Do you remember the days when you had to know someone to get a gmail account? It was only a few years ago and since then millions have signed up for the free e-mail accounts from Google. Not only that, but because of the huge amount of email that can be stored in one account, it revolutionized free e-mail. Now, Google wants to open up its Voice to those who want to hear it.

Google Voice is a Skype-like VoIP service. I can’t exactly tell you how it works, but you get a number through Google and you can make calls with your phone through either a dialer (like GDialPro for the Palm Pre) or through the Voice.Google.com portal. All you do is enter the number you want to call and Google Voice will call your phone and connect you with the number.

Right now, you have to go to a website to sign up and be put on a waiting list for a Google Voice account. I was lucky enough to get one just a couple of weeks ago. I really wanted one after reading all the hoopla that was going on between AT&T, Apple, and Google regarding a Google Voice app for the iPhone.

Google is now wanting to take a viral approach to marketing the program. It said that in the coming weeks it wants to offer current users the ability to invite their friends and family to the program.

I believe that Google can benefit greatly by a viral approach to expansion with the Voice program. Look how much attention has been brought to it just by publicity alone. Whenever people can make calls for free, it is exciting. I recently had a family member move to Canada and I would love to talk to her on the phone sometimes, but it is so expensive to call with my cell phone (and, like many people my age, I don’t have a land line anymore. I don’t even have a Vonage line).

Google Voice has a lot of features that people have to pay for with traditional lines. You can even send text messages through Google Voice. That is so neat considering that many times a SMS account costs $.20 a text message unless you have a plan.