GMail allows multiple voice calls

Google on Thursday expanded the built-in voice call capabilities of its Gmail service, allowing its users to make and receive multiple voice calls. Software engineer Richard Dunn said this works for voice, video, and phone calls, although only up to two outgoing calls to physical phones can be placed at once. "If you’re in a call and make a second one, your first call will be put on hold while you talk on your new call. You can switch between calls by pressing the 'Resume' button on the call you want to talk on, which will automatically put the previous call on hold," Dunn said in a blog post. One can also receive incoming calls while in another call, he said. "You'll receive a notification of the incoming call and can choose to accept it or not. If you take the new call, the previous call will be put on hold," he said. Any call can also be put on hold, by pressing the “Hold" button and then “Resume" to start talking again. "Too bad there’s no music on hold to entertain that first caller," tech site Mashable noted. However, Mashable also noted users in the United States and Canada calls using the Gmail phone and video system will be free through 2011. — TJD, GMA News