Google Voice offers Free calls to Haiti for 2 Weeks. Read how to signup!!
Google has stepped up its efforts to help people here in the U.S. reach loved ones in Haiti. For the next two weeks, users of Google’s Google Voice Service will be able to make unlimited international calls to Haiti. Google Voice is a free phone service that offers its users not only the ability to add an additional phone number to their handset, but also the ability to make and receive phone calls from anyone phone they choose using your Google Voice number to call out and receive calls. Google has provided BlackBerry users a Google Voice app that allows you to make and receive phone calls, send text messages, and much more all through your Google Voice account. Here’s what Google Voice offers..
One number service: a single phone number that rings to all your phones
- Free SMS: send, receive & store text messages online
- Block calls: send unwanted callers straight to voicemail
- Record calls: record phone calls and store them online
- Conference calls: join several people into a single call
- Screen callers: hear who is calling before you pick up
From your BlackBerry device you can also
- Access your voicemail: read message transcripts, follow along with “karaoke-style” playback of messages, read SMS messages sent to your Google Voice number (even if your phone doesn’t receive SMS messages) and access your call history
- Place calls that display your Google Voice number from your address book, the app dialer (Blackberry) or the native dialer (Android)
- Send SMS messages that display your Google Voice number
- Place international calls at low rates
In order for you to use Google Voice you must have a Google Voice account. Currently the only way to get a Google Voice account is by invitation only from Google. You can request an invite directly by going to Google’s Google Voice invite page https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/ . Once you have an account you can download the Google Voice app for BlackBerry at http://m.google.com/voice
In addition, Google has created a Google Crisis Response page from which you can donate directly to to UNICEF or CARE via Google Check Out. They have also listed the organizations accepting SMS donations.
- SMS text “HAITI†to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
- SMS text “YELE†to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
- SMS text “GIVE10″ to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief
Click here for more information regarding Google Voice.
