This is Part Three of a three part post (Part 1: The Apple and the Android, Part 2: On the Carrier and the Google Phone). Google is doing something really exciting in the world of phones.  Something that may very well change the way you buy phones and service contracts in the next three to five years.  The way Google is approaching the phone market is fascinating not only from a technology perspective, but from a business perspective as well. For this reason, I’m going to spend a few days looking at the play and its intended outcomes.

I posted the video above because Google is better at explaining Google Voice then I am.  If you are at work or for another reason can’t access the video, I’ll offer a one sentence summary.  Google Voice gives you a “super” phone number that then rings any phones you tell it to when someone calls.  I’ve been a user of Google Voice for a few months now and have been very impressed.  The phone number I give out to new contacts is this “super” number with a Pittsburgh area code.  It rings my home phone (a charlotte number that I never even bothered to learn), my office phone, and my mobile.  When I’m spending an extended time near a different land line, I go in to the settings and add the phone at that site to the list.  Additionally, I can switch which phone I’m using in mid-call.

The reason I call this the third of three parts in Google’s play, is that it will take the longest to mature.  As I’ve mentioned in the previous posts, I believe you (yes you) will probably own an Android phone in the next 5 years and you will probably buy the phone hardware separate from the service plan in the next 10.  I don’t think most people will be truly affected by technology such as Google Voice for another couple years after that.  However, once it starts to take effect, it will have a larger impact then either of the others.

Here is what I expect will happen.  In 2023 you will only have one “digital identifier”.  I’m not quite sure what form that identifier will take; it may be a number like a phone number, it may be an email address, it may be a handle like “Burgher Jon”.  Whatever your “digital identifier” ends up being, I will be able to write to it, call to it, message it, read about it, and maybe even locate it.  Here’s what I mean by each one:

• I’ll be able to write longer messages addressed to your “digital identifier”, along the lines of what we’re calling email today.  That message though will find you on your phone and your computer (or more likely, your phone/computer).
• I’ll be able to call your “digital identifier”, along the lines of what we’re calling phone today.  My desire to talk to you will show up in only one place though, wherever you are.  You’re phone/computer will identify where you are and if there’s a “land line” nearby it will make that ring.  Otherwise it will ring your mobile.
• I’ll be able to address a short message to your “digital identifier”, along the lines of a text message or an IM to you.  My message will show up on your phone/computer as well as any nearby workstation (what we’re today calling a PC) that you’re hooked in to.
• I’ll be able to access your recent activity by reading the log associated with your “digital identifier”.  I’ll see blog posts you made (think blogger), status updates (think facebook), conversations we’ve had (voice, message or email), and probably even where you’ve been recently (you were just at the grocery store).

The reason Google Voice is so interesting, is that they are the first company to start bringing all of these things under one roof.  I have a gmail account (as many of you probably do).  That account is not only for email but also for chat.  I now have a google voice number so my texts and phone calls also go through them.  In theory (though Google is aware we’re not ready for it yet), Google could make my phone ring when I had email.   They already email me my voicemail and text messages.

Think this sounds crazy?  I’m arguing it will be reality by 2023.  That’s 13 years from now.  Think about 13 years ago.  Blogging didn’t happen, much less Facebook or Twitter.  Your voicemails were left on your answering machine.  You probably didn’t have a personal email address or a mobile phone.  You signed in to the internet on a 56k modem using AOL!  If all of that can change in 13 years, my predictions start to sound fairly pessimistic.

Google, with the creation of Google Voice (actually they acquired a company called Grand Central), is miles ahead of anyone else in trying to put all of the communication services together under one roof.  Once they’re under one roof, moving to one “digital identifier” is an easy switch.  If they can stay this far ahead, look for them to possess a very enviable monopoly as the only “digital identifier” provider.  They’re looking to be the Ma Bell of the next generation of communication.