Oh, and unlike with standard texting from your phone, GV texting is free (for you, anyway--the recipient still has to pay regular rates).

2. You can use it to make free calls (for now). Google Voice is, at its core, a voice-over-IP calling service. And a free one, at least until the end of 2012. That means you can make unlimited local and long-distance calls without spending an extra dime.

Looking for a way to integrate this GV goodness with your current phone system? Check out the , which plugs right into your router (much like a MagicJack, but with Google Voice as the service provider). Connect your phone's base station and presto: You've got dial tone.

3. You can use it to record phone calls. Are you conducting an interview? Talking to a customer-service representative? Planning some blackmail? Might be nice to have a recording of the call. Google Voice makes this a cinch: Just press 4 during the call to initiate recording. When you're done, you'll be able to access the audio file from the GV dashboard.

Just one caveat: this works only for incoming calls. And depending on your state's laws, you may need to get consent from the other party.