Google confirmed yesterday that it was rolling out the new function, which allows users to make direct calls to telephones through its email service using the inbuilt speakers and microphones on their computers, in the US and Canada. The “Calls from Gmail” service, which was launched with immediate effect following yesterday's announcement, will allow free calls to American and Canadian numbers “for at least the rest of the year”.
Selected British users are also being given access to the function. Low rates, which could be as low as two cents per minute to Europe, China and Japan, will also be available for international calls.
Writing on the official Gmail Blog, Robin Schriebman, a software engineer, said that the addition was a development of the company’s current, computer-to-computer voice and video chat services.
His post said: "Gmail voice and video chat makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family using your computer’s microphone and speakers. But until now, this required both people to be at their computers, signed into Gmail at the same time.
"Given that most of us don’t spend all day in front of our computers, we thought, “wouldn’t it be nice if you could call people directly on their phones? Starting today, you can call any phone right from Gmail."
The move will put Google into direct competition with new media companies such as Skype, as well as traditional phone operators such as BT. It will work by adding another option to the chat list in Gmail, as well as offering a traditional-style on-screen keypad. Todd Rethemeier, an analyst at Hudson Square, told Reuters that Google’s move presented “a risk to Skype”. He said, however, that it was the attraction of cheap international calls that would be likely to drive people to use the service. Google has not yet announced any plans to operate the service in the UK or on its mobile phones.
Originally posted at Telegraph.co.uk
