In a time when almost everyone has a smartphone and youngters do not know what a landline phone is, Google has announced its very own home phone service dubbed Fiber Phone.
This phone service, inspired by Google Voice, comes with unlimited nationwide calling and reasonable international rates.
"Landlines can be familiar, reliable and provide high-quality service, but the technology hasn't always kept up," says John Shriver-Blake, Google Fiber's Product Manager. "That's why today, we're introducing Fiber Phone as a new option to help you stay connected wherever you are."
Shriver-Blake says that Fiber Phone is aimed to bestow users everything they want from a home phone service and a lot more.
For the amount of $10 every month, users will have access to unlimited local plus nationwide calling. While its rates for international calls will be aligned to the same inexpensive rates as Google Voice.
This Google's offering comes packed with a Fiber Phone box that is compatible with the landline phones that already exists in your home. Shriver-Blake says that the handset is not incorporated in the package.
With this home phone service, users will be given the option to keep their old phone number or choose a new one.
It also comes with features similar to most traditional home phone services. For instance, users can use caller ID, 911 services and call waiting. On top of that, this home phone service of Google makes it simpler for users to access their voicemail.
Shriver-Blake says that this service is going to transcribe users' voice messages and then these messages as an email or text.
Fiber Phone, in the meantime, is not the traditional home phone service, as it is cloud-based. This means that the users' home phone number is located in the cloud, enabling users to use it on a multitude of devices such as tablet, smartphone or laptop. Moreover, users stay connected regardless of whether they are on the road, on vacation or anywhere else.
Google is going to offer Fiber Phone "in a few areas to start," though, it does not go into the details about which cities will get first dibs on the service. It is likely, however, that Fiber Phone will initially be pushed out to present Google Fiber cities, including Austin and Kansas City.
This Google's offering will compete with traditional broadband providers, such as Comcast and AT&T, when it comes to offering high-speed services.
Consumers who are interested in getting Google Fiber Phone may sign up online.
