Episode 3: Android: Google Voice [Discussion] [Archive]

xfuuey

08-14-2009, 01:06 PM

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 (http://revision3.com/appjudgment/an_gvoice)

besweeet

08-14-2009, 05:57 PM

Actually, there is a Google Voice app for the iPhone, but you have to be jailbroken, which everyone should be anyway:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9687/img0181.png

Works great :).

kwang0274

08-14-2009, 06:28 PM

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

08-14-2009, 07:05 PM

... but you have to be jailbroken, which everyone should be anyway:

so true. no reason not to, imo.

mavrevmatt

08-14-2009, 07:44 PM

...

Google Voice is not a VoIP app!

webnet

08-14-2009, 09:15 PM

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

08-15-2009, 12:19 AM

ok, im on board (literally and metaphorically). Nice show, exept for the low quality tomatoes. Get better 3d Energy bomb tomatoes.

vandalet

08-15-2009, 12:35 AM

...

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

08-15-2009, 01:27 AM

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.

ronxo

08-15-2009, 01:59 AM

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.

vandalet

08-15-2009, 02:01 AM

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.

You are right, i was under the impression that you could make a call from the web interface, but i just logged in and tried it and it just connects to my mobile like you said.

oldarney

08-15-2009, 02:11 AM

You are right, i was under the impression that you could make a call from the web interface, but i just logged in and tried it and it just connects to my mobile like you said.

I don't get why skype on the android is crippled. It doesn't allow you to make calls through skype, only trough tmobile and then through skype. good for international, not so good for those who hate cellphone audio quality.

and WTH is that?

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1992/57241786.png

Its a terrible composite of the G1, while the iPhone one is nearly perfect. You guys need a more impartial crew. BTW android has been running on the magic and the Hero for a while now, at least in the uk. Hero is so much hotter than the 1st generation G1. Can you even up the tide and crop the phone propper? or fire your appleaholic photoshop artist.

webnet

08-15-2009, 05:48 AM

Could you guys do a review of the jailbroken iPhone Google Voice app? It sounds like another good reason for me to jailbreak my new 3GS.

psycho-designs

08-15-2009, 10:20 AM

CON: Google voice is only available in the US...
Any idea if it'll be supported in Canada anytime soon?

computoman

08-15-2009, 12:02 PM

With so much free wifi around traditional mobile phone may become obsolete except in uninhabited areas. Mobile phone companies should start becoming a bit more modest about their prices. You should not have to jailbreak an iphone. It should be fixed so you can adapt it like any pc. When msdos and the original pcs came out they tried to do the same thing of locking systems down so they could not be changed. That is no longer true, excepting Apple maybe. The same revolution will happen in the cell phone industry whether the industry likes it or not. You can buy easily parts modules and build your own cellphone. It just not has caught on yet, If I had the money, I would sell kits to do exactly that.

tokenuser

08-15-2009, 09:24 PM

With so much free wifi around traditional mobile phone may become obsolete except in uninhabited areas.Really? Wifi everywhere?? Wish I lived in your world.

thomasmahaffey

08-16-2009, 02:55 AM

I don't wanna be a freeloader but can anyone give me an invite to Google Voice. If its not too much. :)

harryaka

08-16-2009, 05:14 AM

I don't wanna be a freeloader but can anyone give me an invite to Google Voice. If its not too much. :)

that would be great, but you can only be invited by Google as of now. so sign up and wait, or get a friend at Google so you can be placed on their internal invite list.

phatlip

08-16-2009, 04:11 PM

I'm a bit of an Apple fanboy, but Apple's practices with the App store and unwillingness to open up more is making me route for Android more than the iPhone.

The iPhone may be the best phone on the market now (IMO), but that doesn't really matter if you can get an Android based phone almost as good as an iPhone. Anyone can use Android, so it will be made available on a number of different devices and networks. So over time, Im willing to bet we'll see the Android app store grow larger than the iPhones for simply having more devices and users.

It seems like Apple Vs. Microsoft all over again. As long as Windows is available on all PC's, and OS X available on only one vendor, Apple won't dominate the market. The same will happen with phones too I think.

oldarney

08-17-2009, 09:13 AM

The host of this show is a Mets fan... He shows his workplace during the begining of the episode (day dreaming part).

he also has a Logitech G7 (correct me if im wrong, Ive only seen the G9, which i have).

jonlavallee

08-17-2009, 12:40 PM

i have that same sigg bottle with the skull on it haha

tommyfullington

08-18-2009, 12:40 AM

tommyfullington

08-18-2009, 12:43 AM

I emailed the show and asked them to do a Google Voice for android review and make fun of iphone users. Looks like both happened lol. However they didn't show the real power of this application combined with tmobile's cell plans.

The true power is, 1. Get a google voice invite 2. Get Google Voice for Android 3. Get myfaves plan and put two numbers in my faves (Your GV number and the number that GV calls to route the call), 4. Make all calls/texts for free as long as you're in a data area 5. Enjoy your plan that is now 65$ a month. 5. Laugh at friends that have AT&T and can't get their bill below 100$ a month.

Google voice is a beautiful app on android. It's honestly all I ever use to make a call since I never leave the city.

pro: Everything becomes free
All contact lists stay synced between phone, gmail, GV and google calendar

Con: You have to hit "1" every time a call comes in from GV
Texting is slow and there's no way to adjust the refresh rate of the application

dreamer77dd

08-19-2009, 06:36 AM

The programes might be free or cheap to call international but then your going to have to pay a price for the data plan which makes it cost the same amount if you were just using a normal phone. The only time when it is free is when 2 people use skype with 2 computer with 2 accounts on skype. does anybody know a better deal then that? Or can someone correct me on this?

oldarney

08-20-2009, 05:38 PM

I emailed the show and asked them to do a Google Voice for android review and make fun of iphone users. Looks like both happened lol. However they didn't show the real power of this application combined with tmobile's cell plans.

The true power is, 1. Get a google voice invite 2. Get Google Voice for Android 3. Get myfaves plan and put two numbers in my faves (Your GV number and the number that GV calls to route the call), 4. Make all calls/texts for free as long as you're in a data area 5. Enjoy your plan that is now 65$ a month. 5. Laugh at friends that have AT&T and can't get their bill below 100$ a month.

Google voice is a beautiful app on android. It's honestly all I ever use to make a call since I never leave the city.

you can use that hack with skype... its not a good hack to exploit, trust me. T-mobile and other carriers looking to employ the android will have an issue with it and thus, reject android from their phone line. Granted, with google voice ringing your talk acount, transferring your number and having voice recognition for security in the future, i estimate that many many people will use this in the future and thus leave companies with no choice.

tommyfullington

08-21-2009, 02:21 AM

oldarney

08-24-2009, 04:11 AM

A guy at the Tmobile store showed it to me. One of their execs told me that they're fully behind it. For right now it's still a pretty small population using it. I see it becoming HUGE though. I could be wrong... as for the time being. I'm enjoying the hell out of it.

Unlimited plans ar bcoming the it thing. The trick isn't going to last very long. Metro plus and Boost are to startups that are expanding on the basis of "unlimited calling for 50 bucks". My mom has metro, it works in alot of places, not good for road trips but, the prices are unbeatable.

I see unlimited becoming standard soon.

phatlip

08-24-2009, 05:32 AM

Unlimited plans ar bcoming the it thing. The trick isn't going to last very long. Metro plus and Boost are to startups that are expanding on the basis of "unlimited calling for 50 bucks". My mom has metro, it works in alot of places, not good for road trips but, the prices are unbeatable.

I see unlimited becoming standard soon.

Cricket is another new one, tough I'm sure it will get bought out as will the others.