As it launches google voice in the US, google is expermineting with vilalge noticeboard a voice service for indian village communiites that share a computer.
An administrator sets up a noticeboard on a shared computer in a village or Internet cafe. Then the applications acts as public noticeboard, where anyone can record a voice message. Text can also be added, but it is designed to work in places where literacy rates are low. People from the village can check for new group messages on any shared village computer with the software installed. It works as a Firefox add-on for Windows only. Google India describes the purpose of the service:
Communities with access to shared computers can use the Noticeboard for exchanging messages related to community announcements, social interactions, local buying and selling, and information that is of wider interest to the community. The Noticeboard may also be used for the community to engage in a dialog with benefactors, public servants, and other service providers who are geographically distant.
Voice applications have a lot of potential in countris such as India where computer and interenet penetration is relatively low, but most people have mobile phones.