Looks like you can now add Gmail to the list of converged Google offerings that will one day make up Google VoIP. First there was Google Talk, then Google Voice, then Gizmo5 and now we've got new developments that point to Gmail joining the all-inclusive offering.
Notes on Twitter surfaced earlier today when Google enthusiast @ginatrapani [1] discovered you could not create a label in Gmail called 'voicemail.' Labels serve as a way to filter your emails into folder like sections of your inbox. It looks like Google will soon be filtering your Google Voice inbox right into your Gmail account. (I actually use a label '! Voicemail' for my .wav files our VoIP system emails me, so you can still use that to get around the label block.)
Before the Thanksgiving break, rumors surfaced that Google was developing it's own mobile phone that would be based completely on VoIP data calling. Combine that hardware with the growing list of Google in-house developed or acquired voice offerings and you can see why excitement is mounting. With Gmail being a rather pervasive email system that many small businesses are even adopting, it's not hard to see the value of having your VoIP voicemails right there in your single inbox.
I took a screenshot of the error message for those interested in seeing what Google has to say when you try to make the label.
For more:
- see the screenshot of the Gmail message here [2]
Related articles
It's official - Google gets Gizmo5 [3]
Google VoIP phone speculation already? [4]
Rumor Mill: Google's gPhone is back but it might be VoIP-based [5]
Google Voice adds pseudo-mobile number portability [6]