Database Users

Use Google Voice and Gmail?

Pretty awesome new feature in my opinion added today!
http://www.google.com/chat/voice/
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-and-receive-calls-in-gmail.html

Just used it to make a call. Pretty slick. Bring on the Android app!
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Pretty cool, so is this meant to be used on your PC? Or can you place calls for free using gmail on your phone?

I just saw this in my email and had to try it out!
It's pretty neat!
can't wait until we get in on our phones!!!

I've had the google voice phone number on my G1 for about a year and the match ing google voice app. And now have it on my Vibrant. It is really nice.
Sent from my Vibrant using the XDA app.

Bronk93 said:
Pretty cool, so is this meant to be used on your PC? Or can you place calls for free using gmail on your phone?
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This is meant to be used on the PC. If you already have google voice, then you just install the new video chat add-on (linked to in first post) and you're all set.
Anyone you call will see your google voice number pop up. You can put in a phone number or the name of one of your google contacts.
This is a good way to communicate with people without having to leave your phone on speaker or break your stride if you're working on the computer.

pretty sweet...doubt Google's going to bring it to phones though and upset the apple cart with carriers

just wanted to know if incoming calls through your google number is free as well?
i know that outbound calls are free through data, but what about incoming calls in which your google voice number is forwarded to your mobile phone when someone calls your google voice number?
is that free or there is charge for that?
thanks a lot , i wish someone could give some clarification on this

Ms_Vibrant said:
just wanted to know if incoming calls through your google number is free as well?
i know that outbound calls are free through data, but what about incoming calls in which your google voice number is forwarded to your mobile phone when someone calls your google voice number?
is that free or there is charge for that?
thanks a lot , i wish someone could give some clarification on this
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Call your GV # from your house phone and find out. I remember trying it out like 2 days ago, I think it uses your carrier's plan minutes.

Killer Bee said:
Call your GV # from your house phone and find out. I remember trying it out like 2 days ago, I think it uses your carrier's plan minutes.
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thanks, will do that, then find out later on if my airtime minutes are being deducted. Is it the same with incoming text messages? maybe not , right? has to be free

yes it does uses the airtime minutes, otherwise, it wouldnt have reflected in my recent activity status on my tmobile account.

Visual Voicemail (T-Mobile)

Anyone here use it? Is it worth activating; does it drain battery significantly, etc.? (I know folks say Google Voice is better, but I'm not interested in handing out a new phone no., etc. Don't do much phoning, or need heavy features; just curious about the pre-installed VV app.) Thx.

You don't have to hand out a new number. What you do is set your phone to forward unanswered calls to your Google Voice number and then set your Google Voice number "Do Not Disturb."
That way, all unanswered call get forwarded to Google Voice which goes straight to Voice Mail. Google Voice notifies you immediately when they are done leaving their message. Cheers!

I've used T-mobiles voice mail services including visual voice mail. I have also used Google Voice. Personally I didn't like the Google voice experience.
Much happier using T-Mobile voice mail and visual voice mail through T-Mobile.

I use it, works great for me. Never tried the google voice method.

I have never really tried the visual voice mail through T-Mobile. What makes it different and don't they charge you extra for it?

kangxi said:
I have never really tried the visual voice mail through T-Mobile. What makes it different and don't they charge you extra for it?
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Visual voice mail is free with your data plan. However, if you have been a long time customer, it may not be provisioned on your account. So all you have to do is call them, tell them to please provision visual voice mail onto your account, it should be free, and then you can activate it via your phone app.
Only real difference, Google Voice will transcribe your voice mails. Besides that major difference, I found Google Voice to be unreliable and just not for me.

SamsungVibrant said:
Visual voice mail is free with your data plan. However, if you have been a long time customer, it may not be provisioned on your account. So all you have to do is call them, tell them to please provision visual voice mail onto your account, it should be free, and then you can activate it via your phone app.
Only real difference, Google Voice will transcribe your voice mails. Besides that major difference, I found Google Voice to be unreliable and just not for me.
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I see. Well have you tried any if the newer versions? They have done a lot to make it faster and big free.
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Thanks to all for the replies/info...

I am using the visual voice mail and so far so good, it's free, so why not activating it?

I've been suing google voice for a while now. It works pretty good. Havent used vicual voiceail from t-mobile in a minute though. I think both work fine though, I'm just a google junkie

I found google voice is better.....for me. Just in case I don't feel my phone vibrate about a new voicemail. I also get email notifications, which is handy for me since I always use gmail notifications on my computers that I use.
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Sir Incognito said:
I've been suing google voice for a while now. It works pretty good. Havent used vicual voiceail from t-mobile in a minute though. I think both work fine though, I'm just a google junkie
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you might want to edit your post it says you have been suing google voice lol

I tried and use both. Visual vm has no negatives imo. Works wonderfully. GV transcripts are usually terrible-useless anyways. I only use google voice as a number on social networks and for texts when im in a bad reception area with wifi.
Plus it MAY not be free after the end of the year...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I use both so.....

Tmobile vvm doesn't transcribe. They mean "visual" like you can see your vm details on the screen as opposed to calling in.
Its kinda stupid.
Google voice is nice as long as you have the right combo of app and dialer app. I place a widget from each app on the screen. I can see sms as they arrive. Automatically transcribes vm, not recommended if your callers tend to be mumblers or dRunks.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

I prefer visual voicemail over GV, if only cause there are too many hoops to make GV work well, and the transcription sucks in my opinion.
The only fail with T-Mobile Visual Voicemail is that it will not receive messages on WiFi, and where I live the 3g is non-existent at my house so I am always on WiFi, and if I get a voicemail I have to get of the wifi, download it and then I can switch back over.
Hope this helps.

ensonnosne said:
Tmobile vvm doesn't transcribe. They mean "visual" like you can see your vm details on the screen as opposed to calling in.
Its kinda stupid.
Google voice is nice as long as you have the right combo of app and dialer app. I place a widget from each app on the screen. I can see sms as they arrive. Automatically transcribes vm, not recommended if your callers tend to be mumblers or dRunks.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
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Google voice transcriptions are terrible. The widget only shows the last SMS, and callimg people with a Google voice number only causes confusion.
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ensonnosne said:
Tmobile vvm doesn't transcribe. They mean "visual" like you can see your vm details on the screen as opposed to calling in.
Its kinda stupid.
Google voice is nice as long as you have the right combo of app and dialer app. I place a widget from each app on the screen. I can see sms as they arrive. Automatically transcribes vm, not recommended if your callers tend to be mumblers or dRunks.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
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I like the visual because that way I can choose which message I want to listen to rather then start at message one

Ya like it too but they kinda do two different things.
And yes google voice is definitely not for you if it confuses the majority of your callers. Lol
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ensonnosne said:
Ya like it too but they kinda do two different things.
And yes google voice is definitely not for you if it confuses the majority of your callers. Lol
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
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Some people have beyter things to do than worry about which number to call or sms. Can also make managing you sms a pain, since voice isn't intergrated into the stock messaging app.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Google Voice

How many people actually use this app and is it really a good thing to use? Just wondering about it because I notice it's in most roms and launcher downloads. I've personally never tried it. What are the pros and cons?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

ive been using google voice for quite a while, both on my PC and on my phones.. works seemlessly with the SF..
its a matter of preference.. and convenience for me...i can call out using either my cell number or my google voice number.. voicemail is SO much better, and it not only translates to text, but at the bottom of the text there is a play button to hear it..
the only con i can report is that sometimes the text translation of the voicemail is a bit off..but you can still get a good idea of what the message is without actually having to listen to it..
im a huge google voice fan..

mrjake1970 said:
ive been using google voice for quite a while, both on my PC and on my phones.. works seemlessly with the SF..
its a matter of preference.. and convenience for me...i can call out using either my cell number or my google voice number.. voicemail is SO much better, and it not only translates to text, but at the bottom of the text there is a play button to hear it..
the only con i can report is that sometimes the text translation of the voicemail is a bit off..but you can still get a good idea of what the message is without actually having to listen to it..
im a huge google voice fan..
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Does it cost extra to use it?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

It's free to use, unlike Verizon's Visual Voicemail which costs X amount of dollars per month. I was skeptical of Google Voice at first but I've really liked it for the month or so I've used it.

bskidz79 said:
It's free to use, unlike Verizon's Visual Voicemail which costs X amount of dollars per month. I was skeptical of Google Voice at first but I've really liked it for the month or so I've used it.
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Thanks, I'll give it a try.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

I'm honestly not exaggerating when I say this: there are no cons to using Google Voice (I can't see how less-than-perfect voicemail transcription is a con since you don't get any voicemail transcription normally). Like Gmail, this is a service that's been universally lauded by the press and consumers alike for good reason.
BUT: it's not just an app on the phone that you run instead of Verizon's VVM app. It's a true telephony service, and if that sounds kind of complicated, well, in some ways it is, though Google makes it extremely easy to use (whether you just want to use it as a voicemail service, or to effectively replace your regular phone number(s) entirely).
Google has a great site that explains it all better than any of us can, so I'd suggest starting there:
http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
Or here if for whatever reason you can't watch the videos:
http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/static.py?page=guide.cs&guide=22635

I love my Google Voice. Best vm I've ever used
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

The other part of the setup i have that i love is the seemless integration of computer and phone with bluetooth.
I spent about $80 on a blueant earpiece that allows multiple connections, and a $16 dongle from best buy for the computer.
When the phone rings, i can answer via the computer or the phone. I have had exactly 1 dropped call since i started using GV in July.
I was afraid of Google for the longest time because of privacy. Then i realized they know everything about me anyway from using search. Once i started trying more of their products i was hooked. Now i have everything Google on computer and obviously phone too.
My life is easier with the integration and they just plain have cool stuff Lol.
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I have used google voice since for 6 months. I started on my BB and now use it on my Fascinate. I have friends with regular phones that use it as well, all of which love it. I haven't heard of anyone complaining or going back.

Just so folks know, you can choose to only use the Voicemail portion of Google Voice. You do not have to use it to make or receive calls...

the problem I had with google voice is it wanted to take over my entire phone. their forums you're pretty much worthless. Is there a link with good setup instructions?

There is only one downside I see to Google Voice and that's the fact that it can't send or receive MMS. Is it a big deal? Not unless you exclusively use your Google voice number to call and text people.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

gv is a great product
i have my voicemails sent to my gmail account as txt
when at work my phone is on silent but I get all my personal messages

Google Voice, the entire service, is unfortnent as you must use a different number than your cell number (which if youve had for 5 years is... bad).
You CAN however use GV for voicemail with your current number, which lets you have the free visual voice mail/speech to text translations without needing a new number.

Adding your Google Voice number as one of your Friends & Family numbers equals free calls.

I love using GV for free texting. I've had my number for a few years. Worked great on AT&T/Blackberry Bold.
But with Verizon/FV I've noticed when receiving call or placing call with my GV#, there seems to be a 1/2 second delay when talking. Really started to annoy me, felt like a overseas call, so I stopped using my GV# as my everyday phone #.

Crashspeeder said:
There is only one downside I see to Google Voice and that's the fact that it can't send or receive MMS. Is it a big deal? Not unless you exclusively use your Google voice number to call and text people.
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yeah, if they get mms working, I'm dumping my texting plan.
spotmark said:
Adding your Google Voice number as one of your Friends & Family numbers equals free calls.
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Only if you actually dial your gv number and then enter the number you want to call. If you use the app, it dials another number that changes periodically. And you only get free incoming if you disable caller id pass-through.

Just jumped on the GV bandwagon after reading this thread. I've made a few calls with my sweet new Beverly Hills number. I'm sure i'll think of creative ways to use it. VVM will likely be its primary function, though. It's my understanding that GV uses your data connection for calls, correct?

PJnc284 said:
Only if you actually dial your gv number and then enter the number you want to call. If you use the app, it dials another number that changes periodically. And you only get free incoming if you disable caller id pass-through.
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Correct. The way I do it is, I access GV using my phone's browser, then I dial a number through that. It will ring my cell phone using my GV number, and then connect me to the person I'm calling.

can i use google voice on wifi.. ive tried but it just says dialing??? and how do i geta google voice number.. i have the app.. but it asks for my goolge voice number so i just type in my vzw number and i cant call

Can't received phone calls.

Can't received phone calls cm7 please help.
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cman813 said:
Can't received phone calls cm7 please help.
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You need to put in a LOT more info there. Not the least of all is a more vivid description of your problem.

I am running cm7. Every body say they calling but my phone want ring and I did download Google voice and it gave me a couple of problem and I still cannot get the Google voice mail off my phone.
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cman813 said:
I am running cm7. Every body say they calling but my phone want ring and I did download Google voice and it gave me a couple of problem and I still cannot get the Google voice mail off my phone.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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You need to go online to remove google voice integration. If you are not receiving the calls, google voice is and you have misconfigured your phone. Go online to google.com/voice and revert those changes. Then uninstall the application from your phone. Should be fine after that.
My other suggestion would be to read everything when installing something on your phone, when you install google voice on the HTC evo or other google voice supported phones there is an option to merge with the google voice account or not, You should select SKIP and not continue. Sometimes people fail to read that part and this happens.
Good Luck!

Google voice or not

Debating on google voice. My boss swears by it but I read more bad then good. I know sprint users get basiclly a more functional version, but is it worth it. What am I losing. I know if I go cm9 that ill pretty much have to go to google voice for functioning voicemail. Yes I know how to move the vvm, but results seem veried on the annoying 9016 txt. Who's using google voice and is it worth the effort?
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Don't do the integrating with your sprint number. Just set it up as your voicemail. That way its not a permanent thing that takes sprint support to undo. Just choose skip integration when you try it out. It will have you dial a code to forward unanswered calls to gv and then you are set.
I like it. The transcription is mostly useless. It understands me fine but real people leaving messages it is just laughable, but I do live in Tennessee so that may he part of it lol.
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I had it ounce before but gave up real on it quick, but found that could be unintergrated fairly eaisly from the web site. Your not the first person to mention using it just for voice mail. How about for txt messaging though
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I don't use it for txt. Pretty much voicemail only for me. It doesn't do Mms to gv number so that's a non starter for me.
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I like GV for easy importing, editing, and backups of my contacts which is handy when flashing ROMs often. I also really like being able to block unwanted phone numbers. It has been handy sometimes to be able to send SMS from the web client, but I generally just use the stock messaging app on my phone. Since I'm using the integrated GV number, my SMS messages still show up in GV. The call screening is also nice when you want to know who is calling before actually accepting the call, though I disable it for known phone numbers. I like managing my contacts from my desktop where it is easy to setup groups and add photos. GV is great for making cheap international calls, too. I can't think of any lost functionality from the default Sprint services.
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I use gv as a secondary number.
Don't integrate with sprint, its pointless lol for all that you can just chill with your regular service lolol
Also android backs up contacts to your profile....
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

So sounds like the way to go is.use it for.voice mail but not.txt.as.it doesn't support mms anyhow. Though you can text from your pc
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I have been using Google Voice since it came out, one of the original invitees, I did integrate with Sprint because I have been using my gv number for gosh probably about 5 years now. Started to use it on my archos 5it back in the day, and setup an soip so that it was basically a phone when I had wifi connection. It is nice to know that I will always have the same number, even if I don't feel like porting, or pick up a tablet with only wifi connectivity. Also, all my text messages are backed up for 5 years now, never loose one unless I delete it. Their visual voicemail is pretty meh, especially the transcription service...

I'm fully integrated, and I have no problems with it at all. I also love how I can run it on my Kindle Fire to check SMS and missed calls if my phone is upstairs.
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Or any computer, say you leave your phone at home accidentally, you can still get your voicemails, and send sms...

i went full GV integration because I spend most of my day in zero cell signal coverage.. so it was a way for me to be able to send texts over wifi.. and who can't help but be amused by the voicemail transcriptions.. lol

stilesja said:
Don't do the integrating with your sprint number. Just set it up as your voicemail. That way its not a permanent thing that takes sprint support to undo. Just choose skip integration when you try it out. It will have you dial a code to forward unanswered calls to gv and then you are set.
I like it. The transcription is mostly useless. It understands me fine but real people leaving messages it is just laughable, but I do live in Tennessee so that may he part of it lol.
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Yeah adding it to my kindle was one of the reason I wanted to jump back in. I just have to make sure its all reliable as I get a lot of sales calls and txts and email and crap
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

One thing to be aware of, is that MMS is pretty half assed, in that I don't think you can send an MMS using your GV number unless you integrate. You cannot do an MMS directly from the app itself, you have to send it with messaging. If you get a MMS the image or video will be sent to your Gmail account.

I went for the full integration. To list what I call benefits:
-Better voice mail
-Able to respond to voice mails/texts from any computer including my HP Touchpad and prevents me from tapping away on my phone at work.
-Always have a place to keep track of all my conversations.
-Been enjoying the ability to have different voice mails messages for different contact groups
-Blocking of spam numbers and texts (Enjoy this immensely)
the day it can handle MMS properly, I'll be one happy camper.

worldwidepmp said:
I'm fully integrated, and I have no problems with it at all. I also love how I can run it on my Kindle Fire to check SMS and missed calls if my phone is upstairs.
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Same, full integration and I love it. There is no reason not to do it really.... Always have texts available from a PC, being able to send texts over wifi when you're not in a signal area... It's awesome
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Ok last questions, and I'm sure I should ask a sprint rep or something, but I garantee this is faster.
With sprint my cell to cell is free. Do I still get that with google voice. And if I'm in california and I call the inlaws in canada (on their cell no less). How am I billed. Or am i. Web site says one cent a minute, but if google voice is basicly voip then how are we billed. And of corse if this is voip, does that mean in a data dead spot I have no phone unless I un intergrate.
I beg for forgivness at my question that are probably searchable, but if mess with my phone to long my wife yells at me so quick answers instead of searching mean I get to sleep in the bed instead of the floor
Edit: as i read more in to this i basically find some web pages that rave about it and some that says there is a ton of hidden fees. The hidden fees com in to play that if you call mobile to mobile, but at some point it is routed through a land line (rare case) your using minutes and may not realize it. doesn't bother me at all. long distance call. i cant call the in laws unless in canada unless i put cash in my Google account.. i would never call any other country. the way its worded on the website is awkward. it might be saying its free. it might be saying its 1 cent a minute
Edit2: Under know issues from sprint. quote "Charged incorrectly for calls to Canada (Calls to Canada should be free while using Google Voice)
If you are being charged for calls to Canada please contact Sprint Customer Care to request a refund for these charges."
so its enough an issue that it showed up in the know issues web page
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Google Voice is actually all I use. I had Sprint but I discontinued the service cause lack of funds (I'm a broke college student now, listening to REM & The Fray on my iPod headphones at coffee shops.) no, but really, there is literally Wifi everywhere I go, so that's my way of communication. Everything works. I think Voice is awesome. I recommend it. Just don't sync it with your Sprint number cause it'll do the "ring 3 times & send the caller to voicemail" thing. Last time, I checked, that could be fixed in the settings though.
Sent from my Épico Ranchero.

GV works just fine. If you integrate it, you won't even realize it's there. By default it will let you use the native messaging app, so you never even have to load Voice except to listen to voicemail (making it no better or worse than VVM). MMS works identically to regular Sprint messaging; I send and receive them all the time the usual way.
Once you get cozy with it, it's just a nice way to know your texts are automatically backed up, and it let's you set custom voicemail greets for each person/group in your contacts.
I haven't seen anything negative about it that wasn't fearmongering or a relic of a past issue raised by someone who didn't know what they were doing in the first place.
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The only negative is if you are like me and use a Google Voice number to set up a business line. Once you set up your Sprint number to use Google Voice as well they share the outgoing message on voicemail.
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I don't have a landline so I got a number and have it forward to mine and my wife's cell phones. If I want to make a call using it I just open up the voice app. I wild do the integration but google won't let me forward multiple numbers to one cell phone and using it as a "land line" number is first priority.