Oh man, I am so excited that Google Voice is open to the public. If you have no idea what it is (and have no idea how to use Wikipedia) let me explain. Google voice gives you a new (local) phone number, in a sense, one number for all your phones. This right here makes life much more simple because people only need to remember one number (even though it seems no one remembers numbers anymore). I am so excited, because this will bring a much needed change in this world, a sense of synergy.

Some good features it carries:
Save your SMS conversations - You don't need to delete text messages like you do on your cell fone. Much like gmail, you can archive it, or leave it in the inbox if you want.
Transcribe voice mails - Google does a pretty good job at transcribing your voice mail, at least to where you can get the gist of what it says, but the actual recording is available.
All fones, one number - This means you can switch fones, numbers, carriers, yet keep one simple number to be contacted at. The best part is you can decide at what times you want a specific fone to ring. Like if you only want your home fone to ring 6am-11pm you can set that. I love how all fones ring at once.
Control over your callers - You can put your contacts in groups and have them hear specific voice mails. Much like my regular voice mail is more professional/basic, but my friends voice mail is much more simpler. Now only that, but if you get sick of someone you can block them which results to them hearing "the number has been disconnected"
It's freakin free! - 'nuff said

Add this with Google's Mobile Sync and its like a holy union.

But be warned, there are some limitations.
No downloading of conversations - Much like we can download gmail via pop/imap or calendar to iCal or such, you can't download your sms conversations yet (you can download or share voice mails tho.
No MMS Support - As in, if someone sends you a picture message, you won't get it, plain and simple. In most sense that has been a blessing to me because I was getting a lot of sick and annoying chain picture texts.
It ain't perfect - Sometimes there might be a small delay in an sms or the call quality might not be up to par, but then again, there are numerous reasons why that would happen.
No mass texting - would be nice to select a group and seen a group text to everyone.

Regardless, I say, give it a shot, you have nothing to lose. I have been using it for about 11 months and man, am I loving it. It has been great because I can keep all my conversations, and not have to worry about notifying everyone of a new number or such.

Give it a shot at http://voice.google.com

image mostly from Explosm.net, this is love for Google Voice, NOT iphone

p.s. yes I know how to spell 'phone' I just gotten into the habit of typing it 'fone'

Source: Google Voice Blog