Like a lot of Sprint customers, I live in an area with horrible reception. Even my S6 struggles to hold onto calls sometimes. So for me, finding out that Hangouts could provide VoIP for my phone and solve my texting / calling problems was a big deal. However, as I soon learned, Hangouts.. has issues. I can send / receive SMS just fine, and send pictures, but I don't receive any sort of MMS messages at all (Group, or picture messages). I'm way too stubborn to give up the ability to make calls without standing on my roof, so I managed to come up with a little bit of a work around that does the trick for me. It's nothing complicated, and people may already be doing this anyway, but I thought I would mention it (I've been Googling Hangouts Issues for the last few days and haven't found anything useful besides the APN settings in Hangouts 2.5, and those didn't even work for me).
This setup assumes that:
You have Sprint (or another carrier with Voice/Hangouts integration).
Your Google Voice number is the same as your carrier number.
You still have the stock messaging app.
You're not a fan of the native WiFi calling on the Sprint network, and would rather use Hangouts.
1) Setup the Hangouts integration like normal, so you're able to send / get SMS through the Hangouts app.
2) Set the stock messaging app as your default SMS program.
That's it. Like I said, I'm sure someone has figured this out / is using this setup, but it allows a few things:
Texts and calls are still made on Google Voice (you should be able to send out MMS from Hangouts, too)
All MMS are received through the stock app, which, frustratingly enough, is the only one that seems to work for me.
A bit long winded, but hopefully this helps at least one person who's in the middle of nowhere like me.
TL;DR: Like Hangouts? Hate native WiFi calling? Use your stock messaging app for receiving MMS and group chat, Hangouts for texting and sending pictures, profit.
Update for Hangouts 4: If you want the Group MMS feature to work with Hangouts 4, you have to turn off Sprint Integration (Unlink Voice and your mobile number, and create a new independent Google Voice number.) After doing this, you'll be able to group text on Google Voice with your voice number. I'd also like to find a way to forward texts from my carrier number to my Voice number, but as of right now I think that's impossible.
Edit 1: Turns out the "lock text" feature has nothing to do with private mode; it prevents deletion of certain texts.
I believe in order for Hangouts to send and receive you need a data connection. But you do not for standard text messaging...correct?
Hardcorp said:
I believe in order for Hangouts to send and receive you need a data connection. But you do not for standard text messaging...correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hangouts can send messages over data, or even WiFi. Standard text messaging needs the cell network.
When using only the cell network where I have bad signal: I drop calls, MMS/SMS will send and receive semi reliably.
When using Hangouts in conjunction to the cell network, with WiFi: Clear calls that don't drop (over google voice), MMS / SMS send almost instantly, send/receive SMS on any phone with my hangouts account (as well as in Gmail), MMS is received semi reliably over the cell network. All this is done with my normal phone number (because of the google voice integration).
apseudonym said:
Hangouts can send messages over data, or even WiFi. Standard text messaging needs the cell network.
When using only the cell network where I have bad signal: I drop calls, MMS/SMS will send and receive semi reliably.
When using Hangouts in conjunction to the cell network, with WiFi: Clear calls that don't drop (over google voice), MMS / SMS send almost instantly, send/receive SMS on any phone with my hangouts account (as well as in Gmail), MMS is received semi reliably over the cell network. All this is done with my normal phone number (because of the google voice integration).
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Click to collapse
But what i am saying is, without a data or WiFi connection then texting through Hangouts becomes just as unreliable as texting with spotty or no cell coverage.
Well yes. That being said, the reason I made the post is because I rarely have a reliable data connection at home, but the WiFi always works. There are also a lot of places where Sprint is spotty or has no coverage where there's WiFi. By using Hangouts to text / make calls over WiFi, I'm able to save myself the headache of dropped calls in those spots. Now of course Hangouts can't fix anything if there's no signal AND you have no WiFi.
Related
Hi,
I keep reading threads about using Google voice on the evo instead of the sprint visual voicemail. How are you guys using it (I hate to ask a really basic question)?
Do you just get an email in your inbox & check it? Is there a way to get a notification of an email? Is there an Evo app to use it?
I hate how I keep losing my voicemails when trying out roms.
Plus the new Cyan Froyo has that visual voicemail bug which keeps a perm notification. So if I cant beat them, how do I join them?
Thanks,
Rich
It integrates really well. The only thing missing is mms support.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
I'm an Android AND Google Voice newb, but I use it for voicemail and love it. As you described, your voicemail is totally independent of Sprint and you can flash ROMs to your heart's content and always be able to read and listen to your messages from any PC with hiccups or issues. I also love the fact that you can have different greeting for different callers. You can send specific callers straight to VM, dial numbers from your computer, and other stuff I haven't really had the time to discover yet. Since it's free, why not give it a shot? You have nothing to lose.
Is there a specific app for it on android? Does a new voicemail pop into the notification area?
Have not set it up on my EVO, however on my Nexus I had Google Voice transcribe the voicemail and text me. Transcription was marginal, but 90% of the time I could get the gist if not I just listened to it.
RichTJ99 said:
Is there a specific app for it on android? Does a new voicemail pop into the notification area?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and yes. There's a Google Voice app in the Market which is free (Check the publisher, too) and integrates perfectly with Android. It gives you notifications for SMS, Voicemail, missed calls, the works.
The only downside, is if you're using AnyMobile AnyTime, incoming calls from cellphones show up as cellphones and are then charged as cellphones, BUT, outgoing calls go to a Google Voice access number, and are then charged as landlines. My work-around has been to use Sipgate ONE with Fring or another softphone; set Google Voice to ring your Sipgate number, then add your Sipgate account to Fring's SIP profile. Since Sipgate ONE has unlimited free incoming calls, and even Google Voice outbound calls are really billed as incoming (GVoice makes a call to you, and then makes a call to the target phone number), you get free unlimited calls over VoIP on 3G, 4G, and WiFi.
The only downside to this method, is you have to use a computer to initiate the Sipgate/GVoice calls, as the GVoice app for Android *only* manages Google Voice for the Android phone via normal calls, and not other phones, and unlike the iPhone, there's no web interface (you just get a web page telling you to download the app from the market).
I have set up Sprint to forward to Google Voice instead of my Sprint VM. I don't use it for making calls but more as a forwarding and management service. I like having a second number to give out to people other than friends and family where I can screen calls easier. The only downside is that Sprint rings like 6-8 times and then forwards to Gvoice which rings another few times. People get tired of waiting and often don't leave a message.
The Google voice app is awesome. You can also send/receive free text messages on the phone.
Google Voice is one of the best apps you can get on android. it completely replaces your text/voicemail apps. you can READ voicemail messages, have custom voicemail greetings for every caller, text from any browser, and so much more. It is a must have if you own an Android phone in my opinion
I am using Google Voice on my Epic 4G Touch. I am not using it to get free calls and am not using any program like "sip droid" in conjunction with it.
I am partial to it mainly for the online logs, the ability to send texts via web browser, and the transcribed voicemail.
Phone: Epic 4G touch
Rom: StarBurst v1.9.8r
Kernel: LoStKernelExp+ 1.0.0.8
Mods: None.
Problem/Question:
Google voice will receive my text fine and show them on both the phone and browser. BUT, Even though GV is set to also notify the native E4GT "Messaging" app, sometime the Messaging app receives them late or not at all. Is this normal with GV and I have to live with it? Or is there an alternative messaging app that "jives" with GV a little bit better?
Thank you in advance for all of your help.
- Dan
I know others use GV...
Do you not have any problems?
Do you use GV to generate and reply to text or, the native app?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
- Dan
What happens when you number is ported to Google Voice is that it essentially intercepts all of your text messages, and then sends you a duplicate SMS. One possibility is that there is a "hitch" in this process at Google which causes a delay or total SMS loss.
However, I'm guessing the lag most likely has to do with poor reception or LOS on your phone. If you have airplane mode on, and then turn on wifi, you will receive all of your text messages in Google Voice and none in the SMS app. Concurrently, if you were on wifi and had poor or no cell signal (LOS), you would receive a text in the Google Voice App, but it would not arrive in the native messaging app until you had signal again. Do you live or travel through poor reception areas?
A suggestion. If you go into Google Voice in your browser, you can deactivate "Receive text messages on this phone" on the settings page. Messages will not be forwarded to your native SMS app at all, and then you can just rely on the Google Voice app for text messaging--and not receive two notifications for each text. This is what I do because I do not mind the Google Voice app, and there is no cell signal at my work, yet wifi is available.
The downsides to this are:
a) you may not like to use the Google Voice app, and/or
b) you must have a data connection (3g/wifi) to receive text messages--this might not be ideal if you travel in poor data signal areas
Note that using a different SMS application would not provide any different result as the problem occurs before any message actually reaches your phone.
Thank you for the reply.
The odd thing is that if I am texting 4-5 people, I will not receive the texts from one of them... It is always a different person and does not happen very often.
I would like to strictly use the GV app (wish it had more setting options and skins) but, it does not appear to support MMS.
Overall I am happy with how it works. Didn't know if there was a third party texting app that actually logged into GV texting.
- Dan
I recently setup Google Voice Full on my S3, using my Sprint number. How exactly does it work in terms of receiving a phone call? Is it through data or voice? If I don’t have 3g or data is it going to come through? Or does it work just like stock and not on google voice? A few people have called and i never received the call, was it google voice? or would i have had the same issue without it? Do i need a data connection to receive calls now that i am going through google voice? I honestly just wanted it for visual voicemail, but i do enjoy the texts being online but i cant afford to miss calls because they dont come through. I do have call screening off as well.
Circaflex said:
I recently setup Google Voice Full on my S3, using my Sprint number. How exactly does it work in terms of receiving a phone call? Is it through data or voice? If I don’t have 3g or data is it going to come through? Or does it work just like stock and not on google voice? A few people have called and i never received the call, was it google voice? or would i have had the same issue without it? Do i need a data connection to receive calls now that i am going through google voice? I honestly just wanted it for visual voicemail, but i do enjoy the texts being online but i cant afford to miss calls because they dont come through. I do have call screening off as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All calls go through your cell connection (no data), but depending on your setup, texts and voicemail use data. The routing center was having issues last week due to Sandy in NYC so that could be why you had issues, but there could be other issues. You should try some testing by calling yourself to see how calling works and what sort of delay you may experience. I find that I often miss calls due to poor reception, but my gmail rings right away, it's the cell portion that can take several rings or miss the call completely.
Circaflex said:
I recently setup Google Voice Full on my S3, using my Sprint number. How exactly does it work in terms of receiving a phone call? Is it through data or voice? If I don’t have 3g or data is it going to come through? Or does it work just like stock and not on google voice? A few people have called and i never received the call, was it google voice? or would i have had the same issue without it? Do i need a data connection to receive calls now that i am going through google voice? I honestly just wanted it for visual voicemail, but i do enjoy the texts being online but i cant afford to miss calls because they dont come through. I do have call screening off as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you go onto a PC or Mac and type "Google voice" into address bar. Sign in and adjust setting accordingly. The settings on the PC end are the "full control" settings as your limited to what you can change through the phone application.
Good luck and don't fret, Google voice is a great program that I use daily.
Riding the Uni on the GSIII
I'm tired of needing touchwiz for Wifi Calling. The big question of this thread is "Can a google voice and hangouts dialer setup replace Wifi Calling?"
and how to set it up?
NOTE: I still want others to reach me on my Tmo number for voice and SMS. Where possible, I DON'T want others to see calls or SMSs from me coming from my GV number. This is what's nice about Tmo WiFi calling. It looks like you are just on the carrier network to everyone else.
What I'm trying so far:
-------Turned off wifi calling.-------
1) Keep my Tmobile number (not ported to GV) but set forwarding in the phone dialer app to forward to google voice number. This was necessary to handle voice mail in google voice before.
- Starting with "always forward" turned OFF, not sure if it should be ON or not yet because I'd think I still want my Tmo number to ring normally when Tmo coverage is OK. If coverage is bad, "unreachable" setting should forward to GV number and if I'm on Wifi, Hangouts should ring. (This part worries me and needs a lot of testing)
2) Hangouts handles SMS and the Hangouts dialer is installed.
-Hangouts SMS settings sends SMS from my Tmo number.
-Hangouts account settings for Google Voice set to ring Hangouts for incoming calls made to GV number.
Q: what happens when SMS comes into my Tmo number but I'm out of Tmo coverage on Wifi? Is there a way to forward SMS when 'unreachable" ?
Q: from what I've seen when using Wifi Calling, outbound SMSs don't send unless Tmo coverage is good. Is there any way to have Hangouts relay SMSs over a data connection? (unlikely, but want to ask)
3) Google Voice app is installed. This is still required but may soon be unnecessary.
- GV settings currently on "do not use Google Voice to make any calls"
4) When tmobile coverage is good, dial out with default dialer, When coverage is bad and I'm on Wifi, use hangouts dialer.
- I think my caller id in outbound calls would show my GV number. I don't know any way around this yet.
5) Disable 'double ring' See http://www.cnet.com/how-to/tips-for-google-voice-in-hangouts-on-android/
6) Incoming caller ID shows caller's number in GV settings under "Calls"
recommended reading:
https://support.google.com/voice/#topic=1708124
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205713?hl=en
http://www.zdnet.com/moving-from-google-voice-to-hangouts-for-sms-7000034034/
http://www.androidcentral.com/what-you-need-know-about-new-google-hangouts-and-google-voice
Essentially I’m looking to have someone build (you would be paid) an application for Android that acts like a mix between WhatsApp and Google Voice, but instead of being restricted to the United States like Google Voice, it uses a number provided by a service like Twilio or Nexmoto send and receive calls and SMS. I'd prefer Nexmo because inbound SMSs are at no cost.
This wouldn't be for a large scale roll-out/business/money making thing. Just as a little background, I have a friend in the UK that has a terrible data plan and constantly has to disable their data, so an app that uses data (WhatApp), the conversation goes on pause.
On my end when running the app I'd be using data/WiFi to send/receive calls and texts using the number/account I have on Nexmo (I also have one with Twilio), and when I sent a text using the app, it would be to their phone number and would be received by them just like a typical SMS message.