Comments on: Google Voice for iPhone Review

By: Piter Dee

Piter Dee — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Google has expanded its offering on the iPhone, its biggest mobile rival, by allowing all iPhone users to have the full Google Voice experience. The search giant has recently launched the Google Voice app for iPhone. This means iPhone users can now place calls over their mobile data connection instead of using traditional voice calling.You’ll also get notifications when your Google Voice account gets new voicemail or text messages, and the ability to have Direct Access Numbers, making the app act just like a normal phone.While reading about the news at “http://www.i4u.com/42609/official-google-voice-app-goes-iphone” I was just thinking about it. Thanks to i4u for providing me such an amusing news.

By: robert1014

robert1014 — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:15:19 +0000

If your texts are forwarding to your iPhone’s native text app, you’ll be dinged for them. You have to go into the Google Voice settings and UNCHECK the option for texts to be forwarded to your cell phone. As for your minutes, Google Voice is NOT a Voip app, so you will use your ATT minutes when using Google Voice on your Iphone. GV is a call management app, like having your own personal switchboard operator. You can it so that when people dial your GV number it will any or all of your phones: home land line, work land line, cell phone, or others. You CAN use GV for Voip calls if you call from your PC from within GMail, where GV is available.

You’re using GV on your iPhone NOT to save minutes, but so that someone who has called you at your GV number can speak to you when they call if you’re not near one of your other phones, rather than have to leave a voicemail. Also, if you want to call someone and have them see your GV number on their caller ID, rather than your cellphone’s unique number, you can use GV on your iPhone to make the call.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:06:36 +0000

Redundancy in notifications? The biggest reason to use Google Voice is for free SMS. People with smartphones who forward their free SMS to their paid SMS don’t seem to be getting it. If you’re using a phone that doesn’t receive emails, then yeah… sure… but it’s pointless if you have the options to either get texts forwarded to your email (which you can respond to directly by replying to the email) or if you have a Google Voice app.

By: Thereviewer

Thereviewer — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:01:46 +0000

I am confused by the google voice number text going to the native iphone text messaging system.

My questions are if the texts go to the native text app, and the rings go to the native phone app, is it in the background that the google voice is taking this away from my minutes and my text count? How do I know I am getting free texts? Do I get free texts if I use the native apps for either phone calls or texts if I make my google voice number my default number? If this is the case would I ever need to go into google voice on my phone?

By: daringblaze

daringblaze — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:01:22 +0000

Plenty of games already on android and plenty more being developed along with controllers and keyboards (bluetooth) for all android devices. Pinch to zoom works fine on my HTC Evo in all apps that it would make sense to have it in. All this has been around for years before Apple started using it. On windows mobile and CE and on palm and nokia’s previous generation of “dumbphones”. Apple just marketed it into the mainstream. Congrats to them for being the best marketing team but all they are doing is paving the way for technology to be understood better by the general public. This only bodes well for them in the short term because they have to keep improving over time just like all other tech companies. Stagnation is death in any tech industry. Apple is finally doing it right and allowing more openess into the app store or so it seems.

By: John Fothergill, Jr.

John Fothergill, Jr. — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:16:47 +0000

Google Voice is NOT available for the iPad!! :-(

I did a search in the AppStore, under Google Voice, and nothing appears.

Any insight people?

Thanks!

By: Chris Anthony

Chris Anthony — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:06:23 +0000

iTouch sound unsophisticated and juvinile. iPod Touch sounds like a product. The epitome of American computing combining a milestone product with modern technology. iTouch is what those who don’t truely cherrish the product and it’s contributions call it. Have some pride. It’s an iPod Touch.

By: Hawaii 5-Oh

Hawaii 5-Oh — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:08:14 +0000

It works just fine on an iPod. I use the web version daily on my iPod for SMS and voicemail. Hopefully Google will soon update the iOS app to play nice on the iPod/iPad.

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:26:13 +0000

had a feeling I had that coming LOL

By: UnderDoc

UnderDoc — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:24:24 +0000

iTouch sounds way better. Who cares what Jobs calls it.

iTouch, iTouch, iTouch…

By: UnderDoc

UnderDoc — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:18:05 +0000

I saw what you did there… you got caught recording your boss and now want to spread a rumor that it’s a bug! Well, good luck with that!

By: Jonathan S

Jonathan S — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:19:57 +0000

That’s not entirely true… you can make calls from within gmail now, and there’s no reason that they couldn’t allow similar functionality on the iTouch (except maybe that it wouldn’t get approved).

You’re correct in that the current version of the Google Voice app isn’t VOIP, but to say Google Voice isn’t VOIP period is just incorrect.

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:32:34 +0000

haha – I don’t think she still use that number — in fact that reminds me I need to go through and update my address book.

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:31:44 +0000

For the love of God, please stop referring to the iPod touch as iTouch?!

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:30:24 +0000

@mac mcrae that’s correct. If you’re signed into your gmail account AND your google voice is the same account, you can make calls and receive incoming calls as well on any windows or mac.

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:29:07 +0000

WTH, if you don’t find this useful, feel free NEVER to visit SlashGear again.

By: Niranjan

Niranjan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:36:33 +0000

I never purchased ipod, iphone or ipad. I am not worried for any application.

By: Adam12

Adam12 — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:21:41 +0000

GOOGLE VOICE IS NOT VOIP!! If you used it on you iTouch it would need to ring one of your phones. Google voice uses your existing phones, it is not a voice over internet client like skype. Read up on google voice, better yet watch googles cartoon about the service. Its very different then VOIP. It wouldnt work on an iPod.

By: mac mcrae

mac mcrae — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:19:21 +0000

i agree I want to see a good explanation as to why the touch was passed over. screw monthly phone charges when I already pay 50 dollars a month for the interwebz. google needs to put its foot down and stomp some of these complacent telecom companies.

By: mac mcrae

mac mcrae — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:14:20 +0000

excuse me knucklehead but my laptop doesn’t have 3g and
I use google voice daily. educate yourself.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:37 +0000

I hope ann le doesn’t mind you publishing her phone number, hopefully it’s a dummy number

By: Ramon

Ramon — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:52:53 +0000

Google Voice makes its calls over the telco 3G network, not via WiFi. Your iTouch cannot make calls over the telco 3G network because it is NOT A PHONE!

By: Jiayiwang

Jiayiwang — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:40:34 +0000

Do you call this piece of crap a “REVIEW”? From the beginning “It didn’t take us long to find, download, and install …” till the end “In the end, the set up process is way too simple. “?

Are you 9-year-old or are you retarded or are you just trying to do whatever to trick people to click on your website?

By: Hogarth

Hogarth — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:27:37 +0000

I am disappointed that it will not work on itouch 4g. I am getting so tired of companies restricting everything we do with equipment the we pay for. Cell companies restricting certain features on phones, not letting you upgrade when you want (whats with that scam) if I have a account with you let me buy what I want when I want it. Cell phone WIFI rates way past the are you for real point, if you had to pay that for home internet you would not pay it $80.00 for 10 gigs a month!! Give me a break, I think it’s about time to tell cell companies and device manufactures to unlock my stuff or I will stop buying!
Sorry but I got a itouch 4g because it has a mic and camera and WIFI now let me use it. Google if this is you blocking Itouch shame on you! Apple same to you if you are blocking it. I know Itouch will make calls via WIFI I use fring just fine. Thanks for letting me blow.

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:31:36 +0000

Is this available for the Touch? I don’t see it when I search for it on my Touch. If not, that’s pretty lame.

By: Bob Wolfe

Bob Wolfe — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:27:11 +0000

Except for pinch to zoom and Angry Birds, and any decent gaming apps in general, you’re totally right. Grow up fan boy.

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:24:22 +0000

@Chazzmatt

“But as in so many things, it just looks like iPhone is playing catch up to Android. (Yeah, Android phone had two cameras before iPhone).”

I’m not an Apple fanboy by any stretch but most smartphones today base their entire interface around the iPhone’s design. All those cute little finger gestures you’re using on your Android…yeah those. And if I invent a space car and then someone else comes along and makes a space car with turn signals I don’t think I should get labelled as playing catch-up if I decide to add turn signals to my next iteration.

By: ChazzMatt

ChazzMatt — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:42:27 +0000

“The fact that the official application for Google Voice works so well, and natively, with the iPhone is a big plus. Things like making calls, or getting background notifications for incoming alerts, all work so well, that it’s a wonder why it has taken this long for the application to show up in the App Store (or not). ”

Maybe there’s some irony there, maybe some sarcasm — but for the people who don’t know the backstory, STEVE JOBS is the one person to blame for Google Voice not being in the App Store until now. He sent a VP to personally tell Google their app had been denied, then when all heck broke loose in the press, Apple denied the app was denied — in spite of the letter Apple sent Google saying it was denied. Apple and Steve Jobs lie through their teeth, you can’t believe what they are saying unless some 3rd party independently confirms it. The reason Google Voice is approved now? Go ask Steve Jobs. He probably figures strategically it’s better to let iPhone have Google Voice than let only Android Phones have it. But as in so many things, it just looks like iPhone is playing catch up to Android. (Yeah, Android phone had two cameras before iPhone).

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:41:04 +0000

when you put the iphone to your face, might have click on a key by accident?

By: Freckles

Freckles — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:38:30 +0000

I never plan on using that function either but it seems to want to turn itself on without warning.

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:36:38 +0000

man, that’s no good. I haven’t had it happen to me yet. Don’t use the call record function often.

By: Freckles

Freckles — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:34:22 +0000

Google Voice still has a pesky bug that needs to be addressed. The call record feature often activates on it’s own. A recorded voice will then announces “call recording on” or something to that effect. Very embarrassing as you have to then apologize and convince your party that you are not recording the conversation it’s a bug with Google Voice. It happened to me once when I was talking to my boss!

By: Vincent Nguyen

Vincent Nguyen — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:30:48 +0000

it’s about time!