Google Voice goes mobile

BANGALORE, INDIA: Google is unveiling a mobile application that will address the hitches in its Google Voice, the universal voice mailbox and call-routing servive.

The Google Voice Service was rolled out in March.

According to Google, the mobile application, which is only available for BlackBerrys and Android phones, will allow users to make calls directly from their phones. Those receiving the call at the other end will see the user’s Google Voice number, rather than their mobile phone number.

Text messages will also appear to have been sent from a user’s Google Voice number.

The nifty new features will only be available to the limited number of Google Voice users. In June, the company said it was beginning to expand its user base by notifying people who had requested an invitation that they could sign up. A Google spokeswoman said the company was still working through a backlog of requests.

Google says it is working with Apple to bring its Google Voice app to the iPhone. In the meantime, iPhone users can access the service through their Web browser.