Nerd Vittles has a really good primer on how to connect the Google Voice client to any Asterisk system, as well as reports on progress for a Python interface for Google Voice.

Basically, with a little tweaking you can use a Google Voice account for free U.S. calling and SMS from Asterisk phone systems by leveraging a DID with free inbound calling. Nerd Vittles provides an in-depth look at the benefits of this set-up, as well as all the code necessary to make it work.

VoIP opinion blog truvoipbuzz.com takes the opposite approach in an editorial about eight reasons why you should not use Google Voice as your primary phone number. The article lists limitations in carrier networks, spotty SMS reception, and overall reliability issues as evidence that Google Voice is not a good choice for your main line.

I’m impressed by Google voice’s international rates, especially to mobile devices, but the voicemail transcription is really awful currently. I tested it several times and found about a 60 percent success rate, which left the messages largely indecipherable. I did not have problems, however, with excessive rings between connections, as some have noted. If you’ve got an account, what are your thoughts on Google Voice and its performance so far?

A large number of Android-toting devices are expected to be on display at CEATEC, Japan’s largest electronics show, including a prototype Android set-top box developed by Motorola for service provider KDDI.

The Open Embedded Software Foundation (OESF) is rallying support for Android on non-phone devices. The OESF is a group of 25 companies who plan to have working groups on set-top boxes, VoIP, network and security, measurement and control, system core, application and services, marketing and education. Current members include ARM, KDDI, Japan Cable Laboratories, Alpine Electronics and Fujitsu Software Technologies, with other silicon companies contemplating participation.

Under the deployment plan, mobile VoIP handsets will be tested out this year with voice being incorporated into the product line in 2010. A company executive said it is testing the usage model, integration with the home phone and WiMAX network, and “how you hand off to a cellular network” like Sprint’s.

The VoIP-over-WiMAX technology is vitally important to cable carriers invested in Clearwire, as it offers them mobile options for bundling to more effectively compete with AT&T and Verizon. Clearwire investors Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks have the option to buy WiMAX access services from Clearwire on a wholesale basis.

MSOs could conceivably offer wireless phone services as a simple extension of their existing wireline VoIP offerings; it would just be matter of routing the packets from one IP network (cable broadband) to another one (WiMax broadband).

The effect of Whitespace regional broadband Internet on the WiMax business model is unknown at this time. See more about whitespace and the use of analog television frequencies for regional wireless Internet coverage of up to 75 miles.

When we tried MagicJack with Windows 7 our experience with Windows 2000 paid off. The operating system does not work with MagicJack. Even after installing the MagicJack upgrade for Windows XP, the product reported that MagicJack must be plugged in to USB. It was, but that is the same complaint we got with Windows 2000. Confusion and no joy with Magic Jack and Windows 7.

When we contacted Magic Jack live help it only took a moment to get a live operator. Working together we turned off the Windows firewall, installed the ugrade, and had no luck. The company does not generally support Beta products, so we were not too disappointed. Since Windows 7 supported all of our Windows XP and Vista products quite nicely we did not know what to expect.

Installing Bluetooth items on Windows 7 was easier than Vista and XP. One bluetooth headset running on XP reported a failure with a missing DLL, but Windows 7 installed automatically. Our 600 milliwatt wireless card installed on Windows 7 automatically and connected to the Internet during the installation. (We are running Beta 7000)

For our free long distance and local calls we use MagicJack, but not on our Beta computer running Windows 7.

For instance, did you know that the 883 county code might be used by regular telephone companies? Did you also know that the first “FM quality” sound for IP networks was released in 2004? Check out our pages at Voip883HD to learn more.