The Search For The Elusive Captive Audience Means No More Contemplation?

Can Someone Explain Why Google's Free Voicemail Offer Is Newsworthy?

from the it's-been-done,-it's-free-for-anyone-already dept

Fri, Feb 29th 2008 1:38am — Mike Masnick

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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Filed Under: homeless, voicemail
Companies: cisco, google

34 Comments

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The Swiss Cheese Monster, 29 Feb 2008 @ 2:46am

Wait... I can have all of these things for free even if I don't live in a house, apartment, or condo?

But wait.. What if I live in a TP?
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Smartypants, 29 Feb 2008 @ 2:56am

Mike oh mike, you numbskull idiot. It's getting so much coverage because Google is going to implement this service INTO the homeless shelters- a place which previously didn't have it before.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 3:00am

Good idea but...
does it support speech recognition and include ads from monster.com?
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SmartypantsAdvisor, 29 Feb 2008 @ 3:48am

Mind your language...
Come on Smartypants, don't be so rude. We all know we are in the midst of the web 2.0 bubble about to burst but still... could you please stick to your principles and be polite, you may have to live with other homeless web 2.0 experts in a few months or so when google shares will finally crumble.

*PANIC* or just your average friday afternoon nonsense commentary? .. you decide..
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Hellsvilla, 29 Feb 2008 @ 4:04am

Re:
No, they will implement the service INTO their server farms. The homeless shelter will get a free web enabled pc, if anything.

Now if google were to announce it was putting computers into all the homeless shelters, THAT would be newsworthy.
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fritzbrown, 29 Feb 2008 @ 4:30am

I don't know. Perhaps the same reason as when you deemed it newsworthy five years ago.
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comboman, 29 Feb 2008 @ 4:47am

Not for anyone
But, an even more important point: Google's GrandCentral service is already free. For anyone.
That's not exactly true. GrandCentral is in "beta" and is by invitation only.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:08am

You're right, you should've ignored this "news".
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the guy, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:11am

Thats just what we need... homeless people on the internet. and btw who the HELL WOULD CALL SOMEONE WHO IS HOMELESS.

mah 2 cents
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Homeless, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:19am

Free stuff
Sure google voice mail and e-mail accounts are free to anyone. Why I use google mail, it is portable. The issue is knowing these services are free and available. So the more press the better I say !

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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the guy, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:21am

THE HOMELESS ARE TAKING OUR INTERNET BANDWIDTH AS WE SPEAK!!!! :-P

please save us all and close this entire thread
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Homeless, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:24am

More free stuf
Oh wait !

That homeless camp is kids... surf the net on my wireless using their ipods.

Grouses.
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Gogmagog, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:24am

Free for anyone.
The invite only thing isn't an obstacle.
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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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:27am

Re:
THE HOMELESS ARE TAKING OUR INTERNET BANDWIDTH AS WE SPEAK!!!!

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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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:34am

Re:
A potential employer. It's hard to get a job when people can't respond to your applications.

You get 2 cents change
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Tripp Fenderson, 29 Feb 2008 @ 6:09am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the intent behind the original GrandCentral (before Google bought them out) to provide phone/voicemail services for the homeless in SFO?

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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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 6:27am

There's more to the story.
Normally your analysis is dead on. I guess you sensationalized this for something to write about instead of digging deeper. Read the link below. The true story
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 6:33am

If it has caller ID, they be sued ...
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 6:50am

Um, I think the homeless need homes more than voicemail.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 7:01am

Despite the worthlessness of the announcement, this one article clued me into Grand Central, so woot!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 7:02am

How quaint, a story about a story that isn't a story.

Maybe you should write how you shouldent' have written this article because the topic itself wasn't news.
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Newsworthy?, 29 Feb 2008 @ 7:09am

google
Leave it to Techdirt to find something negative about someone helping someone else. Move on....who cares how many times someone does it or announces they are doing it. At least its getting done!
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Andrew, 29 Feb 2008 @ 8:37am

Re: Who would call...
How about a prospective employer, or maybe an landlord, or family members or friends, medical providers, hell why not other homeless people. What are you about 12 years old? Just because someone doesn't live under a roof doesn't mean they don't have a life and participate in the society and economy.
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D. Coleman, 29 Feb 2008 @ 9:28am

Grand Central
Dude, you're way late with this story. Both CNET and Tech Crunch - and now a bunch of other outlets - have already gone down that path. Such is the problem of "making news" from stuff others report, eh? :)
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Etch, 29 Feb 2008 @ 10:12am

Easy
Guys!!!!!
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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4-80-sicks, 29 Feb 2008 @ 2:25pm

Re: Grand Central
Dude, you're way late with this story. ...Such is the problem of "making news" from stuff others report, eh? :)
This is not a news site.
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Steve Albertson, 29 Feb 2008 @ 2:48pm

Re:
Hi. I work for the Community Voice Mail National Office in Seattle. The numbers we provide to homeless and "phoneless" people are temporary in the sense that we provide them until our clients no longer need them (they have a home, can afford a phone, etc.) or are no longer using them. We distribute our numbers in 41 mostly large U.S. cities through a network of 2100 social service agencies, and these agencies manage the numbers locally because they are working directly with the clients. Numbers get "recycled" when our clients are no longer using them, and we then give them to someone else who needs it. On average, our clients keep their Community Voice Mail number for about 7 months.

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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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 3:18pm

Hilary Clinton is...
...now using Republican scare tactics. Just what our country needs: a little more fear. How low can she go? 3 a.m and Hillary Clinton is dressed like that? Anyone want to help nominate her for the "Stupid Oscar"?

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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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:26pm

Re: There's more to the story.
Normally your analysis is dead on. I guess you sensationalized this for something to write about instead of digging deeper. Read the link below. The true story
It doesn't seem that you even bothered to read the page you linked to. Mikes point was that this wasn't anything new. Then on the page you linked to it says that this was a just re-announcement of something already announced two years ago. It seems to me that Mike was right after all.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:36pm

Re: google
Leave it to Techdirt to find something negative about someone helping someone else.

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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Mike (profile), 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:41pm

Re: There's more to the story.
Normally your analysis is dead on. I guess you sensationalized this for something to write about instead of digging deeper. Read the link below. The true story

I'm not sure what's wrong about my story? That seems to say basically similar stuff...
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Mike (profile), 29 Feb 2008 @ 5:42pm

Re: google
Leave it to Techdirt to find something negative about someone helping someone else.

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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Sean, 2 Mar 2008 @ 8:23am

To be honest, I didn't know about it until you wrote this article. It is a funny way to criticize people writing articles about something useless; writing articles about people writing articles which increases publicity to something you don' think is important.

Somewhat ironic.
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Rockin', 16 Aug 2009 @ 6:51pm

GMail
Gmail is the new "scammers" email.
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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