• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Google Voice

Integraoligist said:
Hi all,
I’m looking to get a Droid X or 2 but I have recently been hitting over 500 texts per month.

I just read about the new Google Voice and how it is able to send and receive text messages. I don’t seem to understand how it works… can someone explain this to me?

As far as I know, when you install GV you signup and then get a #, from there I give that # to everyone to text me (not my cell phone #)… and GV just stays on in the back ground all the time waiting for texts?

And, does this use the data connection to do all of this or use the phone miniutes?

Thanks all for the help!
Click to expand...

That is correct, just use your GV # and it uses data, not cell minutes or texts

GV stays on in the background all the time for me for call screening and voicemail, and battery use is usually next to nothing, don't worry about it running all the time in the background
 
And BTW, go for the X

Better Camera
Bigger Screen
HDMI out
No keyboard


Droid 2 has no advantages over the X :D
 
great, thanks guys for that clerification... i also have a couple of more for you.
For Google Voice and Google Maps, how much data usage will they use? I plan on only getting the 150meg $15 plan. I assume it should be way more then enough for basically just those 2 applkications?

Also, with Google Maps... that uses the GPS on the phone too, right? So I do not need to pay for VZ Navagator?

Thanks again all i really appreciate it!
 
chrlswltrs said:
And BTW, go for the X

Better Camera
Bigger Screen
HDMI out
No keyboard


Droid 2 has no advantages over the X :D
Click to expand...

Droid 2 has the advantage of a physical keyboard. Pretty useful when you need it. I of course use SWYPE and it's effective 95% of the time. The other 5%, it's nice to have a 100% option available.

Using SWYPE, you can almost type as fast on your phone as you can on your desktop.

Still, I personally won't buy a phone without a physical keyboard. To most it doesn't matter. To some it does. To make a ludicrous comment like "no advantages" can only be based on ignorance. Particularly to a new Android User who's looking for advise from the Android community.
 
Integraoligist said:
great, thanks guys for that clerification... i also have a couple of more for you.
For Google Voice and Google Maps, how much data usage will they use? I plan on only getting the 150meg $15 plan. I assume it should be way more then enough for basically just those 2 applkications?

Also, with Google Maps... that uses the GPS on the phone too, right? So I do not need to pay for VZ Navagator?

Thanks again all i really appreciate it!
Click to expand...

DO NOT pay for Verizon navigator, it has nothing to do with google navigation. Verizon Navigator is an app by Verizon that you have to pay $10 a month to use to get the same thing you get with google navigation for free.
 
alnova1 said:
You download the Google Voice app and it sends and receives text messages and it uses data...no minutes. It works real well.
Click to expand...

Did you mean to say it doesn't use your carrier's text messages? About minutes, if you use Google Voice via the Google Voice app, it will use minutes.
 
Integraoligist said:
For Google Voice and Google Maps, how much data usage will they use? I plan on only getting the 150meg $15 plan. I assume it should be way more then enough for basically just those 2 applkications?
Click to expand...
Watch your data closely. If you drive for a living and use Maps a lot plus text a ton it won't be enough. If you use them sparingly it should be plenty...in theory.
Don't forget that those are not the only 2 things that will be using data...Gmail/email, Facebook, news/weather widgets etc. will all use data, and it can add up faster than you realize.
I'm not saying you will need more, I'm just reminding you to keep an eye out and monitor your usage so you don't get dinged an extra $15 for going over. Also, use wifi whenever possible.
Integraoligist said:
just to clerify:
SMS is the actual Texting... which Google Voice uses
MMS is when you are sending photos and videos, right?
Click to expand...
Yes. People know to send pics to my email, it took a bit of training but they have it down to a science now.
 
The Google voice app will not use your minutes as long as you select "use google voice" to perform that.

The first time you go to send an sms text from your contacts or address book it'll ask you.

Then gv will send and receive those over data. Sms texts probably don't use a whole lot of data but remember wifi can help off-set that load if you're worried about going over.

Can't speak for other androids, but on the Evo 4G, you have to make sure the gv app is running for it to receive texts as they roll in, otherwise they'll all flood in later when you fire up the app. Gv used to always stay 'on' but a few updates ago I've found I have to manually fire up the app after a phone reboot.

Free Navigation:

The Google 'Navigation' app
Google Maps Navigation for mobile

Google Nav only requires gps and data (wifi or 3g) and comes with Google Maps ;)

download
Google Maps | AndroidApplications.com
 
Wifi-Naught Odin said:
The Google voice app will not use your minutes as long as you select "use google voice" to perform that.
Click to expand...

That is not accurate. I always use the "use google voice" option in the GV app and it does use my minutes. I can look on my bill and see the various Google Voice access numbers it uses when making calls using the GV app.
 
awsome... so my plan option is:
Droid X
450min for $40 mo. (smallest plan avalible)
150meg Data Plan for $15 mo.
Google Voice for Text (as this month i hit 800 texts) cost FREE
Google Voice for Phone calls (as this month i hit 900 minutes) cost FREE

Total: $55 mo plus tax.

LOT BETTER then the $150 i pay a month for my i730 with Family 900min. plus 500 text on the wifes phone.

Thanks alot everyone!




That is not accurate. I always use the "use google voice" option in the GV app and it does use my minutes. I can look on my bill and see the various Google Voice access numbers it uses when making calls using the GV app.
Click to expand...
is there a setting wrong in the app? and what carrier are you with that is charging you?
 
regression said:
Using Google Voice for phone calls will use your minutes.
Click to expand...
+1
This is a common misconception, or mis-communication. GV will indeed use your minutes if you use it for calls. There are a few ways around it but you need to have Friends and Family (for incoming) and Google Voice Callback (for outgoing) OR you need to set up VOIP and all the related apps for that for wifi calling. But just using GV will NOT give you free calls.
 
regression said:
That is not accurate. I always use the "use google voice" option in the GV app and it does use my minutes. I can look on my bill and see the various Google Voice access numbers it uses when making calls using the GV app.
Click to expand...

regression said:
Using Google Voice for phone calls will use your minutes.
Click to expand...

These are correct. No matter what misconceptions some people have Google Voice is NOT VIOP! It will use your minutes!!

Some people have had success using a friends and family number set to their google voice number so calls don't count against your minutes if you get unlimited friends and family calling, but it is still using minutes.

Google Voice for calls is nothing but a call forwarding service, NOT VOIP!!!
 
ok, so GV uses your minutes... i was reading more into it, and it says you can set it up so when someone calls your GV # to talk to you, it will not only make your cellphone ring but your home phone and any other line you may have. Is that right?

So say i'm at home and i get a call on the Droid... it and the home phone (through Majic Jack) will ring... i can just pickup the regular home phone and not waste minute on the Droid.
 
Integraoligist said:
ok, so GV uses your minutes... i was reading more into it, and it says you can set it up so when someone calls your GV # to talk to you, it will not only make your cellphone ring but your home phone and any other line you may have. Is that right?

So say i'm at home and i get a call on the Droid... it and the home phone (through Majic Jack) will ring... i can just pickup the regular home phone and not waste minute on the Droid.
Click to expand...

Yes. When you sign up for Google Voice and you choose to create a new phone number, you assign phones to ring when someone calls your Google Voice number.

So in your case, you setup your cell phone and your magic jack number in GV. When someone calls your GV number, both will ring. Just pick up the phone connected to magic jack and it will not use any cell phone minutes.
 
I got a couple more questions on GV... i signed up for it over the PC and have it ready to go, i can send and call right from the site and it shoots it out instantly. However, when I recieve and Text or V-Mail... it will not auto-show on the page. I always have to keep pressing the refresh button for it to appear.

So, my question is, with the GV app on the X, while it is running in the background, does it Instantly Notify you when you get a Text or V-mail, or do you have to keep refreshing it as well?
 
In the GV app on your phone: settings/synch and notifications/synchronize inbox. That should allow automatic updating. Also make sure you are allowing inbox notifications so you get an alert of some sort.
 
Integraoligist said:
So, my question is, with the GV app on the X, while it is running in the background, does it Instantly Notify you when you get a Text or V-mail, or do you have to keep refreshing it as well?
Click to expand...
Yes, Android app notifies you immediately.

On the web, my browser will update automatically without refreshing, but it's definitely not instantly or close to instantly. I find that a PITA too. Maybe depends on which browser you are using too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom