It’s intelligent enough to route calls from different callers to different locations, so if you want Aunt Mary’s calls to ring on your home phone but not at work, you can do that.

Another answering machine feature that many of us missed when we switched to a voice mail service was the ability to record your calls. (Both parties hear an announcement when you begin recording.) You can forward these recorded messages to yourself via e-mail and keep them as long as you want.

It also includes standard VoIP features such as the ability to get your voice mail notifications via e-mail or SMS, standard business features such as the ability to forward calls to another number, and standard cell phone features such as customized rings for different callers. You can even put a Call button on your Web site so people can call you with a click (and without you having to reveal your phone number to them).

Perhaps one of the most exciting features is the ability to switch from cell phone to landline or vice versa — without hanging up the call. Just press the star [*] button during the call, your other phones will ring, and you can pick up the one you want to use.

That means if, for instance, you’re talking on your landline and need to leave the house but want to continue talking, you can switch the call over to your cell phone. Or if you’re on the cell phone and your battery gets low or you arrive home and don’t want to keep using precious minutes, you can switch the call over to the landline. You can even access the service from Web-enabled mobile devices.

Summary

VoIP is a big part of Voice 2.0, but Voice 2.0 is about more than just VoIP. If it works out as planned, the future of telephony will mean a brave new world where all your phone lines come together in peace.