In an attempt to expand its Voice telephony service, Google is introducing an array of features allowing calls to be made directly to the cell phones of the users; thereby deciding to do away with the thus-far requirement that all calls should come only via the Google number that is available with this free online service.

The change that takes effect Tuesday onwards will enable current Voice users to connect their cell phones to the voicemail feature of Google Voice service.

However, new users can avail the service by signing up either for a Google phone number and all Voice features, or else only for the cell phone voicemail service.

The linking of the cell phones to the voicemail feature will direct the users' Google Voice account to pick up voice mails. Till now, the benefit of the Google Voice voicemail service could be availed by only those users who had signed up for a new Google Voice phone number, which tied all the user's phone numbers to a new Google Voice number.

Noting that users who want to continue with their existing cellphone numbers will likely try out the new service, Charles Golvin, a Forrester Research analyst, said: "They won't get the full benefit of the service, which is tying all your phones into one. All they're doing is replacing one voice mail provider with another."