Google Calling

What will they think of next?  On the heels of Google Video Talk, you now can place calls from your browser to landline and cell lines.  This reeks of Skype and other VOIP software, but you would be foolish if you did not see this coming.

So now you can dial phones right from your Gmail page.  You need to download the voice plugin (if you did not already use it for Video chat), and it DOES come in Windows, Mac, and Linux versions.  My screenshot shows me using it in Ubuntu.

So why excited about this in education?  Think of the ability for students to call whoever they need, right from their browser.  They can call historical sites, distance learning teachers, travel agencies, businesses, etc.  Just with a set of headphones/microphone.

Another helpful innovation from Google.  Truly, what will come next?