Can Someone Explain Why Google's Free Voicemail Offer Is Newsworthy?
from the it's-been-done,-it's-free-for-anyone-already dept
Google got a bunch of press earlier this week for giving out "free voicemail accounts" to the homeless. I tried to ignore the story, but it keeps getting written about, and it seemed like there were a few points worth making. First of all, this concept isn't new. Almost five years ago, we wrote about Cisco doing the same thing. There's a whole organization, called Community Voicemail, that has done this for years. But, an even more important point: Google's GrandCentral service is already free. For anyone. Whether you have a home or not. So, offering it for free to the homeless isn't anything special. In fact, it would really only seem newsworthy if, for some reason, the company were not offering accounts to the homeless. So, yes, basically, this is a story about how Google is offering its already free service to the homeless, even though the homeless have already had free voicemail offerings for years. Next thing you know, we're going to see a press release about how the homeless can now use search engines for free too... Plus, I hear that the homeless can get free Gmail accounts!
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But wait.. What if I live in a TP?
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Re:
Now if google were to announce it was putting computers into all the homeless shelters, THAT would be newsworthy.
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Good idea but...
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Mind your language...
*PANIC* or just your average friday afternoon nonsense commentary? .. you decide..
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Not for anyone
That's not exactly true. GrandCentral is in "beta" and is by invitation only.
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mah 2 cents
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Re:
You get 2 cents change
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Re: Who would call...
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Free stuff
Not sure the library is going to be to interested in the homeless jacking in a mike and headphone in the reading room though.
Now a good idea would be handing out free blue tooth enabled skype usb flash phones ! One could say plug them in at any usb port at your local coffee shop, or anywhere else, to charge them up or use them.
Only down side to that might be a homeless camp develops in your back yard because you are handing out free wireless. lol
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please save us all and close this entire thread
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Re:
I agree! The riaa, comcast and at&t should get involved. they are stealing music and money from the corn farmers!
Rick cotton, why aren't you on this?
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070621/004352.shtml
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More free stuf
That homeless camp is kids... surf the net on my wireless using their ipods.
Grouses.
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Free for anyone.
Primarily, if you click on their own website to request an invite, you will usually get one in less than a day. If for some reason that doesn't work or you are in a hurry, there are other websites set up to share invites. You get an instant invite and in turn pledge two of your 8 invites.
There is one obstacle, you need to reference a working USA phone number to set it up. I don't know how that's managed for the homeless, assuming they don't have a cell phone in which case free voicemail wouldn't be an issue.
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Also, you mention Community Voicemail in your post above. While it's true that they offer a similar service, the difference, unless it's changed since I last looked, is that it's a temporary service. GrandCentral is an account for life.
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Re:
We're really excited about the Google announcement. There are a *lot* of people in America without reliable phone service; the FCC says nearly 6 million households are without a telephone. Our clients are actively trying to improve their lives (that's one reason they're seeking help at the social service agency that gives them the number), and the more resources available the better. Providing someone with a phone number is a really inexpensive way to have a big impact.
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There's more to the story.
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Re: There's more to the story.
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Re: There's more to the story.
I'm not sure what's wrong about my story? That seems to say basically similar stuff...
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Maybe you should write how you shouldent' have written this article because the topic itself wasn't news.
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google
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Re: google
OK, just how did Techdirt do that (other than in your imagination, that is)?
Move on....who cares how many times someone does it or announces they are doing it.
If it isn't new information, then it by definition isn't news. And this certainly isn't new. Supposed "news" organizations that present old information as "news" are either incompetent or dishonest. Do you work for one of them?
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Re: google
I wasn't being negative about it. I think it's great to provide free voicemail for the homeless. I'm just noting that it's not something new or different.
Just because I'm pointing out problems with the story, doesn't mean I'm against the concept.
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Grand Central
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Re: Grand Central
This is not a news site.
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Easy
Simplest answer is you can't get a job without a way of contacting you, if you don't have a phone number or an address, you can't start your life! (if that's your intention of course)
This is what this is all about, giving people a second (in some cases first) chance. Of course, how effective it will be will depend on the homeless shelters themselves and how they will promote this to the homeless!
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Hilary Clinton is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M70emIFxETs
The phone rang 6 times in the ad. Do you think the call went to GrandCentral Voicemail?
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Somewhat ironic.
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GMail
About 95% of emails that I receive from gmail accounts are scammers from another country.
Always interested in my "item" and always wanting to send me a cashiers check for over the amount, and signing off with "best regards". Beware of these..
Very few are legit.
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