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Messaging+Google Voice App review

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03bluecoupe

Guest
Well, as a total noob to the smart phone world it's become very apparent that trying to wade through the massive amount of forums and decipher all of the info is, shall we say an exercise in stress management.

My goal was to have a way to make calls and texts for free when connected to WIFI. So far, I've managed to get free SMS Texting over WIFI.

I signed up for Google Voice and installed the Google Voice app along with the Messaging+Google Voice app. The Messaging app is $4.99 after a trial period.

So I'm now sending and receiving free SMS texts while on WIFI but there are a few quirks. There's no way under the Messaging app to delete selected parts of an SMS thread (ie, specific texts). You can only delete the entire thread under that app. It also was fairly confusing on what app to use for what. I ended up with 3 apps (icons) on the screen. Google Voice, "regular" messaging, and Messaging+GV. Long story short, in this environment using the Messaging+GV app is the right answer for not being charged.

The other wierdness that I haven't really figure out yet, is that after going out, which disconnects from my network, and coming home (which auto reconnects to my network), I started getting charged for texts. Something had gone into the apps and turned off the "send texts using Google Voice" option. I had to reset that in the Google Voice and Messaging+GV app. If I remember to do that and to use the right icon, I'm good to go with texts.

Now I've got to try and decipher getting free phone service over wifi but I want to let my stress level subside a bit before tackling that one...

It seems the prevalent view on most forums is "search for the info - it's out there", well it may be but finding it and then figuring out what's accurate and what's bs can make your hair grey.

Overall, the Messaging+GV app works well as long as you make sure the settings remain correct and use it's message interface as opposed to any others.
 
I remember trying Messaging+Google Voice a long time ago. I probably would have kept using it if I didn't have to pay for it - especially at $5.

It is a little geeky but I'll give you a possibly better solution. Find out if you can install the CyanogenMOD ROM on your phone. They have a built-in program called Voice+ that allows you send/receive messages through Google Voice (thus over Wifi/Data) from any SMS client. Just one setting to turn it on (although you have to have the Google Voice app setup) and it works perfectly (at least for me) and it is free.
 
There's also a rather beta xposed framework module that you can use called XVoice+ that sort of works. Not all the kinks are worked out yet, but you only need root rather than a full custom rom.
 
Neat, I may need to have to keep an eye on that. May finally give me a reason to play with xPosed framework.
 
Thanks - I'll look into them. I'll probably stay with M+GV. I don't begrudge paying someone five bucks for their software if it's usable. The only thing I wish they'd fix is the delete issue - that's a pita.
 
If you want to make sure you don't get charged by your carrier, your best bet would be the Google Voice app; it can't send SMS via your carrier.
 
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