4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com.
In this week’s 4MR podcast I look at the recently launched free phone service from Google through Gmail. Undercutting Skype and other VoIP services (not to mention landlines), Google is letting people call from their computer to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for free, and charging low international rates. What’s in it for Google? I spoke to tech pundit and Computerworld contributor Mitch Wagner to learn more.
Check it out:
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Listen to my entire interview with Mitch Wagner:
Background music is “What the World Needs” by the The Ukelele Hipster Kings via PodSafe Music Network.
Here are some links to related sites and stories mentioned in the podcast:
Call Phones from Gmail at Google
Six Things Google’s Free Phone Service Can’t Do at NY Times
Gmail call feature a ringing success, a million times over at Christian Science Monitor
How to make calls using Gmail at CNET
Google reportedly adding voice calling to Gmail at Computerworld
Gmail Voice Is About Future Search, Not Free Calls at Gizmodo
Gmail’s now in the phone biz. Trouble for carriers down the road? at Sprint Connection blog
Google continues the assault on the price of a phone call at Washington Post
Google adds free phone calls to Gmail, wow at Seattle Times
Google Voice phone booths Dr. Who might love at News.com
Google introduces Gmail-linked phone service at SF Chronicle
Also, be sure to vote in our poll about what you think the future of the landline will be:
Mark Glaser is executive editor of MediaShift and Idea Lab. He also writes the bi-weekly OPA Intelligence Report email newsletter for the Online Publishers Association. He lives in San Francisco with his son Julian. You can follow him on Twitter @mediatwit.
4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com.
