VentureBeat - Latest Comments in Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Guest — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:15:44 -0000

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Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Laura — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:22 -0000

What company is the free voicemail system in San Francisco going through?

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Laura — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:05 -0000

What company is the free voicemail system in San Francisco going through?:

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

MG Siegler — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:14:47 -0000

Thanks Aaron, good eye, I'll fix that.

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Aaron — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:40:30 -0000

Google's motto is "Don't be evil," not "Do no evil."

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

MG Siegler — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:25:36 -0000

@matt - thanks, good background I'll put that in there as well.

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Matt Cutts — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:49:33 -0000

You might also want to add some context/background links. http://www.cvm.org/ is an interesting site, for example, about community voice mail and how it can help people.

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

MG Siegler — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:32:02 -0000

@sean and allen - thanks guys, i'll update with that.

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Allen Stern — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:28:33 -0000

you do realize that grandcentral has done this since day 1 right?

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Sean — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:23:30 -0000

GrandCentral offered the same promotion when it launched, so I find this to be a little funny. It worked on the PR front the first time around, so Google decided to give it another try.

What happened to the homeless that got voicemail for life from GrandCentral the first time around?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-b...

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

MG Siegler — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:38:18 -0000

Very true Dave, just thought I'd point that out for those not versed in such observations.

Re: Google offers SF homeless free voicemail: “Don’t be evil” or smart gimmick?

Dave! — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:36:33 -0000

Well, um, of *course* it's a promotional gimmick. But does that really make it any less useful to the homeless people who will be able to take advantage of it?

*Anytime* a corporation gives or does something charitable, there is a promotional aspect. Otherwise, they'd all donate anonymously.