In a blog post earlier today, Google announced that it would continue to provide free calling services for US and Canada residents who use Gmail's VoIP service.
As Mayur Kamat, a product manager for the company, noted:
Many of you call phones from Gmail to easily connect with friends and family. If you're in the US and Canada, you'll continue to be able to make free domestic calls through 2013.
First introduced in August 2010, this will mark Gmail's third consecutive year of free domestic calling services for Google Voice users. Now you won't have an excuse for not calling your relatives during the holidays any more.
[via Engadget]
