[Infowarrior] - Sprint teams up with Google Voice

[Richard Forno]

Sprint teams up with Google Voice

Posted by Seth Weintraub
March 21, 2011 7:55 AM

While it isn't quite the AT&T-T-Mobile blockbuster, the move has broad implications on the mobile communications industry.

Google (GOOG) and Sprint (S) just announced that the two companies would soon be integrating their voice services.  The deal is two fold:

First, Sprint customers will be able to use their existing Sprint mobile number as their Google Voice number and have it ring multiple other phones simultaneously. So now, calls to your Sprint mobile number can easily be answered from your office or your home phone, or even your computer through Gmail. Calls from Gmail and text messages sent from google.com/voice will also display your Sprint number. This basically gives Sprint customers all the benefits of Google Voice without the need to change or port their number.

Alternatively, Google Voice users can choose to replace their Sprint number with their Google Voice number when placing calls or sending text messages from their Sprint handset. This feature works on all Sprint phones and gives Sprint users all the benefits of Google Voice without the need for an app.

In both cases, Google Voice replaces Sprint voicemail, giving Sprint customers transcribed voicemail messages available online and sent via email and/or text message. International calls made from Google Voice users' Sprint phones will be connected by Google Voice at our very low rates, and Sprint customers will also have access to the rest of Google Voice's features, like creating  personalized voicemail greetings based on who's calling, call recordin

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/21/sprint-teams-up-with-google-voice/?section=magazines_fortune