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'Google Voice' voicemail vs. iPhone's 'Visual Voicemail'

S

Sounds Good

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
1,692
57
Hey guys, I got my Google Voice invite yesterday and I gotta say... it's pretty awesome!

BUT... I'm not sure what to do about voicemail.

As we all know, the iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature is great, but we can't use Visual Voicemail while using the Google Voice (GV) features, since GV will bypass the phone's default voicemail system.

So... for those of you that are lucky enough to have Google Voice AND an iPhone :) I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this. Are you using GV voicemail instead of Visual voicemail, or ???

Thanks for sharing!
 
My thoughts are GV is pretty cool but just can't see the benefit of using it instead of my cell # or my work IP phone (cisco).. The multi-ring thing is cool but I really doubt any of my friends/co-workers will use my GV number instead of just calling my cell..

At any rate, I don't know if you've seen this app or not, but it has some GV voicemail options that might you: GV Mobile
You can also change your settings, SMS, etc right from the app.

(FYI - I'm just a user of GV Mobile and don't get anything out of recommending it).
 
today some calls did go to my iphone visual voicemail and then that stopped happening. Dont' know why.
 
i just received my google voice invite a few days ago and set it up fully yesterday after selecting my number etc. a few observations:

SMS
whenever someone sends me a SMS to my GV number if they are in my address book it will show their name (which is cool) BUT it uses a 406 area code number that the SMS comes from. if you reply it does go to that person BUT you cannot (as far as i know) initiate SMS to someone using the iPhone native messaging app since you would not know their 406 number (or maybe it changes over time)

Calling
obviously calling someone using the native dialer for the iphone will not work but calling your own number first is not always feasible.

Voicemail
i have not yet distributed my GV number; however, i have tested it out. i do prefer the GV voicemail to the visual voicemail 100%; however, i do not know if others will feel the same

Overall
GV is incredible; i love it! unfortunately i do not think we will be able to take full advantage of it on our iPhones. GV really will not be a viable option until it could be native to the iPhone... i do not even like the idea of having an app for it really. i think you'd have to wait until the do something with Android or Chrome OS for a phone to see GV really be put to use.
 
*bump*

So, it's been a while since this was discussed. What we need, is for someone, somewhere, to do a review of the pros/cons of switching to Google voicemail with the iPhone.

I'm considering making the jump from VVM (Visual Voice Mail) to Google Voice mail, but I'm pensive about it. I don't know why. Change is just scary I guess.

I may be forced into it, because I'm currently being nagged about my AT&T voice-mail box being full. It dosen't feel like i have too many voice-mails, but I guess AT&T disagrees.

But, does Google Voice have a size limit? I know Gmail does, but I have no clue about Google voice.

I'll do some investigating. Stay tuned..........
 
Well I'll be damned. There's no official limit right now.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=07368e1536146598&hl=en

However, the agreement does state that google can impose an upper limit at their own discretion.

BIG point google. Right now, I only have a couple dozen voice-mails on my AT&T account, and I'm being annoyed by AT&T that It's taking up too much space.

Next question:
How do voice-mail notifications work once you switch over to Google Voicemail?
Do I just get a SMS message, or will I be able to use the native Apple phone app to check my voice mail?

Stay tuned.......
 
The GV Mobile app is pretty handy.
photo-11-200x300.png


Honestly, it'll probably do the trick to replace the voice-mail on my phone.

I'll be able to read & access my voice-mails on-line,
I'll get SMS messages when I have a voice mail, (With transcripts!)
I'll be able to use the GV Mobile app to manage the voice-mails.

It's a go for me. (GV Mobile is $2.99, well worth it if you ask me.)
 
Profex said:
The GV Mobile app is pretty handy.

...

It's a go for me. (GV Mobile is $2.99, well worth it if you ask me.)
Click to expand...
Google's own Google Voice app is due on the App Store within few weeks. I am guessing it will be free (since none of Google's other apps are paid). I hope it would bring push notifications for SMS and voice mails.
 
nutmac said:
Google's own Google Voice app is due on the App Store within few weeks. I am guessing it will be free (since none of Google's other apps are paid). I hope it would bring push notifications for SMS and voice mails.
Click to expand...

The speculation about WHEN Google's app is coming down the pipe is frustrating. They're not saying anything.

But yes, push notifications would be BLISS.

Personally, I think $2.99 for the GV app, even If I only get a few weeks use, was worth it.
 
So I've been using google voice for about a week now. Here's my impressions:

Transcription of voicemail IS FANTASTIC. It's clunky, but It gives me a good enough idea what the message is about. It's like a whole new world.

The GV app will be much more usefull when push is enabled.

Some people have told me that when they call, the voicemail never picks up. (They say it rings 'like 10 times and it never picks up') I don't have an answer for this yet, as I'm not sure what number they're calling (My GV number or my cell number) and I'm not sure how many rings are supposed to happen.

I hope this is useful. More updates when the game changes. (Either Google releases their app, or GV mobile enables push.)
 
I'm concerned with security. Does anyone know if our Google username & password (that we enter into the GV Mobile app) is accessible by the author of the app?
 
GV goes native with texts

For SMS, there is a new extension which i have just installed and people are LOVING. GV SMS Extension on cydia, now allows you to use the iphone native texting (or even BiteSMS, dragon diction, etc) with your GV account.

Here is the home website : http://smsgvextension.appspot.com/index.html

It is free to send text messages using your GV account (through the native app/BiteSMS/etc, showing your GV phone #) but requires a $2.99 purchase (small price) to recieve them. Once you install, the directions to install/setup are on the website, under support link.

And if you depend on GV Voicemail, just have it text you the transcription, so you will always know when you have a VM. Then use the GV Mobile app or call your GV# if you need to listen to it. Therefor the only texts that actually go on your ATT plan are your VM and any stranglers with your ATT #.

Previously I was using Prowl for push notifications of GV text and voicemail, however that is no longer needed :). Basically, if you were having GV forward your texts to your Iphone before, it always came up a different number (which I saved as my friends GV #). Now it uses your contact list with no hassle.
 
snowpuff said:
i just received my google voice invite a few days ago and set it up fully yesterday after selecting my number etc.

Overall
GV is incredible; i love it! unfortunately i do not think we will be able to take full advantage of it on our iPhones. GV really will not be a viable option until it could be native to the iPhone... i do not even like the idea of having an app for it really. i think you'd have to wait until the do something with Android or Chrome OS for a phone to see GV really be put to use.
Click to expand...

Excellent post! I concur.

GV offers a lot of functionality and convenience.
 
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