Google Launches Fiber Phone for Landline Service

Google is reintroducing landlines with its new Fiber Phone service, a nod to older technology while expanding its modern offerings. The service is an add-on for Google Fiber internet customers, costing an additional $10 per month on top of existing plans. It provides unlimited local and nationwide calling, with international calls priced the same as Google Voice. Standard features like call waiting, caller ID, and 911 functionality are included, along with voice-to-text transcriptions.

Fiber Phone is cloud-based, allowing users to connect through various devices, including landline phones, laptops, and tablets. It can even ring a user's cellphone when they are away from home. The service is designed to work with existing phone numbers, offering flexibility for users who want to keep their current contact details.

Google Fiber product manager John Shriver-Blake highlighted the continued relevance of landlines, especially for families. However, the service lacks standout features, positioning it more as a competitive tool against traditional telecom and cable providers' bundled services. Fiber Phone will initially roll out to residential customers in select areas before expanding to all Fiber locations.

Interested Google Fiber customers can visit the service's signup page for more information. A Google representative confirmed that Fiber Phone is not an early April Fool's prank, ensuring its legitimacy as a new offering.