Database Users

Google Voice usage

Picked up an IO phone, and since we cannot activate the Evo on our Sprint lines yet, I am starting to use my google number for my main number. Figure good time to switch.
Dialing in and out is fine so far. I like that I can control who rings through to what phone etc.
I am not sure I am a fan of how it handles text. Seems like all SMS go into gvoice, AND into handcent, but handcent comes from some 406 number.
Anyone find a way to work around this? Of a way to make texting work more like it does if they text your phone?

Disable Google Voice (on the website) from texting the #, and just use the Google Voice app for SMS w/ the GVoice #.

[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.

Yeah, go to the website and disable SMS to your cell phone and just use the google voice application for texts.

sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool!
I do something similar at work.
I have my GV calls forwarded to my office desk number and my cell phone at the same time. This way I have the option to answer using my desk number or my cell phone.

Bah, this does not seem like a good solution.
Handcent, Chomp, etc, have a great popup that I really like. Going through google voice app all the time isn't as handy.
I was also a little surprised that I am not able to send or receive mms at all through google voice. So any pictures / links have to be sent directly to my phone.

sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing this for years. Never occurred to me to tell anyone else about it. Thanks.

sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also very handy if you have roomates.

I use both Handcent and the Google Voice app. I add the 406 number to the contact then I know who I am messaging, and if I delete the message I can still message them from Handcent. I emailed the email for the Google Voice app to see if they would be able to add a quick reply somehow within the app. We shall see how that goes.....

fireboy6275 said:
I use both Handcent and the Google Voice app. I add the 406 number to the contact then I know who I am messaging, and if I delete the message I can still message them from Handcent. I emailed the email for the Google Voice app to see if they would be able to add a quick reply somehow within the app. We shall see how that goes.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This won't always work as the number changes depending on when the message is sent.
As for setting it up to not send SMS to my phone, I tried that and it didn't work. You have one of two options if you're in my situation. Tell the GV app to not notify you of anything, essentially making it useless. Or have Handcent block the number that GV sends you texts from. You have to block a new one whenever it shows a new number but it works decently that way. I'm just stuck with getting two messages until friday lol

I am with you. The whole txt message thing is why I'll probably never use google voice for much else besides maybe a call forward.

chuckhriczko said:
This won't always work as the number changes depending on when the message is sent.
As for setting it up to not send SMS to my phone, I tried that and it didn't work. You have one of two options if you're in my situation. Tell the GV app to not notify you of anything, essentially making it useless. Or have Handcent block the number that GV sends you texts from. You have to block a new one whenever it shows a new number but it works decently that way. I'm just stuck with getting two messages until friday lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You either have to choose - use the GV app or use Handcent or whatever other SMS proggie you like. If you use the GV app, turn off SMS forwarding and all texts are handled within the GV app itself, no charges for texts with your carrier, and there is no need to deal with 406 numbers because the app is all integrated with your contacts.
If you need to use an SMS proggie, then of course you'll have to forward text to your GV account as SMS' and the benefit of GV is lowered.

Google voice now open to everyone

Google voice is open. No special invite needed! Join away and welcome
www google com / voice
happy calling!!!

Sweet, now hopefully people stop pming me for my invites lol. Already gave them all away.

I'm interested to see if you can add your google number to your favorite 5 or a-list and get free calls... Anyone tried this yet? I just started doing it so i have nothing to report.

Bxsteez said:
I'm interested to see if you can add your google number to your favorite 5 or a-list and get free calls... Anyone tried this yet? I just started doing it so i have nothing to report.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to do this back when I got my Moto Droid on release day, but something stopped me from doing it.. I forget why I decided not to. Maybe I researched a bit and concluded that it wouldn't work. Seems like it should, though. Let me know how it works out for you

You lose caller ID but i guess you can use the google voice number as an exclusive number where only people you care to talk to have it.... I probably won't do it because of that though

okay, so i have added it to friends and fam for awhile now..i keep the caller id on cause i dont really eat through minutes..unless i am talking to comcast customer service..etc. so then what i do is, i open google voice (bookmarked in my browser) and then enter the number i want to call and then google connects me to that number by calling my phone with my gv number..i found it a lot simpler than dialing google voice and then dialing out through there. its flawless and i save the whole thirty mins

Google Voice and Skype Working on Tab

So here is what I did... I now have a working VOIP phone service via my T-Mobile Tab..
-- Get the hacked Skype App (allows 3G calling) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=156KWZVH
-- Get Google Voice from Market
-- Go to skype.com and setup an account
-- Order a Skype Internet Number (it's $30 for a year right now -- normally $60)
-- Add a Skype calling plan ( I went with $2.99 a month for unlimited calling)
-- Set Skype to display your Google Voice Number (Caller ID Settings)
-- Set Google Voice to forward all calls to your Skype number
-- Go into Google Voice App and set it up to use your Skype number for voicemail notifications.
It works and it works pretty darn well...
Pros:
--Incoming and outgoing voice capabilities
--Unlimited calling in the US and Canada for $2.99 a month
--With 3G data plan you always have phone functions to dial out and receive
--Use Google Voice for SMS messages and you only have the one number.
Cons:
--If you don't want to use the Google Voice number for SMS then you will have 2 numbers. The one that came on your Tab that is used for SMS/MMS and a number for phone usage.
--Price for this to work per year amounts to $66 ($30 for the Skype number and $36 for the unlimited plan) Not really a con if you consider this is the total cost for a year of unlimited cell (VOIP) calls from you Tab
--If you use Google Voice for SMS it does not do MMS
Here is how it works...
When someone calls your Google Voice number it forwards it to the Skype number and the Tab rings...
When you call someone it displays your Google Voice number...
COOL....

Thanks for telling step-by-step to this workaround... couple of more cons, for me anyway.
1) a big con for me is that it means I can't port my existing cell no. to my new Tab... and since I'm a consultant and it's been my phone no. for a long time... that's kind of a drag.
2) Also, I've heard Skype call quality is sketchy at times?
3) No 911 calling via Skype I beleive?
thoughts pls?
ps... I suppose if I just kept my Sprint plan and went to phone only and kept my Pre I could just call forward my cell no. to Google voice?

I ported my previous cell number to my Tab...
Skype can be sketchy if on a slow or weak 3G or Wifi connection... I have had no problems with it yet though...
Yes, no 911 calling.... But you can program your local police / fire / EMS non emergency dispatch center number as a contact... That's what I did... Granted it's not as fast to get answered as 911, but it is a suggestion...
I don't see why you could not forward the previous cell # to GV then have it forwarded to Skype. Then set the Caller ID in Skype to display your previous cell number... Should work...

I might give this a try and see how I like.... since the phone flashing seems to be stuck at 2G plus a few other problems at this point....
Thanks much for the instructions...!

I decided to do this route as opposed to flashing the other way... Flashing the Euro ROM does still have issues and even once they are worked out, I can't see a US carrier adding voice to the Tab... Even with flashing the Euro ROM you will still need another SIM card to use that has voice functions enabled on it (hence, a different number like this process requires)...
Many people already have my GV number so this was also an easy way to get phone function without much effort... And at $66 a year for unlimited voice, I don't see a carrier plan even coming close to that...

Please Elaborate
@raqball
How does it work? Is it smooth?
My wife has a Skype account, does it have to be the unlimited calls or do you use the free calls from skype?
I really would love to see a YouTube vid please, or just a demo, I need to feel confident to give back the MyTouch 4G for this
Cause if it's like that, I am going to go and give back the MyTouch and get the tab for the Both of us tomorrow!

xexes said:
Thanks for telling step-by-step to this workaround... couple of more cons, for me anyway.
1) a big con for me is that it means I can't port my existing cell no. to my new Tab... and since I'm a consultant and it's been my phone no. for a long time... that's kind of a drag.
2) Also, I've heard Skype call quality is sketchy at times?
3) No 911 calling via Skype I beleive?
thoughts pls?
ps... I suppose if I just kept my Sprint plan and went to phone only and kept my Pre I could just call forward my cell no. to Google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this for months on my old Milestone (Droid) due to me being in Canada and everyone I knew being back in the US (and all calls to the US are int'l long distance via cell) until I found a way to make GV work here in Canada via normal phone lines.
Yes, call quality via Skype is sketchy at times, depending on connection quality, and there's ALWAYS lag.
Call forwarding works fine.
I wouldn't sweat 911, but then again I have almost no respect for that service anyway.

How stable has this been running for the ones using it?
Sent From The Moon... With a HTC Glacier

Any way to do this without Skype? Can't pay for everything :/ Will GV just work?

You'll need some sort of VOIP to make it work, but it doesn't have to be Skype.
Keep in mind, Google Voice is NOT a VOIP service, it's a fancy call forwarding and voicemail service that also lets you pick a free US phone number for life.
And folks, there's always Sipdroid and a SIP number service (there's quite a few besides Gizmo)
http://gurnted.wordpress.com/guides/updated-guide-from-xda/

Matt4542 said:
Any way to do this without Skype? Can't pay for everything :/ Will GV just work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems here. I am using the hacked Skype app that allows 3g calling. Working great for me so far.
Sent from Samsung Tab using XDA App

raqball said:
No problems here. I am using the hacked Skype app that allows 3g calling. Working great for me so far.
Sent from Samsung Tab using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And where do you find that pls?

xexes said:
And where do you find that pls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also updated the 1st post with the link... Here you go though...
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=156KWZVH

Two numbers?
raqball said:
Cons:
--You will have 2 numbers. The one that came on your Tab that is used for SMS/MMS and a number for phone usage. No worries for me though as I give out the Google Voice number as my home number anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome post! I will probably do this tomorrow. $60 a year is a small price to pay to finally make my Tab a phone.
I currently only have the Google Voice app installed (no hacked Skype). When I go into my contacts (app which came with Tab) and I click on a contact, and then click the message icon, a little screen pops up asking if I want to complete the action using Messaging or Google Voice. Furthermore, you can check the "Use by default for this action" to always use Google Voice for texting. When I click Google Voice the text shows up to other people as my Google Voice number.
If the trick in this thread can use your Google Voice number as what shows up to other people as your caller ID, wouldn't this simplify you down again to one number (the Google Voice number)?

the problem with this is skype doesnt work with Bluetooth headset. so you either have to get a WIRED headset or use speaker phone which means no privacy

SteveIndianer said:
Awesome post! I will probably do this tomorrow. $60 a year is a small price to pay to finally make my Tab a phone.
I currently only have the Google Voice app installed (no hacked Skype). When I go into my contacts (app which came with Tab) and I click on a contact, and then click the message icon, a little screen pops up asking if I want to complete the action using Messaging or Google Voice. Furthermore, you can check the "Use by default for this action" to always use Google Voice for texting. When I click Google Voice the text shows up to other people as my Google Voice number.
If the trick in this thread can use your Google Voice number as what shows up to other people as your caller ID, wouldn't this simplify you down again to one number (the Google Voice number)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...

raqball said:
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, and I love that app....
About 5 minutes after I turned my Tab on I got a text asking if I wanted to buy some chronic/Mex from someone who obviously didn't know their contact's phone no. had changed!
But the app is great!

Not bad, not bad at all. Very good post.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab

raqball said:
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point, decisions decisions! For me I may be willing to sacrifice MMS for the simplicity of one phone number. I would justify it by using video calling, YouTube posting, and Facebook/Picasa pictures. I'm already giving up the native Email app because it puts weird labels on my Gmail emails instead of archiving emails like the Gmail app. So much for "native tablet optimized apps."
Cons for this route:
No 911 support
Two phone numbers or no MMS
Complicated calling procedure through Skype
Pros:
Delicious Galaxy Tab

so is everyone just got to use there tab with speaker phone ? because unless u use a wired headset that what u get since the TAB only has a speaker on the bottom.
if I could only get a Bluetooth headset to work with skype

[Q] Text messaging with non android number

Hi, my phone isnt android but my tablet obviously is. I'm in the military with orders to korea and want to keep in touch with everyone, but my phone is a cheap cricket flip phone. All the apps that allow things like this that i could find require me to install the app on my tablet and phone, which obviously wont work. Is there an app (free or paid, i dont care which) that will let me plug in my phone number and send texts from it on my tablet? Skype's text rates are ridiculous, gtalk is great but i can only communicate with other gtalk users, facebook messenger will only be instant for people with smart phones or data plans, etc. A text app will allow me to text everyone that doesnt have a smart phone as well as those that do, and not have to hope they are at their computer to reply. Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

Have you tried using Google Voice app on your tablet? I have used it with mine and I was able to send/receive text messages using the Google Voice number I chose. I was connected to wifi when I did this.

i have google voice from before i canceled my smart phone plan, i love how it transcribes my voice mails. I dont see a send text option though, even with my new cricket number in it. All i have is an inbox, settings, labels, balance, search and refresh, and the inbox just seems to be call logs and voicemail transcribes. If you can tell me how to set up texting with it i will be quite grateful.
Edit- okay text is under labels, but i cant figure out how to send one.

nifterific said:
i have google voice from before i canceled my smart phone plan, i love how it transcribes my voice mails. I dont see a send text option though, even with my new cricket number in it. All i have is an inbox, settings, labels, balance, search and refresh, and the inbox just seems to be call logs and voicemail transcribes. If you can tell me how to set up texting with it i will be quite grateful.
Edit- okay text is under labels, but i cant figure out how to send one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the google voice app on your tablet, and from there you press "compose" and than just type in the number (or select a contact) and txt away .

I to have cricket .. Google voice works .. as described above.. Also two more..
PALTALK VIDEO chat has a new sms feature.. I have not used it as its brand new..
YAHOO MESSENGER NOW HAS A SIMILAR Feature. and does video chat..
Yahoo messanger for the tablet is now compatable with Crickets sms service.. IT USED to not work..
i would check them out in the order i mentioned above I do use google voice and PALTALK .. the paltalk you get from www.paltalk.com
Good Luck and STAY SAVE OVER THERE... i hear its not much better then the middle east. one of my best Girl Friends just returned from EAU .. she says they treat women over there as if they are a Possession.. i would be hung because im very independent
I have the Zio cell phone It works well well for what it is .. I love the NO contract and i get awesome signal here.. I also have a at&t cell for work and my cricket is better service ..

Something must not be compatible with my rom because there is no compose option in voice and in settings the google voice number is greyed out and i cant select it. I'll look at yahoo messenger since i have it installed and hopefully that works. Thank you both for your help.
Edit- the website for google voice has more options than the app. I thought my voicemail number i made was enough, but i made a new number thst works with texting after signing out of the app then signing back in. Just one more question, since the texts show up as from the voice number amd not the cricket number, this means i dont have to pay for the cricket service when i leave, right? I can just use this free voice number to text? It seems too good to be true.

As far as i can remember your google Voice ..must have a telephone number to be linked to.. Rather or not its just for the initial setup verification im not sure .
i Use google voice number for things i register to keep text spam off my cell phone number.. Go to CRICKETUSER FORUMS Register and ask this same Question over there. EVERYTHING you ever need to know about CRICKET Wireless is on that forum..
Cricket now offers world wide text as well.. but im not sure if it from over there to us or just from us to over seas..

Thanks again for your help, i should have everything i need to adequately keep in touch with everyone now. Seems like its a free number that can route to my existing numbers, but wont require them(aside from activation) if i just want to use the tablet or a pc. so i can cancel my cricket service for the year im gone, thanks for helping me save money.

[Q] Complete Google Voice Integration

I have just picked up my new phone (Samsung Galaxy S4) and I'm trying my best to not EVER show my real number to ANYONE. I have set up google voice for phone calls and it seems to work nice but now I'm trying to work with my sms/mms messaging. I can send text's out via the google voice app and it works fine but I want a more integrated solution such as the google voice calling portion.
For example... ANYTIME any app needs to make a call or I choose to make a call it ALWAYS shows my google voice number. That way at no point (making a phone call) will anyone EVER see my real phone number. This is EXACTLY the effect I want.
For texting however, I open up the google voice app and send a text and it shows it's coming from my google voice number. That's want I want too. BUT, if I open the stock messaging app by mistake or another app sends a text (using the stock messaging app) it shows my real phone number. This is NOT the effect I want.
Any ideas?

mrarmega said:
I have just picked up my new phone (Samsung Galaxy S4) and I'm trying my best to not EVER show my real number to ANYONE. I have set up google voice for phone calls and it seems to work nice but now I'm trying to work with my sms/mms messaging. I can send text's out via the google voice app and it works fine but I want a more integrated solution such as the google voice calling portion.
For example... ANYTIME any app needs to make a call or I choose to make a call it ALWAYS shows my google voice number. That way at no point (making a phone call) will anyone EVER see my real phone number. This is EXACTLY the effect I want.
For texting however, I open up the google voice app and send a text and it shows it's coming from my google voice number. That's want I want too. BUT, if I open the stock messaging app by mistake or another app sends a text (using the stock messaging app) it shows my real phone number. This is NOT the effect I want.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can call your service provider and have sms/mms deactivated.

bsam55 said:
You can call your service provider and have sms/mms deactivated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How then would I get text messages?

Um, if people only have your Google Voice number, that is the number they will text to. Only drawback is it's SMS only.

bsam55 said:
Um, if people only have your Google Voice number, that is the number they will text to. Only drawback is it's SMS only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well obviously having people text my google number would send texts that way... I'm saying how will calling my service provider and disabling mms/sms have any effect on getting people to use my google number? I guess you were alluding to the fact that if people do have my real number then sending a text would be pointless. Which is true, but last time I checked when you send a text to a number that does not support sms/mms you get no response back saying something like "sorry no such text number". I would never know the other user even sent the text in the first please.
Drawback... Wow! I thought I could get MMS via google voice. Thanks for the tip!