[Q] Google Voice integration w/ GV as primary number - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I've got a question about to how to set up my google voice (configuration) with my upcoming andriod phone.
I'm an Iphone user moving into andriod (I've snagged an LG nexus 4 and will be using that in the near future).
My current setup (I am out of my 2 year contract) is that I have a monthly minutes and data plan. I do not have a texting plan.
I mostly use my google voice number to text over data/wifi.
The problem with this of course is that this requires giving people two numbers and most people have my old original cell phone number and they'll need to remember which number to text (a remarkably hard task,even in this modern age of technology and mobile internet because people are still content to pay for texting plans)
.
I plan to port my cell phone number (because I'm out of contract) into my google voice. I will also open a new line with my carrier (to maintain my cell phone service). I will not giving out the number to my new line to anybody. This allows me to manage all calls (screen, block, etc directly from google voice which I really enjoy) and I will not have to notify my contacts that I've changed my number. I would like to keep my original google voice number as well.
As I see it, I have 2 options.
1) Port my cell phone number into my current google voice account (effectively having 2 numbers in 1 google account - this costs 20 dollars to port and 20 dollars to keep the original GV number - 40 dollars total)
2) Port my number into another google account, leaving me to use 2 google acounts, and use 2 different google voice applications for texting (only 20 dollars for 1 port). This would also force me to set my (new cellular) number (new line which I've opened because my old line will be ported) as a work or home number - because google does not allow you to link your mobile number to two different voice accounts.
This chart was tremendously helpful in helping me figure out that the native andriod texting application is not "fully integrated" with google voice. It more or less functions much like the default Iphone's messaging app (not what I expected).
http://i.stack.imgur.com/zW9Os.png
Therefore my questions are
1) How well does andriod's native phone integrate with google voice?
The first question might answer the rest:
2) Will I be able to use the default phone application to manage all my numbers (dialing, voicemail etc). Or will I possibly need to use multiple applications.
3) Will I be able to use visual voicemail from the default app? )
4) Will I be able to use my phone to place an outgoing call from my google voice number using hands-free (bluetooth, etc)
5) Are there any other better viable alternatives?
Sorry if this is a bit wordy and messy.
Thanks for your help.

Related

EVO 3D and Google Voice

I installed Google Voice and didn't read the app carefully. I selected the Sprint integration and now when I answer a call it asks me to press 1 to accept the call. I cleared the data in app manager and re-ran the app the correct way without sprint integration but it still asks me to press 1 when answering a call. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks!
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
https://www.google.com/voice/b/0#callsettings
Turn off call screening
This isn't specific to the 3D.
It's been a pain for about a week - since Sprint and GV launched the integration service.
The integration does more than make you press 1...
It prevents you from using ANY txt app BUT Google Voice, and reduces your 2 numbers to ONLY your google voice number...
OR
If you select to use your Sprint number, YOU MAY LOOSE YOUR GOOGLE VOICE NUMBER AFTER 30 DAYS!
Rather than turning off call screening (unless you want to, but it doesn't sound like your GV# was your primary number before), you should log into GV on your computer, go to Settings -> Phones, and Deactivate your 3D.
Google Voice will still be enabled for Voice mail after you do this, but it won't infiltrate and take over everything.
You can then go back to forwarding your GV# to whatever phones you like - and hopefully keep it if you chose to use your Sprint # on the phone.
Kalash said:
This isn't specific to the 3D.
It's been a pain for about a week - since Sprint and GV launched the integration service.
The integration does more than make you press 1...
It prevents you from using ANY txt app BUT Google Voice, and reduces your 2 numbers to ONLY your google voice number...
OR
If you select to use your Sprint number, YOU MAY LOOSE YOUR GOOGLE VOICE NUMBER AFTER 30 DAYS!
Rather than turning off call screening (unless you want to, but it doesn't sound like your GV# was your primary number before), you should log into GV on your computer, go to Settings -> Phones, and Deactivate your 3D.
Google Voice will still be enabled for Voice mail after you do this, but it won't infiltrate and take over everything.
You can then go back to forwarding your GV# to whatever phones you like - and hopefully keep it if you chose to use your Sprint # on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with what you're saying here. First off you can easily use any text app you want. You just need to make sure you turn on the notify you via text option in Google Voice. Secondly I like having my Sprint number through my Google voice account so that way I can apply my Google Voice rules while still getting my free Mobile to mobile and not having to give anyone else a new number.
Secondly if you want to keep another google voice number, it's only a $20 one time charge.
Thirdly you know how great it is to answer my cell phone number from my computer whenever I have google talk open. Plus I have a Obi110 hooked up to a cordless phone so at home I have VOIP on my Cell phone number. My friends and family have no clue where I'm calling from because it always shows my cell phone number.
Google voice is a blessing if you know how to use it.
It's a headache if you don't though.
Read up on the services features before deciding if you want to use them. I love G-Voice but you need to understand theres one negative aspect of it.
No picture mail/mms services are allowed when you integrate. you'll have to resort to emailing attachments or facebooking or whatever you do to get your content across the waves.
I have not integrated. Right now calls to canada are free with gv but very expensive with sprint. If I integrate one way or another will I end up paying sprints rate or will it be free because of gv?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA Premium App
darkflame said:
Google voice is a blessing if you know how to use it.
It's a headache if you don't though.
Read up on the services features before deciding if you want to use them. I love G-Voice but you need to understand theres one negative aspect of it.
No picture mail/mms services are allowed when you integrate. you'll have to resort to emailing attachments or facebooking or whatever you do to get your content across the waves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have that wrong too. You can still send and receive picture mail mms through your regular messaging/texting app.
Edit: added some reading for people
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...ice-sprint-integration-questions-and-answers/
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...e-integration-i-did-it-and-heres-how-it-went/
I have mine setup pretty much like this. Just did it before the article.
sdc177 said:
I have not integrated. Right now calls to canada are free with gv but very expensive with sprint. If I integrate one way or another will I end up paying sprints rate or will it be free because of gv?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you integrate international calling is through Google Voice. I don't know if they mention Canada but I know for a fact they handle all your other international calling.
Best i could find on international from the man handling this himself http://www.google.com/support/forum...0e&hl=en&fid=5122d9657099fe0e000479f1f8d2bae2
dont mean to hi-jack, i meant to create a separate thread but saw this one and instead of creating another thread, i'll just post here since its related to google voice. I went onto the google voice forum and sprint forum but no one can help me.
when trying to set up google voice, i'm getting an error message saying "your phone number could not be verified. please try again"
i tried re-adding my number and it says "this number is already in use as a cell phone on another google voice account" which is probably why i'm getting an error message on my phone saying it cant verifiy my number.
I also tried clicking on Change/Port in voice settings and going to "Use your Sprint mobile number with Google Voice" and i got an error. i think my account just needs to be reset or something?
I have a question, here is the scenario:
I have Google Voice(GV) and Sprint numbers.
I also have 3 unlimited numbers in my sprint phone.
I added my GV number to one of those three so all the calls I recieve from GV are free.
I can also use the call back function on GV to make calls for free since my sprint phone sees this as an incoming call from GV.
My question is:
If I integrate keeping my Sprint number as the primary, meaning all the calls I make from GV will show the Sprint phone number. What will I see in the caller ID when I make a call from GV's website?
Thanks.
jolugo said:
I have a question, here is the scenario:
I have Google Voice(GV) and Sprint numbers.
I also have 3 unlimited numbers in my sprint phone.
I added my GV number to one of those three so all the calls I recieve from GV are free.
I can also use the call back function on GV to make calls for free since my sprint phone sees this as an incoming call from GV.
My question is:
If I integrate keeping my Sprint number as the primary, meaning all the calls I make from GV will show the Sprint phone number. What will I see in the caller ID when I make a call from GV's website?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your Sprint phone will show up in that case. For your situation it doesn't sound like you'd want to integrate. It would save you minutes if you do a lot of your talking at home and can setup a obi100 or obi110 box to make outbound and inbound calls on your gv account.
Edit: My bad it shows up as anonymous if you initiate the call from your google voice page. Then again at home I'm using the obi110 I have with a cordless phone or my google talk dialing out as my cell phone number.
double post...
darkflame said:
Google voice is a blessing if you know how to use it.
It's a headache if you don't though.
Read up on the services features before deciding if you want to use them. I love G-Voice but you need to understand theres one negative aspect of it.
+1
Go to the Voice settings on a non-mobile browser and mess around with things that make sense to change. I did that and now I have normal texting back and I am back to using GV just for voicemail like I like to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you can use any messaging app. i use handcent. under google voice app settings after integrating, you go to
>sync and notications.
check "Text Messages"
uncheck "Inbox notifcations"
now you can use just your stock app, or any other app. if you use a different app, make sure you turn off the notification bar in the stock apps settings.
you will still receive a message in your google voice app if you open it. it will remain there, even if you delete the message in one of the other apps. good for keeping records of texts that you dont want to keep stored locally on the phone. i generally go in to google voice on the computer and delete what i dont want.
is it an extra step, sure. but look at this method, as an automatic backup system for your texts.
mrjkwik said:
yes, you can use any messaging app. i use handcent. under google voice app settings after integrating, you go to
>sync and notications.
check "Text Messages"
uncheck "Inbox notifcations"
now you can use just your stock app, or any other app. if you use a different app, make sure you turn off the notification bar in the stock apps settings.
you will still receive a message in your google voice app if you open it. it will remain there, even if you delete the message in one of the other apps. good for keeping records of texts that you dont want to keep stored locally on the phone. i generally go in to google voice on the computer and delete what i dont want.
is it an extra step, sure. but look at this method, as an automatic backup system for your texts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased "Backup to Gmail" about a month ago and love it. (cpedia Mobil in the Market)
It automatically backs up all my sms, call log, and mms to my main google account... restores in one click. And it removes the extra step of deleting things twice. Still no MMS restore, but it backs them up for you.
I couldn't get the integration to work the way I wanted it to; basically like it wasn't integrated - my GV# rings what lines I tell it to - and my cell phone works like a cell phone, unless I specifically want to use GV for a call.
I have specific uses for both numbers - and need the flexibility in caller ID selection when dialing out - as well as for messaging.
The integration thing just wasn't working for me.
I definitely think it depends on how people have been using their phones previously. The integration is great if you've been juggling two numbers and wishing for just one you can tweak with GV's tools, AND keep MMS.
If you've been using the GV# to separate contacts (completely improper usage, admittedly - seeing as how you could simply create contact groups and handle them that way), the integration is a nightmare.
mrjkwik said:
yes, you can use any messaging app. i use handcent. under google voice app settings after integrating, you go to
>sync and notications.
check "Text Messages"
uncheck "Inbox notifcations"
now you can use just your stock app, or any other app. if you use a different app, make sure you turn off the notification bar in the stock apps settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this if you're using your sprint number... or your GV number?
I had mine setup to use my GV number, and the only app that registered new messages was GV. No other program received the messages at all.
Maybe this was my problem with getting the integration thing to work.
i was integrated to use my sprint number.
you should be able to log in online to gv and stop the integration you have. then set up the app on the phone again skipping the integration step. then it should work seperately like you'd like at least for calls/voicemail.
Its so odd though. i recently switched from an htc hero200 (sprint) running CM7 and there was no integration. once i switched to the evo, all of a sudden this integration? i have no complaints with GV settings except one... i hate not being able to make calls from 2 numbers. is this simply something with the stock sprint ROM? once the evo 3d is rooted and a rom is ready to be installed, will this integration thing go away?
Disable Google Voice Integration
sign into goggle voice online go to setting and disable google voice to sprint
I just wish it would go back to the way it was originally. How can they begin to think that this integration is better than how it was before?
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App

poop on google voice integration

Well I guess it depends which way you look at this...
I use (used) google voice strictly for voicemail on the Evo4g but it appears that somehow this works differently on the E3d.
The app essentially hijacked my phone and made itself the default receiver of text messages as well as voice/voicemail. I liked it better when i had the choice which program make all my calls and I much prefer the sense sms app over the one built into google voice.
Maybe i did something different but I noticed even the differences in the setup of google voice...it seems that sprint's carrier integration now allows for all this. Just wish i had the option to choose what part of the app does what.
Thought others might want to know as well. phone is GREAT by the way =]o
Did the same thing for me. Easy fix though. Go to voice.google.com and Deactivate Google Voice on your Sprint phone in Voice Settings. Deactivate call forwarding. Then you can re-enable call forwarding.
I was pissy about this myself. I hadn't tried the fix but unwilling as soon as I get to my pc.
So does this work? Does this just do phone or text as well? any update?
It's not an EVO 3D thing it's a Sprint Google integration thing. You just didn't setup your EVO from scratch after the Voice integration happened.
I love Google Voice integration. I've posted these links in other threads but they are good reads on why you are better off actually integrating and how to still use your default messaging apps.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...e-integration-i-did-it-and-heres-how-it-went/
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...ice-sprint-integration-questions-and-answers/
Here are some other cool things I'm able to do now myself. I can make outbound and inbound calls on my google talk using my cell number on my computer wherever I have internet access. I bought an OBI110 and hooked up a phone to it so now I have free VOIP calls whenever I answer or receive calls to my CELL number on this phone. Now I don't have to give anyone a different number and I can still control who gets to reach me at what time of the day. I can answer and receive texts on my computer, laptop, tablet all using my cell number. All my texts are backed up and searchable to my google voice account (even texts I send from my phone using one of the regular messaging apps, not google voice app)
My opinion. Take the time and setup integration right. It's one MAJOR advantage of being an Android user on Sprint now. You're missing out on way more by not setting it up than you would by setting it up.
Oh and for those who don't want to lose your old Google Voice Number, Google lets you keep additional numbers at $20 per number.

Google Voice Alternative for Second Google Voice Number?

I am looking for a way to access my second Google Voice number from my Android phone. (I have one GV# for Work and one for Personal)
On my iPhone I use the Official Google Voice app along with GV Connect: http://goo.gl/6Mh9E to use both Google Voice numbers at the same time. I am looking for something similar to GV Connect for Android.
Currently I use the following 4 methods to 1. View SMS 2. Send SMS 3. Make Phone Calls. 4. Recieve SMS notification on an Android Phone.
1. To View SMS: I created a widget of the Google Voice website that I use to view messages in the Chrome Beta. (Also forward SMS to my Gmail and have a custom notification for the SMS Label I created in Gmail.)
2. To send SMS: I use Group SMS & Scheduler http://goo.gl/Vtwpo.
3. To Make Calls: I use GooveIP http://goo.gl/iTczt
4. SMS Notifications on Phone: I set forwarding of SMS messages on my secondary Google Vocie number to my gmail. Then created a Gmail label for all SMS messages to a particular label and skip my inbox. I then setup a custom notification sound for this folder so that I can get notifications on my phone.
There has to be a better way than this. I find it hard to believe that an iPhone is head and shoulders above Android when it comes to using Multiple Google Voice numbers.
Bump...
Edited details for sms on second number.
Every time I get a new Android phone I end up looking for a solution to this issue. I started looking for a solution to this issue when I got a Nexus One in January 2010. This is the number one reason I have stuck with an iPhone over the past few years as it allows me to use two different Google Voice numbers on the same device. The fact that I have been writing that last sentence for over two and a half years boggles my mind. I cant believe Google has not come up with a solution to this problem and even more surprised that so few third party developers have taken up the task.
With that said I am currently using the following solution.
1. To Make Calls: I use GooveIP http://goo.gl/iTczt
2. for SMS I am using SynerGV http://goo.gl/4nKkc
Both of these solutions are "good enough" however they are far from great. Still looking for a single well written app to use with my secondary Google Voice number.
It is a mystery to me how it is possible that an app for this has not yet been created. I would think it would be a lucrative project. I would pay just about anything for this application its the only reason my iPhone is still my primary device.
GrooveIP is great app but rather than buying SynerGV for sms, select the option to push incoming text messages to your gmail account then reply in your default browser using GV mobile site (google.com/voice/m). Its simple and free. I don't know why Google does not see the profit in having 2 numbers on 1 mobile number then having multiple accounts for its voice app. I would definitively pay the fee but anyway I hope this helps.

Google voice alternative for small business - call AND text feature

Hey guys. I run a small business locally and have been using GV exclusively for that for the past 4 years. Recently I have been having issues and realized that they are going to be pulling it offline at some point in the near future. So I want to figure out what I am going to do. Here are the features that I MUST have:
- Calling using carrier's minutes (not VOIP) but to where it will still show up on the receiver's end your business number (GV does this by call forwarding I think, when you call out using GV it calles google and they re-route your phone call to the number you were trying to reach)
- Texting ability (mms would be nice but not a necessity)
- Custom voicemail
I just downloaded Text Free by Pinger from the play store and it seems to work ok, but I think it uses VOIP (not sure?)
I don't mind paying for one if I need to. Do you guys have any recommendations?
TextPlus.
good
thanks for your good post

Is there an Android app that is similar to both Google Hangouts and TextNow?

Hello Guys,
I have two free texting & calling apps on my Android 7.1.1, Google Hangouts and TextNow.
Both allow me to have extra phone numbers with which I can make and receive both text messages and phone calls.
However, Hangouts allows me to have more than one account open at the same time thereby allowing me several phone numbers simultaneously.
Although TextNow allows me to have more than one account, it only allows me to be logged in to one account at a time.
Another difference, though, exists.
For each account, Hangouts requires a landline or cell number to which Hangouts links its number.
This makes anonymity difficult at best.
TextNow, however, only requires an email address for each account.
So, with that said, here is my question:
Is there a free texting & calling app for Android that allows multiple accounts to be open simultaneously like Hangouts but only requires an email address to which it links its numbers like TextNow?
Thanks.
Any thoughts, guys?

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