google Talk since 2005. But until now Gmail users couldn't dial into landlines. Both Gmail users had to be sitting behind their computers and signed into Gmail to talk.

"This shows how Google is looking to build a set of services that become a hub of social activity, and one of the social activities we forget is the good old telephone," Gartenberg said. "By integrating telephony into the overall communications experience, Google has given users one more reason to stay with Google services like Gmail and Google Voice."

Google has designed a user-friendly interface for the service. Users dial a phone number in much the same way they would a normal telephone, but with a mouse instead of fingers. When users click "Call phone" at the top of their chat list and dial a number or enter a contact's name, it rings the number. If the users have a Google Voice phone number, calls from Gmail will display that number as the outbound caller ID. Users can also choose to receive calls to this number right inside Gmail.

With the new service, Google is competing with Skype. But Skype still has the advantage with international calling and integration onto mobile devices. Could Google take its new service one step further and integrate it into the Android operating system? Gartenberg thinks it's a logical step, especially if Google plans to become a force to be reckoned with in the Voice over Internet Protocol world.

"Mobile calls today are very cheap. There is almost no advantage to using a Google service like this on a mobile phone," Gartenberg said. "Minutes are not nearly as precious as they were before, with many people being on unlimited or nearly unlimited plans. Nevertheless, it makes sense for them to integrate this functionality and tie more of that functionality into Google Voice."

Tell Us What You Think
Comment: Name:

Posted: 2010-09-01 @ 6:01am PT

TR - If the carriers launch their own webphone, then network black spots are a thing of the past - being able to make/receive calls & txts from the internet, using your own cell number, the same when roaming so you avoid those expensive roaming charges - brilliant!

Posted: 2010-09-01 @ 5:53am PT

The time for Google Voice and Skype supremacy may come soon to an end. Wireless carriers will fight back and use their own over the top applications like Portico, a new webphone solution, e.g. www.openmindnetworks.com/webphone.html

Posted: 2010-08-29 @ 10:46am PT

This offer is interesting but I already have free unlimited calls to Europe which I use quite a bit and there would be zero incentive for me to use Google Voice and be charged for these call. You can do better Google!

Posted: 2010-08-28 @ 5:43pm PT

I would make use of the VoIP service on my Android phone. I make conference calls for work that add up to over 2-3 hrs per day. That means my pool of cell minutes run out fast (Sprint - No A-List or the like and these calls are to land lines) PLUS - when I'm in Canada visiting family, I could call anyone when I have a WiFi connection. Priceless

Posted: 2010-08-27 @ 7:14pm PT

"There is almost no advantage to using a Google service like this on a mobile phone..."

Actually, one big advantage could be for users who have access to WIFI but not good reception otherwise (like me, in the inner rooms of my apartment).

Posted: 2010-08-27 @ 11:17am PT

Today I called from Romania to America. Talked for a half hour. Quality was good on both ends. Comparible to Skype. And it was free.