Originally Posted by Global Virtual Support

Wow, i just heard about google voice through here. Pity it's only available to the US at the moment. Hopefully it expands across the world soon. Just out of curiousity, how is google voice different from Skype and is it any better?

Google Voice is actually just a "forwarding service". You need another source (phone, softphone, voip service) to use it. Unlike Skype where there is a Skype phone or Skype application in your computer.

With Google Voice, there's no Google softphone. But you'll get a US number and you can set it up so when someone called your Google Voice number, it will forwarded to the number of your choice.

You can make free calls to any US or Canadian number too BUT again you need another US phone number (landline, voip) where you will make your call. Because the process is, you call your Google Voice number then punch in your code and then call your destination number.

With Skype, you can only call another Skype user for free...because calling a mobile phone or landline will cost you.