Google Voice

I wanted to use some kind of service to help fill-in the gaps in parent/teacher communication due to the fact that I rely mainly on a classroom telephone line and district email service. There are lots of times that I miss messages or emails due to the fact that they are not accessible as easily as normal cell voicemails or web-based emails. I received an email about Google Voice months ago and let it sit unopened, but at a professional development another teacher shared how he utilized Google Voice to give parents another way to leave messages that are accessible from home. I set up an account and I really like its features:

• You can choose a (local) number with the same last four digits
• You can forward the number to an existing number (I use my cell) or multiple phone lines
  
• Listen to voicemails in real-time (as they leave it)
• Don't forward the calls and just have them appear as mp3 files and transcriptions in your email inbox

Unfortunately, Google Voice is being offered on a limited basis for now, but keep your eyes peeled for notices around the web when they roll out a service for the general public.