Google Voice makes move to mainstream with number porting

Google is testing number portability on Google Voice which allows users to move their primary phone number to Google and at that time forward to a new number assigned by their carrier.  I did this a few months ago at the invitation of Google and haven't looked back.  I can but forward my calls to my landline, Gmail, my new mobile number and work number at scheduled times and days.  I as well get free voicemail transcriptions, call recording and line transfers.

Few important things to note

A few important things to note: If you are currently on a subsidized data plan you will incur an early termination fee and your plan will get cancelled.  The process is similar to moving to another carrier.  As well, Google is charging a $20 fee for number porting.  As of however it only works on non-corporate mobile phones, meaning landlines and your work phone number can't be ported, but.

I spoke to Vincent Paquet, one of the founders of Grand Central along with Craig Walker, the service that was purchased to become Google Voice, who indicated that number porting would be rolling out in the near future, like as not by the end of the month.  He as well hinted that Google's upcoming Android Honeycomb tablets could have additional Google Voice features, like as not the ability to make VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls without a carrier voice account.  They were displayed with the ability to video chat with other Google talk users.

How does Google monetize Voice?

How does Google monetize Voice?  No, it isn't whispering ads into your ears.  Paquet points to Skype and other VoIP carriers who charge international connection fees as one model.  Connecting calls at Google's scale is in the extreme inexpensive so huge earnings aren't necessary to maintain the infrastructure.

Google Voice is only available in the US at this stage and calls to the US and  Canada are free throughout 2011.  Voice is expected to roll out to Canada and Western Europe in 2011 or for the moment that seemed to be the thinking.  Google was in a general way outed last year in negotiations with the Spanish government on bringing Voice to Spain.

Paquet, a Frenchmen who has a passion for voice data services, had a previous VoIP startup that was picked up by Yahoo.  He is even active on Google Voice help forums.