Sprint launches integrated Google Voice

Sprint has integrated Google Voice into its mobile devices and launched a 4G version of the Nexus S.

Sprint customers will be able to use their existing Sprint mobile number as their Google Voice number and have it ring multiple other phones simultaneously. So now, calls to your Sprint mobile number can easily be answered from your office or your home phone, or even your computer through Gmail. Calls from Gmail and text messages sent from google.com/voice will also display your Sprint number. This basically gives Sprint customers all the benefits of Google Voice without the need to change or port their number.

Under the Google Voice integration, a Sprint user can use an existing mobile number as a Google Voice number. In a blog post, Google noted that seamless integration with carriers was always a goal.

Remember that point given that AT& T plans to buy T-Mobile and Sprint will be a distant No. 3 behind Verizon Wireless. Perhaps Sprint can be a test bed for innovative services. Google may have a tough time playing the seamless integration game with big carriers such as AT&T and Verizon.

The Sprint-Google arrangement breaks down like this:

· Calls to a Sprint number can be answered via Gmail as well as an office or home phone.

· Calls from Gmail and text messages sent from Google Voice will also display to the Sprint number.

· Sprint customers won’t have to port numbers to Google Voice.

· There will be no need for separate apps to make Google Voice work.

· Separately, Google and Sprint launched the Nexus S 4G, which rides on Sprint’s WiMax network.

This feature will be available soon to Sprint customers in the United States. Once it is launched, it will be rolled out gradually to all Google Voice users, and can be enabled through the Google voicewebsite. If you don’t see it right away, don’t worry—you can leave your email address at google.com/voice/sprint and we’ll notify you as soon as this becomes available.

In addition, today team introducing the Nexus S 4G for Sprint—which takes advantage of Sprint’s high-speed 4G data network and lets you enable Google Voice directly from the mobile app.