Google Voice goes global in 38 languages‎

After online search and social networking, Google Inc. is now strengthening its foothold in the Voice over Internet Protocol market. The internet search giant has expanded the scope of its Voice-based Gmail calling service, making the feature available in 38 languages all over the world.

Google Voice, one of the rivals of Microsoft's Skype, already enables users in the United States and Canada to make calls to land lines or cell phones through Gmail.

"Last year, we made it possible for those of you in the U.S. to call any mobile phone or landline directly from Gmail and starting today, we are making this available to many more of you who use Gmail outside the U.S. by offering calling in 38 new languages," Pierre Lebeau, Product Manager, said in the blog post.

This updated VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service isn't available everywhere but, and Google hasn't revealed which countries will get it first.

No connection feesLebeau, said that Google Voice has no connection fee and clients simply pay for the time they as a matter of fact use. Not only this, users can as well buy calling credit in Canadian dollars, British pounds or euros.

According to Lebeau, "You can now buy calling credit in your choice of four currencies and there are no connection fees, so you only pay for the time you talk."

He continued, "To help reduce the cost of staying connected, we're as well lowering our calling rates to over 150 destinations around the world. For instance, it's now only $0.10 per minute to call mobile phones in the U.K., France or Germany, $0.15/minute to call mobile phones in Mexico and $0.02/min to call any phone number in China and India."

Little green phone icon will glow once feature startsThis updated VoIP service isn't available everywhere but, and Google hasn't revealed which countries will get it first.

However, Lebeau said, "We're rolling out this feature over the straightway few days, so if it's available in your country you'll see a little green phone icon show up at the top of your chat list and you'll be ready to make calls."

Google Voice vs SkypeGoogle Voice is a telecommunications service provided for Google account holders. The service provides users with a unparalleled phone number that can be forwarded to several different lines. Voice transcription, call screening and free text messages are the other features include in this service.

The Mountain View

The Mountain View, California-based search giant's recent move will likely make it a stronger competitor to Skype, currently the world's leading voice-over-IP provider.

Skype and Google are as well competing in the social networking field. Skype's service is now integrated with immensely popular social networking site Facebook, during group video-chat is a prominent feature of the Google+ social network.