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Android: Google Voice

Thursday, August 13th, 2009 – running time 05:02
With all the attention Google Voice has gotten recently, Ron Richards takes a look at the Android App for the T-Mobile G1.

Segments

Recently there has beeen a ton of attention to the fact that Google Voice was banned from the iPhone app store. An unfortunate turn of events for iPhone users, but a T-Mobile G1 users running Android can download the free Google Voice application for Android. Ron Richards snagged a Google Voice account, downloaded the app and gave it a test drive.

Google Voice is an application that allows you to create and manage a telephone number. You can route calls to your cell phone or you land line, as well as receive text messages and voicemails. Google has made it possible to transcribe your voicemails and have them sent via SMS or e-mail, so you never have to dial into voicemail again. There are some great customization options, such as unique voicemail greetings for specific people or groups, as well as call blocking from unwanted callers. The application really allows you to take control of your phone and dictate how you are contacted.

The one thing Google Voice has lacked was an elegant way to integrate with your phone. They have a mobile site, but with this new world of mobile phone apps, the opportunity to have a seamless integration with your phone is just one app install away.

Google Voice

AppJudgment:
Download

Download
Google Voice

Version 0.1.415.742.2130 | Developed by Google | FREE

PROS:
Transcribe Voicemails and get them via email or SMS
SUPER cheap international calling rates

CONS:
you can't port an existing number
you're probably not saving money on domestic calls

00:00

Play

Taking A Look At Google Voice

So how does Google Voice on the G1 work?

01:37

Play

Pros & Cons

What's good and what's bad about Google Voice

03:57

Play

Download or Don't Download?

The final verdict on Google Voice for Android

04:20

Play

Do you have another app you'd like us to review? Email us at appjudgment at revision3 dot com, ping us in the forums or on Twitter: @AppJudgment

Highlights
box office ( 1:16 ) app ( 1:54, 3:33, 4:37 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" War."

" Guess who's got the to a voice that. This episode and I just didn't want to buy Netflix. What you have judgment Revision 3 mobile phone applications show my name is Ron -- that I have no shame in the back and he's an android on android pride. You as a reading about all this hubbub about the blue voice application on the iPhone and remember that I have a group Corsica and I thought to myself. Wouldn't it be cool they had a Google Voice -- for android. And well let's just say that Google's way smarter than me because when I went and looked at me under marketplace sure enough there was booming voice for android and it's free. Google Voice is a website offered by Google that alleged secret phone number for yourself that allows you to route calls wherever you want. You can screen all the block calls and it got a great voice mail service to transcribe the voice mails and send you email or text message with the text of the voice -- which is totally awesome. Recently they rolled out some new features including super chief international calling rates as some other neat features that make Google Voice a powerful application. You can check out all these features a hula com forward slash voice the one drawback to -- Who was website it was it was a bit awkward to use or your phone especially for making calls. They have a mobile version of the site that was hardly perfect but this new android -- for Google Voice -- your phone to a little box office. So exactly how to work from our sponsors. Netflix.com is your place to -- dvds online. They've got -- 100000 titles include blue today he never tried shifting and there are no late fees at all -- went sort of lowest form I nine. And he sign up you get a no risk two week free trial membership. To check at a www. netflix.com or plus age. So in order to use the Google Voice that you're gonna need Google was account unfortunately at the time this review it's invite only but remember when Gmail as it might only. More more people beginning invites every day so go to Google dot com -- voice sign up and wait patiently once you've been invited to -- sector count and your phone number on the website. Then download the app in us dollars after -- downloaded the -- the first let me run -- the apple running through a simple setup. It'll ask you identify the phone matching it to the phones you set up on the website. Then ask you -- you should handle calls on this found. Options include using Google Voice for all calls which means that when you call for herself on who appeared in person you're calling that the number is your Google Voice number in their caller ID and not your actual cellphone number. But if you have the same cellphone number for years and don't wanna cause confusion people are calling you may not wanna choose this option. It would be great Google allowed you to pour yourself number -- voice but as of right now it's not an option yet but the rumors that it's coming you can specify to have Google Voice only be used for international calls which is a great way to benefit from Google's low low calling rates the other two options are have a phone asking you wanna use Google Voice before each call which -- found to be a little annoying. Or not use Google Voice at all which kind of defeats the purpose of the -- but it's a nice option have a yes they provided in the short -- that you can place on your phone's home screen to easily toggle between these various options for handling calls. What you got your options that you're good to go at first glance the apple be totally underwhelming. When you already this year Google Voice in box which right now may be empty but as you use Google Voice will fill up with SMS messages and voice -- The inbox works in a similar way to Gmail with a familiar interface the real power comes when you dial out. You'll see a little window that says you're using Google Voice and what's happening here's your phone is calling Google who then calls the person you're calling all behind the scenes. This makes accessing Google's ridiculously cheap international rates totally transparent -- now this is a VoIP applications don't -- Call quality is indistinguishable from a regular cellphone we're talking T-Mobile -- not NE TT. Google Voice also lets you send and receive SMS messages from your Google Voice number totally for free and -- we love for. You can listen or read your voice -- from the Google Voice app which is great if you're like me hate dialing -- check your voice now. No I know that iphones had visual voicemail forever but this one's better because the transcribe -- on the tax. The transcriptions are sometimes amusingly inaccurate but generally get the gist of the message. The culmination of a Google Voice account and the move was -- is super powerful and can make your life much easier managing the way you get calls and save you some money in the process. So here's a breakdown -- pros and -- Pros transcribe voice mails and get them via email or some less free text messages super cheap international calling rates. Cons it's important existing number and you probably not saving money and domestic calls this is one of my favorite after just to make it to -- Download this -- if you -- android phone which is already powered by Google gonna make no sense not to sign up removal was account and the coupon now much more powerful. Have any other application you -- we should check out. Emails that I have judgment revision3.com. Or go to revision3.com forward slash app judgment a post -- the forms you can also see more about who was there as well all of our previous episodes. I'm Robert -- and this was after judgment I'm gonna call. I don't have service."

" War."

" Guess who's got the to a voice that. This episode and I just didn't want to buy Netflix. What you have judgment Revision 3 mobile phone applications show my name is Ron -- that I have no shame in the back and he's an android on android pride. You as a reading about all this hubbub about the blue voice application on the iPhone and remember that I have a group Corsica and I thought to myself. Wouldn't it be cool they had a Google Voice -- for android. And well let's just say that Google's way smarter than me because when I went and looked at me under marketplace sure enough there was booming voice for android and it's free. Google Voice is a website offered by Google that alleged secret phone number for yourself that allows you to route calls wherever you want. You can screen all the block calls and it got a great voice mail service to transcribe the voice mails and send you email or text message with the text of the voice -- which is totally awesome. Recently they rolled out some new features including super chief international calling rates as some other neat features that make Google Voice a powerful application. You can check out all these features a hula com forward slash voice the one drawback to -- Who was website it was it was a bit awkward to use or your phone especially for making calls. They have a mobile version of the site that was hardly perfect but this new android -- for Google Voice -- your phone to a little box office. So exactly how to work from our sponsors. Netflix.com is your place to -- dvds online. They've got -- 100000 titles include blue today he never tried shifting and there are no late fees at all -- went sort of lowest form I nine. And he sign up you get a no risk two week free trial membership. To check at a www. netflix.com or plus age. So in order to use the Google Voice that you're gonna need Google was account unfortunately at the time this review it's invite only but remember when Gmail as it might only. More more people beginning invites every day so go to Google dot com -- voice sign up and wait patiently once you've been invited to -- sector count and your phone number on the website. Then download the app in us dollars after -- downloaded the -- the first let me run -- the apple running through a simple setup. It'll ask you identify the phone matching it to the phones you set up on the website. Then ask you -- you should handle calls on this found. Options include using Google Voice for all calls which means that when you call for herself on who appeared in person you're calling that the number is your Google Voice number in their caller ID and not your actual cellphone number. But if you have the same cellphone number for years and don't wanna cause confusion people are calling you may not wanna choose this option. It would be great Google allowed you to pour yourself number -- voice but as of right now it's not an option yet but the rumors that it's coming you can specify to have Google Voice only be used for international calls which is a great way to benefit from Google's low low calling rates the other two options are have a phone asking you wanna use Google Voice before each call which -- found to be a little annoying. Or not use Google Voice at all which kind of defeats the purpose of the -- but it's a nice option have a yes they provided in the short -- that you can place on your phone's home screen to easily toggle between these various options for handling calls. What you got your options that you're good to go at first glance the apple be totally underwhelming. When you already this year Google Voice in box which right now may be empty but as you use Google Voice will fill up with SMS messages and voice -- The inbox works in a similar way to Gmail with a familiar interface the real power comes when you dial out. You'll see a little window that says you're using Google Voice and what's happening here's your phone is calling Google who then calls the person you're calling all behind the scenes. This makes accessing Google's ridiculously cheap international rates totally transparent -- now this is a VoIP applications don't -- Call quality is indistinguishable from a regular cellphone we're talking T-Mobile -- not NE TT. Google Voice also lets you send and receive SMS messages from your Google Voice number totally for free and -- we love for. You can listen or read your voice -- from the Google Voice app which is great if you're like me hate dialing -- check your voice now. No I know that iphones had visual voicemail forever but this one's better because the transcribe -- on the tax. The transcriptions are sometimes amusingly inaccurate but generally get the gist of the message. The culmination of a Google Voice account and the move was -- is super powerful and can make your life much easier managing the way you get calls and save you some money in the process. So here's a breakdown -- pros and -- Pros transcribe voice mails and get them via email or some less free text messages super cheap international calling rates. Cons it's important existing number and you probably not saving money and domestic calls this is one of my favorite after just to make it to -- Download this -- if you -- android phone which is already powered by Google gonna make no sense not to sign up removal was account and the coupon now much more powerful. Have any other application you -- we should check out. Emails that I have judgment revision3.com. Or go to revision3.com forward slash app judgment a post -- the forms you can also see more about who was there as well all of our previous episodes. I'm Robert -- and this was after judgment I'm gonna call. I don't have service."

xfuuey

Started discussion: August 14, 2009 @ 5:06am GMT

Episode 3: Android: Google Voice [Discussion]

Recently there has beeen a ton of attention to the fact that Google Voice was banned from the iPhone app store. An unfortunate turn of events for iPhone users, but T-Mobile G1 users running Android can download the free Google Voice application for Android. Ron Richards snagged a Google Voice account, downloaded the app and gave it a test drive.

Watch or download this episode now

BeSweeet
3 months ago
Actually, there is a Google Voice app for the iPhone, but you have to be jailbroken, which everyone should be anyway:


Works great :).
kwang0274
3 months ago

Google Voice available to Palm Pre

Palm Pre owners can also use Google Voice via either gDial Pro or dkGoogleVoice apps that can be found on http://www.precentral.net/homebrew-apps. Only issues is that both apps are in beta and require the Palm Pre to be in developer mode (I think this is true). Just thought I would share.

Kwang
xfuuey
3 months ago
In reply to besweeet:
... but you have to be jailbroken, which everyone should be anyway:


so true. no reason not to, imo.
mavrevMatt
3 months ago
...

Google Voice is not a VoIP app!
webnet
3 months ago

Low blow

Low blow Mr Richards, low blow. After Apple kindly rejected the official google voice app as well as removing the other voip and google voice apps from the App Store, iPhone user have been feeling the pain. However, great review and I can't to see google implement this app for iPhone user via the safari browser
oldarney
3 months ago
ok, im on board (literally and metaphorically). Nice show, exept for the low quality tomatoes. Get better 3d Energy bomb tomatoes.
vandalet
3 months ago
In reply to mavrevMatt:
...

Google Voice is not a VoIP app!


Actually it is, that's just not all it is, and its not when your using it from your phone.
TSSaloic
3 months ago
In reply to vandalet:
Actually it is, that's just not all it is, and its not when your using it from your phone.


It's not a VOIP app, it only uses data to signal Google to connect the two phones, then you're using your providers voice network.

(Note: My definition of a VOIP service a service actually sending your voice message over the internet, like Skype or Oovoo. Not as a service to connect two parties, like Google Voice).

Also Google Voice is available on the iPhone and others to make calls. Just call your GV number, enter your code, then select the make a call option, then dial the number. It's complicated, but it works.
rrichards
3 months ago
Glad to hear so many of you enjoyed the review...a little android love + making fun of iPhone users is always a blast ;)

To the questions about Google Voice being a VOIP app or not - it absolutely is. It seems like its "connecting" two people but what's actually happening is you call Google, who then calls the person your calling via VOIP and they connect you on the Google side.

It's not your traditional VOIP definition like Vonage, as you're still connecting to Google via your cell provider, but the connection to the person your calling is most definitely over VOIP.
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