Google is trialling a new Gmail feature for placing free phone calls within Gmail, as part of the Google Chat interface, confirming rumours that started circulating back in June. Could this be such a tidy VoIP solution that it poses a real threat to competitors like Skype?
The free calls service being tested is a web-based VoIP client, as opposed to the Google desktop based VoIP Google Talk. It appears to be the result of its acquisition of Gizmo5 last year. how this will integrate into Google’s existing services like Google Voice is not clear, but it could put Skype on real shaky ground if it takes off.
The bad news though, is that currently it looks as though the Gmail phone calls feature is only being trialled exclusively across the Atlantic, with the free calls restricted to the Us and Canada. International calls are discounted though, compared to standard rates.
The Google Chat interface gets an additional icon, that gives the option of launching the service and making a free phone call direct from the Google Chat taskbar. The user interface has the similar icons, but you don’t have to have a Google Voice account.
CNET broke the story on free calls in Gmail, but a spokesperson for Google said that the company is always testing new products and services, and that it had “nothing specific to announce right now”. Placing a new free phone call service within Gmail, with no additional sign up, could prove to be the making of a real threat to Skype.
UPDATE: Free calls via Gmail has been confirmed, and we’ve also found that the service is being rolled out further than the US already – one of our reporters got it this morning, and it seems to be offering free calls to the US and Canada no matter where you are – meaning no more expensive international calls for those wanting to call in to the US.
What do you think? Would you use the Google Gmail free phone call service?
