I got invited to join Google Voice the other day.

It’s basically the coolest thing ever.

Here’s how it works:

• You get a phone number from Google. I picked a vanity phone number where the last 4 digits spell out my last name. I also picked a MN area code.
• You go into the Google Voice app and set up your forwarding phone numbers. Now, calls to the new number will be forwarded to your forwarding numbers. Basically, when you call my new Google number, both my cell phone and home phones ring.
• You have a ton of options for incoming calls. You can set up call routing rules (always send this caller to voicemail or only forward this call to my cell) and even mark certain callers as SPAM.
• There is a Do Not Disturb function that will send all calls directly to VM.
• Voicemails are transcribed and show up in an inbox like emails.
• You can also make outgoing calls through the web interface. You enter the number that you want to call and then select which phone you want to make the call from. Google calls your phone, then completes the call to the other phone.
• While you are on the phone, if you press 4, your conversation will be recorded. Then you can review it later from the web interface.

There are a ton of other options, tricks, etc. that I haven’t even begun to discover.

But my favorite is the web site widget. If you click the link below, Google will complete a call to me from you. You never see my number. Go ahead. Click it. Leave me a message. I set it up for now to go directly to voicemail (complete with a special greeting). Click it. You know you want to…