We have it now.

Just in case you weren't already convinced of Google's awesomeness, here comes Google Voice.

Google Voice is basically an answering service.  You call one number, and it tries all your other numbers.  If it can't reach you, it takes a message.  Of course, this is Google, so they've added a bunch of other crazy features:

• You can go to a website and see all your missed calls, listen to your voicemails, and even read a transcript of each voicemail
• It will send you a text message when you have a new voicemail
• You can make customized greetings for different people--"Hi Mom, sorry I can't come to the phone."
• It has call screening: "So-and-so is calling you.  Would you like to accept this call, or send the sucker to voicemail?"
  
• It will do different things for different people; ie. the mother in law gets a custom greeting and goes straight to voicemail.  (I would never do that, Marina!  I promise!)
• It's free.  (Of course it is!  It's Google!  What's their business model?  Who knows!)
  

Here's how it works for me:

You start by calling my new number (ask me if you want it - it's very, very cool).  Google calls my home line, then my cell phone.  If I don't answer either one, then you go to voicemail.  Google sends me a text message to let me know there's a new voicemail.  I can go online and listen to it like this:

Want to try it out?  Click this button:

Want it?  Go to Google Voice and "request an invitation."  I had to wait a day before they let me in.

Is this ridiculously cool or what?  The technology exists.  We have it now.

J<