Google has acquired SayNow, a company whose slogan is "reinventing the phone call". Actually, SayNow has a hosted platform and series of applications for voice messaging, conversations, and group calls that can be integrated into Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Android and iPhone apps.
SayNow announced the acquisition (without any financial details). From the announcement:
Since 2005, we’ve explored fun and entertaining ways for people to talk with each other. Through the web, smartphones, and even land lines, our products brought communities together through the power of voice. And as Google has some of the best voice products in the world, we believe combining forces with the Google Voice team will let us innovate in new and unexplored areas.
We have no specific product plans to announce at this time, but we’ll have more to say about our roadmap as we integrate with Google, so stay tuned. We couldn’t be more excited about what is yet to come. (via @elatable)
It sounds like Google Voice may be next in line to get a "social layer". The company also just acquired fflick, a social recommendation service, which adds Twitter content to searches (for movies so far).
It’s been a big day for Google Voice. In addition to adding SayNow to its squad, Google announced number porting, giving users the ability to use their existing phone numbers (if they’re willing to pay the fees).
Google also announced that it has partnered with Project CARE to provide Google Voice accounts to homeless veterans, so that they have phone numbers they can use on job applications and resumes.