Preview: 'GV Mobile+' Brings Google Voice to iPhone

[ericg301]

I'd be more interested if Google's official GV app gets approved. No offense to Sean, but I'd like to see what Google's army of developers can do with an official, approved app.

I love the idea of Google voice, but after more than a year of playing with it, I can't make the switch full-time.

1. No MMS support. WEAK.
2. No iPhone app (obviously changing soon...)
3. No support for extensions. So I can't get my work phone to ring.
4. Not 100% reliable. When I did have people call that number, I missed a handful of calls and voice mails....leading me to my biggest issue with GV...

5. It's a free service. You get what you pay for. There's no support line to call. If you have issues, all you can do is post an SOS on their message boards, and hope they read it and get back to you. My phone calls are too important to leave to chance like that. Say what you want about AT&T, but whenever I've had an issue, I call them up and get it resolved. That's what you get as a paying customer. I would pay a small monthly fee for GV to get access to support like that.

So for now, I simply use GV as a masking number. It's on my resume, website, personal business cards and social profiles to protect my cell #. I also give it out where I get my haircuts, oil change, dry cleaners, etc. Basically anyplace that stores my number for marketing or identification purposes.

For a while, I did use it as my cell phone voice mail (using the wonderful PushMail app). But after getting my iPhone4, I never set it back up, and forgot how cool and seamless visual voicemail is.

Bottom line -- GV is a cool "toy" and does have it merits, but it does have a ways to go.

 

[google]

SMS is not free

You still get charged for txt when it comes to your phone and send it back.

 

[ericg301]

SMS is not free

You still get charged for txt when it comes to your phone and send it back.

Not totally true. You only get charged if you set up GV to forward text messages to your phone as SMS. But if you get them send to your email instead, and use some sort of notification app (like PushMail), then you byepass AT&T and the iPhone's text messages.

 

[google]

Not totally true. You only get charged if you set up GV to forward text messages to your phone as SMS. But if you get them send to your email instead, and use some sort of notification app (like PushMail), then you byepass AT&T and the iPhone's text messages.

Defeats the purpose of txt msgs, you can do that for free with any cell phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx@tmomail.net for example.

 

[ericg301]

Defeats the purpose of txt msgs, you can do that for free with any cell phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx@tmomail.net for example.

True, but that defeats the point of GV in the first place — one number to rule them all. If you add your GV # to your Fave5, Friends and Family, or A-List, and use some sort of push notification for text messages, then it's technically possible to not use ANY minutes or ANY SMS messages.

That being said, it's not a seamless process and does take a few extra steps:
1. Configure GV to send all text messages to your gmail account
2. Set up a Gmail filter that pushes those GV text messages to a notification service like Boxcar or PushMail

Then you bypass your provider's text messaging...yet still get all the benefits of having a single number (and not having to use an email address)

 

[cvaldes]

Not totally true. You only get charged if you set up GV to forward text messages to your phone as SMS. But if you get them send to your email instead, and use some sort of notification app (like PushMail), then you byepass AT&T and the iPhone's text messages.

Yeah, I have Google Voice SMS messages (as well as voicemail and missed call alerts) forwarded to Boxcar, a push notification service.

It works pretty well, plus it's free.

That being said, it's not a seamless process and does take a few extra steps:
1. Configure GV to send all text messages to your gmail account
2. Set up a Gmail filter that pushes those GV text messages to a notification service like Boxcar or PushMail

You can actually eliminate step 1 and simply have Google Voice forward your text messages (and voicemail notifications) directly to Boxcar.

 

[google]

I really hope Google puts a kabosh on this guys app and make their own. he is just giving us a app that forwards info and useless in my opinion. Should be free if he gets approved.

 

[iCrizzo]

Someone has already released a native app in the app store today, it is not the official app though:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gv-connect/id347835665?mt=8

 

[cvaldes]

I really hope Google puts a kabosh on this guys app and make their own. he is just giving us a app that forwards info and useless in my opinion. Should be free if he gets approved.

I paid for and used the original version of Sean Kovacs' GV Mobile and it was worth every penny. When the new version appears at the App Store, I will be happy to give him a few more bucks.

I don't understand why you're so caustic (I acknowledge the fact you may be a fat ugly, smelly troll with bad skin). If you don't want to pay for a Google Voice app, you have options. There's the free HTML5 app from Riverturn: VoiceCentral BlackSwan which works well (and is peppered with ads). You can also use Google's own mobile Google Voice websites (the legacy one and the fancier version).

That said, a native compiled application is a far superior user experience to a webapp.

I would be happy to see Google come up with their own Google Voice app and see how it stacks up with Kovacs' GV Mobile.

 

[vjl323]

GV Mobile+ has been released!

Sean just released it on the US AppStore a few minutes ago for $2.99. Direct link: http://bit.ly/GVMobilePlus

Has issues with iOS 3.1.3, but runs great for me under iOS 4.1 on my 3GS.

 

[Resist]

Your iPhone still needs cell phone service for this app to work though, correct? I have an old iPhone 3G without cell service (upgraded to an iPhone 4), and can still use it with Wifi apps for texting and such. So I was wondering if there was a way to do Wifi phone calls on it, like I can on my computer with GMail. Is it possible with this app? I know I can't with the Skype app.

 

[blackcrayon]

Your iPhone still needs cell phone service for this app to work though, correct? I have an old iPhone 3G without cell service (upgraded to an iPhone 4), and can still use it with Wifi apps for texting and such. So I was wondering if there was a way to do Wifi phone calls on it, like I can on my computer with GMail. Is it possible with this app? I know I can't with the Skype app.

No. You could use it in conjunction with something like Whistle Phone (I just tried it on my iPad, and it works). Of course that makes it an even more convoluted setup, but it *does* work. Realize in that case you could just use Whistle Phone directly to make the call, but if you want it coming from your GV number then this is how you'd do it.

(Dialed with GV Mobile, rings whistlephone, answer it there, then my other phone rang as the call was passed through via google voice).

 

[tempusfugit]

Wow great. So I can make it easier for everyone else by eliminating their need to decide where to call me? Awesome!

So, instead of Business people calling my Business phone and Personal people calling my Mobile (which the number never changes, if I switch carriers, I just port the number to the new carrier) They all can call the same number and then I can manage where the call goes to! Then, if I want to change my mind later, I just manage my online GV account! No more of my company's online Avaya software for me! Now I don't have to forward calls from my desk phone to my cell phone! Wait a second...

How is this helping again?

Oh that's right, if I have a Google phone number, I'll have to ask everyone out there to forget my current numbers and accept that I might route their calls in a way that I can avoid them. I'm sure that will go over very well.

Then there's the fact that you can't have group text messaging, let alone text more than one person at a time because the text comes from one central location, so you aren't ever quite sure who is texting you. So maybe I'll just give my mobile number to all my friends for text messaging, but ask them to call a different number so they can reach me on my mobile with my text messaging number. Then if I duck their call from GV, they can call me on my text messaging phone number....wait... you did it to me again!

Good thing you won't have to deal with all of this frustration because you don't use google voice.

Now, if you don't mind, pipe down. GV is pretty awesome and it helps me run my business smoothly. Furthermore, its free (right now, at least).

 

[einmusiker]

GV is all about texting and choosing your number. It's also great for those of us with multiple cell phones. GREAT service

 

[Resist]

No. You could use it in conjunction with something like Whistle Phone (I just tried it on my iPad, and it works).

Thanks, but I just found that iCall does what I am looking for. It's free plan only gives me 5 minute calls, but it works pretty good so far.



UPDATE: Think I found a much better app, it's Whistle Phone. Free calls (within the continental U.S.) and no time limit, but you do get visual and voice ads. Also you can receive calls. The downside right now is that they assign you the number randomly, so your area code could be long distance for your family/friends. Supposedly they are going to fix this.

 

[tesilential]

So for now, I simply use GV as a masking number. It's on my resume, website, personal business cards and social profiles to protect my cell #. I also give it out where I get my haircuts, oil change, dry cleaners, etc. Basically anyplace that stores my number for marketing or identification purposes.
For a while, I did use it as my cell phone voice mail (using the wonderful PushMail app). But after getting my iPhone4, I never set it back up, and forgot how cool and seamless visual voicemail is.

Bottom line -- GV is a cool "toy" and does have it merits, but it does have a ways to go.

Aha! Theres a reason for me to get this app.

 

[johnlo]

is anyione having a problem using offline dialing feature "Enable"?? i'm trying that feature.. and all I ended up is leaving a message on my GV voicemail box. but when I dial it manually myself, no problem at all. from looking at the dial pad on myiphone, i'm not sure if GV Mobile+ is actually pressing "*" once my voice message greeting starts. .... or am i doing something wrong? otherwise my GV Mobiles appears to be working fine.

 

[Ultimatetone]

I'll have to ask everyone out there to forget my current numbers
and accept that I might route their calls in a way that I can avoid them. I'm sure that will go over very well.

Ummm... only if you outright tell them you will be better-equipped to screen their calls and be more productive.

Then there's the fact that you can't have group text messaging

Simply untrue!

With some preparation, you can set-up a 'group' and have Group Text messaging (via Google Voice) for FREE.

Here's a related article (but not the solution...yet) Group SMS arrives in Google Voice web app; coming soon to mobile

Here are some better Group Text solutions -

Simply need a Group Text App for iPhone?
Check-out 'Group Text SMS' by Intelligenti Publishing

Want to use Google Voice to send a Group text for FREE? (does not require GV Mobile+ or similar App)
Please read all-the-way through before getting ahead of things.

Now that Google Voice has email forwarding for incoming SMS, you can send bulk SMS using a little trick. When you get a Google Voice SMS forwarded to your email, it comes from a unique email address that is now linked to that contact (this unique email address consists of your GoogleVoice number, the contact's cell number, some alphanumeric characters, followed by @ txt.voice.google.com)

At this point, you could simply store this unique email address as the primary email for each contact. Then you can create an email, add all these new 'alternate' SMS email users to the sender list, leave the subject area blank and create your Group SMS via email!

However, this is approach is less than optimum, as when you later go to send a single email and select that contact, it will first show the "alternate-sms-email", not their "normal" email address. What to do?

For now, I recommend just to cut/paste those unique, Google Voice-generated, email addresses into notepad or similar for now and keep reading...​

Here's the "best, non-jailbroken, Google Voice-based, FREE Group Text solution for the iPhone" I've found -

Simply create a single Contact entry (for a particular group of email addresses.)
Please proceed to this blog post to see how that is done, as specific formatting is needed.

I also use Google Sync to sync my Google Voice account's Contacts with my iPhone's Contacts.
This makes it easier to create a properly-formatted, 'group' Contact within Google Voice while on my PC
(vs. on the iPhone itself), as described in the aforementioned linked blog post.​

DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH TEXT-TO-EMAIL WORKAROUNDS OF THE PAST - IT'S MUCH BETTER!

Once a 'group' Contact is properly created, I simply go to send an email from the Gmail Account
that is associated with my Google Voice Account (from within the iPhone's Mail App)
start typing the name of the 'group' Contact desired in the 'To:' field and select it.
I leave the Subject line blank and then type my text message within the body of the email and send.
All replies to this 'Group Text message' will automatically be sent to my Google Voice number.

For instant notification of incoming Google Voice Text Messages -

I have my Google Voice account configured to send an email of the incoming text
(to the Gmail account associated with the Google Voice account) and use the App called GPush
to send a push notification to my iPhone. I can then reply by via email, Google Voice HTML5-based mobile website,
or GV Mobile+ as desired. It works quite seamlessly and it's FREE!​

Marc

 

[ericg301]

Good thing you won't have to deal with all of this frustration because you don't use google voice.

Now, if you don't mind, pipe down. GV is pretty awesome and it helps me run my business smoothly. Furthermore, its free (right now, at least).

I'm shocked that there's people out there like yourself who rely on a free service, with no immediate support, to run their business. I hope I'm not one of your clients or customers when GV goes down.

Not trying to be smug--just trying to make a point. I think GV is an awesome idea, but without any support for business-critical situations, you're playing Russian roulette.

 

[techwarrior]

OK, this sounds great! I have a GV number and use it from my desktop already. But I'm hearing that you can also use it, with this app, to avoid using your cell minutes almost entirely if you add your GV number to you’re A-List. Can anyone explain in detail with examples how this would work? Being new to this, that would be awesome. I'd love to be able to lower my plan minutes and use GV to talk as long as I want whenever and wherever. Thanks!

1. Put your GV # in Alist
2. When you make a call, your GV number calls your ATT number and then connects to the other party. The call looks to ATT like inbound from your GV number.
3. Set GV to show your GV # in inbound calls. Inbound calls now look to be coming from your GV number BUT you cannot see who is really calling unless you use GV call screening. OR, simply call the person back using GV if you will be talking long.

Bottom line, you will still use some ATT minutes, but you can avoid using large chunks of minutes by using GV to call out.

 

[markgo2k]

I'm shocked that there's people out there like yourself who rely on a free service, with no immediate support, to run their business. I hope I'm not one of your clients or customers when GV goes down.

Not trying to be smug--just trying to make a point. I think GV is an awesome idea, but without any support for business-critical situations, you're playing Russian roulette.

:shrug. I've had GV since it was Grand Central. The moment Google took it over, I felt confident that Google would stand behind the service at least long enough that it wouldn't disappear abruptly. I made it my primary "home" number, and give my direct cell only to very close friends and family. I have a cheap VOiP service to give the home a landline, and I set GV to ring that number, my cell and my wife's cell. Now:

1) Calls are pre-screened. This has almost totally eliminated telemarketers, particular when used in concert with the NoCall registry. They've tweaked it over time, and it mostly works even with robocalls for school notifications or doctor appointment confirmations.

2) I can pick up a call from anywhere, and most folk need only one number to reach the family. Kind of a return to the days before cell phones . I have the convenience of being able to pick up the call anywhere (as if I had given out my cell number) but if I'm home, I pick it up on the VOiP where it's free and I don't blow minutes.

3) Voicemail transcription is hugely useful. Even though it's not perfect, I can almost always figure it out well enough that I only need to listen to the vmail about 1 time in 10. Even without an app, it's just one click in the mail message that contains the transcription.

4) Really easy temporary phone redirection. Handy when you know you're going out of cell phone range, or have any other reason to direct all calls somewhere.

5) Really cheap international calls. Though to be frank, I haven't really used this much due to the inconvenience of outdial. That's where an app like GV Mobile comes in, along with giving you a nice convenient interface to vmail that's just like Visual Voicemail (only with transcriptions!).

6) Brings new meaning to number portability. Now you don't need to move your number. I've changed home phone providers, and also saved myself $200 on my iPhone 4 upgrade because I don't really care when either number changes. My GV number is stable, all else may change. I literally don't even know my "home" number and if I change my cell phone I only have to tell about 10 people (all of whom also know the GV number--the only reason to call my cell direct just to save cell minutes using unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling).

As far as reliability, in the 4 years I've been using it, I've seen a handful of incidents where calling the GV number didn't result in call group phones being rung. In these cases, I still got vmail notifications. In all these cases, it returned to normal in less than 2 hours.

I've encountered two cases where the vmail was down. In both of these cases it was back up within 1 hour.

Frankly, these reliability levels exceed AT&T cellphone AND Comcast VoIP in my experience.

YMMV....

 

[tmiranda]

I'm shocked that there's people out there like yourself who rely on a free service, with no immediate support, to run their business. I hope I'm not one of your clients or customers when GV goes down.

Not trying to be smug--just trying to make a point. I think GV is an awesome idea, but without any support for business-critical situations, you're playing Russian roulette.

You were trying to be smug. I bet there is a business right now that you are a customer of that uses GV Voice in some fashion.

 

[revelated]

You were trying to be smug. I bet there is a business right now that you are a customer of that uses GV Voice in some fashion.

Yeah...Google