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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?
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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
Anyone else here using Google Voice? And I don't just mean for the voicemail part. I just set up a number online with them and I'm considering dropping my unlimited SMS with VZW and using the Google voice SMS instead.
I'm just curious to see if anyone else has tried this? The number I got is the same last four as my current one, but the prefix is different, so that's not too bad. I figure I could drop my bill almost $30 by no longer using VZW's SMS service.
This is one of the first reasons why Android interested me. I've never paid for txt messages & never will.
Limitations:
1. You can't send an email-to-txt to a GV number
2. You can't receive MMS
3. You can't send txts to short numbers (like "Text REDCROSS to 90999")
Unless those features are worth $360/year, I think it's an easy decision...
Been using GV as my primary number for over a year now. My most recent VZW bill shows 0 text usage even though any of my friends would tell you that we exchange tons of texts
The biggest shortcoming is the lack of MMS support. If your friends aren't in the habit of sending you picture messages though (my circle just uses email), then it's a non-issue.
It's also great that using the Local Google Voice Settings Plugin with Tasker allows me to tweak GV call forwarding on the fly. Call me while I'm at work and you'll hit my desk phone. Call me in the evenings and you'll hit my cell.
Ok everything sounds pretty good to me then, the lack of MMS support is kinda weak though, I do that pretty frequently. I was considering just straight porting my number to them, but then I decided it wouldn't be worth it with my ETF. I'll give it a shot though with email instead of MMS, with Androids and all the options to share media, I'm sure I could live without it.
Afterthought: next question about GV, anyone have a way to integrate the incredible's messaging app with the SMS of GV? Mostly because I like how I have my widgets set up and would like to continue to use them. And secondly because GV isn't the most aesthetically pleasing to me at the moment
Well, you can choose to have your GV# forward text messages to your cell#. That way you could still use your stock messaging app/widget. The problem with that approach is that people's numbers won't come through looking like their number. Instead, you'll see another number that GV is essentially using as a proxy.
Before I had an Android device, I had my contacts set-up to take this into acct. So Johnny Smith might have phone number 444-555-6767, but when he called or texted my GV#, my phone would show incoming from 999-111-2323. I would store both the regular number and the 'proxy' number into someone's contact.
Your life will be a lot easier if you just use the GV app/widget. I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day, but that's your call.
But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting. I'll give it a shot, I future dated the change on my online account to start next billing cycle. Should give everyone enough time to take down my GV number. Thanks for the help guys! Anyone else that has something to add whether they're pros/cons please let me know.
Hypcrsy said:
But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting.
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Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)
I was actually thinking about this the other day....interesting responses, thanks guys
One thing great that has gone unmentioned is the browser accessibility of google voice....phone issues? Can text anywhere you can get internet via browser. I've used that a fair amount. The way the number can be routed to other phones is always a useful thing as well. I like not being attached to my physical phone numbers anymore.
I just got a google voice account the other day. I am still trying to figure out if I like it. So far it is pretty good. The voice to text is not that accurate yet but I hear that it improves over time. I have not given it out to people yet so not sure how it will work once I do that.
Thanks for the info...
SoBBie
I use GV as a business line. Complete with a business VM message. I love the fact u can screen the VM live then chime in if u wana talk. MMS is the only reason I will not use ot as a vzw replacement #.... Other wise I use it daily.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
byrong said:
Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)
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So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
that's correct, you will be charged if you have texts forwarded to your carrier phone #. Think of the google voice app on phone as a chat interface that is linked to a phone #. I have also thought as mentioned it's not the prettiest app...but there are some themed versions out there to be sure.
2faroffroad said:
So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
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Yes. If you have forwarding on, your phone treats it the same as receiving a regular text, since Google is forwarding a regular text to your Verizon phone #
I just use it to see how transcribing works. It is funny on many people but it usually gets the numbers right, which is awesome
I am with you 100% on the transcription - it is hilarious. It has no idea in the world what my wife is saying - 1 in 10 words right, I would guess! I only keep it on for the entertainment value.
So far I'm pretty happy with it. It does have those neat screening features for incoming calls. One weird thing I got was a voicemail recording of the phone ringing and my mom picking up and going "hello? hello?" Hopefully bugs like that don't happen too often. The one thing I will miss is the MMS ability, but hey, I have a Droid Incredible, there are many ways around that.
As for the themed versions of GV, can you point me in the right direction? I'd like like to see what I can find. Thanks again for all the responses, definitely made the decision a lot easier for me.
The best part of GV thus far is that I dropped my bill almost $30 a month. Sprint can suck it with there $69 simply everything plan....mine is Simply Unlimited Everything for $55 a month.
EDIT: Nevermind I found some solid looking themed GV inboxes. Thanks again everyone for responding!
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
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?
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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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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.
Am a small business owner and need to be able to access incoming and outgoing texts while on a cruise. WhatsApp seems to require the other party to be signed up which is not always the case. Is there another way around this besides buying the high-priced cellular plan? For example can I forward my phone to Google Voice and receive messages this way over WiFi?
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
tomplatz said:
Am a small business owner and need to be able to access incoming and outgoing texts while on a cruise. WhatsApp seems to require the other party to be signed up which is not always the case. Is there another way around this besides buying the high-priced cellular plan? For example can I forward my phone to Google Voice and receive messages this way over WiFi?
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What I can suggest is one of those free voip services that give you an actual phone number. In Canada we have Fongo, lets you receive and send texts to and from your assigned number as long as you have a working Internet connection. There has to be something similar where you are. You can even probably sign up for Fongo where you are, you'll just have a Canadian area code.
tomplatz said:
Am a small business owner and need to be able to access incoming and outgoing texts while on a cruise. WhatsApp seems to require the other party to be signed up which is not always the case. Is there another way around this besides buying the high-priced cellular plan? For example can I forward my phone to Google Voice and receive messages this way over WiFi?
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
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Click to collapse
You already have 3 things:
- smartphone
- Google Voice
- Hangouts
You're missing just this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.hangoutsdialer
after that you'll have unlimited texting, SMS, incoming and outgoing calls, voice mail - and all those absolutely free...
p.s. after installing go into the above mentioned application setting menu and check two check-boxes for incoming calls and SMS..
Sent from my hTc 10
Thank you!!
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers Legacy app