The Internet’s search and ad leader moved another step closer to launching a free speech recognition service designed to gives users a single number for all their phones and transcribing voice messages into text.

 

Rumors kicked into high gear this week as Google Inc. reportedly reserved 1 million phone numbers with Level 3, boosting speculation that the company may soon be preparing to launch the new service, according to a Network World (News - Alert) report.

 

As TMCnet reported, users will receive transcripts of their voicemails and can archive and search all of the SMS text messages they send and receive. Google Voice is a product of Google's (News - Alert) 2007 acquisition of GrandCentral, a Freemont, CA (News - Alert)-based firm that uses Web-based software to voice calls over the Internet.

The service relaunched earlier this year in a beta form for GrandCentral users only.

 

Rumors have been running rampant that Google Voice would go public this week. The news had people buzzing on Twitter and on tech blogs. But so far, Google is keeping quiet. The company could not be immediately reached for comment.

 

When Google Voice does launch, industry experts say the technology will have many different uses. Some might consider it is a replacement for fixed line or mobile voice, while others might say it is a replacement for long distance or prepaid calling cards, TMCnet’s Gary Kim (News - Alert) wrote. Still, some users say Google Voice is a form of consumer unified communications.

 

"When it goes public, I think the rush to grab Google Voice numbers is going to be stunning,” Kevin Dando, director of digital and education communications for PBS, told Network World. “I know some of my friends check the Google Voice page almost every day to see when they can grab a number and get started using it.”

 

Already interest appears to be growing in GVdialer, a mobile application for Google Voice. As TMCnet’s Tom Keating (News - Alert) wrote, one the app is installed users can dial directly from their phone's contacts, speed dial, call log or keypad, and GVdialer will automatically connect the call using Google Voice.