Google integrates phone calls into Gmail

Google is rolling out a new feature in Gmail that allows users to make free — or cheap — long-distance phone calls.

Voice in Gmail lets users with a microphone or headset ring a landline or cellphone.

Although the feature will be officially available only in the U.S. for now, a Google Canada spokeswoman says it may work for Canadians if their settings are set to English-US.

Not all users will have access to the feature until it's fully rolled out.

Google says calls to any phone in North America will be free until at least the end the year, while fees are charged for calls around the world.

For example, calls to the U.K. are priced at two cents per minute for dialing a landline or 18 cents for a cellphone.