Is there a better alternative to Google Voice?

Better in terms of just call quality or do you have additional criteria? I've never had call quality issues with GV.

macher said:

Often times the other party has trouble hearing me because of lag.

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Honestly I've been using GV for years and never had this issue. If you're looking for another free alternative I think Google Voice is better than all of the competition.

A paid alternative would be Twilio, or another VOIP provider.

macher said:

Often times the other party has trouble hearing me because of lag.

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That might have to do with the quality, speed and reliability of the wifi network you're connected to.

macher said:

Mostly on data network.

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That too.
Carrier data networks sometimes have deadzones or very slow data speeds available.
So if it cant communicate fast enough you will have freezes and cut outs.

macher said:

Do you dial direct from GV or do you have GV Connect app call you back?

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I do both, typically I have the app call me back but I never experience poor quality.

I was one of the original beta testers of Google Voice - had it years before it went public beta. The quality of Google Voice seems to be taking a big down turn imo as more and more people use it. The biggest problem I have is the damn service not alerting me of calls - I'll get a voicemail and never be notified I got a call... or it'll ring once then BAM voicemail. I don't have big issues with lag but there is a little delay - as with most VOIPs. I use my Google Voice # as my home telephone that I give out to everyone then reserve my Cellphone for close friends/family because Google Voice can block an unlimited # of telephone numbers.

Since it's a relay service, not sure what you mean by lag - since the iPhone is really talking to Verizon THEN to Google Voice - yeah there's a little delay and sometimes its pretty bad but not too often. I haven't used those new apps like Talkatone. I've had big issues with reliability with those things so I tend to stay away from them.

No, don't know of any service to replace Google Voice. I'd be happy to try one!

I'm VERY disappointed with Google Voice. Before going public beta it removed TONS of features that we alpha? testers had for years (international SMS, etc...). It never added MMS and hasn't had much done to it for the last few years. Serious thumbs down imo.

macher said:

But I don't think GV goes on WiFI or data network when it calls you back.

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GV definitely does not use data for voice calls.

Talkatone

macher said:

I tried and the quality is horrible.

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My experience too. Plus pissed that they change my status to an advertising message for them.

Despite GV popularity with some people, it seems lackadaisical. The iPhone GV app gets, which seems essential for all features offered, only gets a 2 stars at the apps store, no obvious replacement.

Is GV the next MobileMe?

GV quality is the same as your regular phone calls. If you are using it as a voip with another app, like talktone, that service is to blame as the call is routed over data. That has nothing to do with GV itself.

617aircav said:

GV quality is the same as your regular phone calls. If you are using it as a voip with another app, like talktone, that service is to blame as the call is routed over data. That has nothing to do with GV itself.

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Yeah no, am not concerned about VOIP.

Am more concerned about having full access to GV's capabilities though my mobile handset than have to open up my laptop to do these management tasks.

Use vonage to make calls. It makes calls over data and the quality is as good as a regular call for me. You can only make calls, not receive calls, but it saves a lot of minutes for me. You can use either your regular phone number or google voice for the outgoing caller ID and you get 3000 free minutes per month to any US number.