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Problem Texting Without Service

Sly Drum Guy

Sly Drum Guy

Member
A while back I started a thread about using my phone to call and text without having service, and the most frequently recommended solution was using Google Voice alongside GrooVe IP, so that's what I went with.

However, I'm having trouble receiving text messages. Earlier today I sent a text to a friend of mine, who apparently responded, but I didn't get the response until much later... She replied at 6:30 and I just got the notification at 10:00. This was using the GrooVe IP application.

Before anyone suggests that I use the Google Voice application; it's not an option. I've tried it already, and while I can download it, I can't sign into it because when it tries to text their servers from my phone to verify its phone number, it can't, because my phone doesn't have service from a provider...

So, what do I do now? I don't really want to have to use an application such as Text Now because then I can't use my phone number; the one that I paid $20 to port into Google Voice, and that I've had for about 7 years now. Any help that can be given will be greatly appreciated.
 
Sly Drum Guy said:
A while back I started a thread about using my phone to call and text without having service, and the most frequently recommended solution was using Google Voice alongside GrooVe IP, so that's what I went with.

However, I'm having trouble receiving text messages. Earlier today I sent a text to a friend of mine, who apparently responded, but I didn't get the response until much later... She replied at 6:30 and I just got the notification at 10:00. This was using the GrooVe IP application.

Before anyone suggests that I use the Google Voice application; it's not an option. I've tried it already, and while I can download it, I can't sign into it because when it tries to text their servers from my phone to verify its phone number, it can't, because my phone doesn't have service from a provider...

So, what do I do now? I don't really want to have to use an application such as Text Now because then I can't use my phone number; the one that I paid $20 to port into Google Voice, and that I've had for about 7 years now. Any help that can be given will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Google Voice by design is supposed to be used in conjunction with a real phone number. It's why they require a different phone number when you sign up. Your best bet is to go get a prepaid number with the lowest plan option, and use that in conjunction with Google Voice.
 
Sly Drum Guy said:
Before anyone suggests that I use the Google Voice application; it's not an option. I've tried it already, and while I can download it, I can't sign into it because when it tries to text their servers from my phone to verify its phone number, it can't, because my phone doesn't have service from a provider...
Click to expand...
That is a good question. Can you have the verification code sent to the GV number or email? If you have a computer with internet access, can you have the code sent to GV website?

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185834?hl=en#gvoice


Just some thoughts!
 
IOWA said:
Google Voice by design is supposed to be used in conjunction with a real phone number. It's why they require a different phone number when you sign up. Your best bet is to go get a prepaid number with the lowest plan option, and use that in conjunction with Google Voice.
Click to expand...

That's not an option for me; I don't have the money, hence why I'm using this free method using Google Voice and GrooVe IP.

gemmydn said:
My friend and I use google hangouts to text. It works great just need wifi:)
Click to expand...

The problem with this is that not everyone I would want to text has an account with Google.

saptech said:
That is a good question. Can you have the verification code sent to the GV number or email? If you have a computer with internet access, can you have the code sent to GV website?

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185834?hl=en#gvoice


Just some thoughts!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand what you mean... :confused:
 
I'm not sure I understand what you mean...
Click to expand...
When Google send the verification code. Can it be sent to your email address or to the GV voicemail system?

Well I'm assume you're referring to the verification code, part of the 2 step verification, if not, never mind.
 
saptech said:
When Google send the verification code. Can it be sent to your email address or to the GV voicemail system?

Well I'm assume you're referring to the verification code, part of the 2 step verification, if not, never mind.
Click to expand...

I don't think it can, no. The application asks me to sign-in using my e-mail account. Then it says it needs to verify the phone number for my device by sending a text from it to the Google Voice servers, but because I don't have service, the text doesn't send (it tries to do it automatically using the native messaging application), so the sign-in fails and I can't use the application (the Google Voice application).

Like I said, I sent a text to my friend from the GrooVe IP application, and she replied about 15 minutes later, at 6:30 PM. I didn't get a notification of her reply until 10 PM, but the timestamp on her message read 6:29 PM. This is an unacceptable delay, so I need to figure something out.
 
Download Text Me! app from app store>Create an account,And it will give you a phone number>Then use the Text Me! phone number to verify the GV.
This is what I did when all I had internet,But I use GV and Talkatone and was able to pick a new phone number in Colorado,My original cellular service number is from Tx.
Hope this helps.

Edit: Or you can just use Text Me!,Which is free unlimited texting in the US.
 
AMOCO said:
Download Text Me! app from app store>Create an account,And it will give you a phone number>Then use the Text Me! phone number to verify the GV.
This is what I did when all I had internet,But I use GV and Talkatone and was able to pick a new phone number in Colorado,My original cellular service number is from Tx.
Hope this helps.

Edit: Or you can just use Text Me!,Which is free unlimited texting in the US.
Click to expand...

That's not going to work...

You're not understanding what I'm trying to say. When I launch the Google Voice application, it asks me to sign-in using my desired e-mail address, so I do that. Then, it tells me that it needs to verify the phone number for my device by sending a text message to the Google Voice servers, and it tries to do so using the native messaging application. Seeing as my phone doesn't actually have service, the text message fails to send, the verification fails, and the applications kicks me back to the initial sign-in where I choose my e-mail address. I don't get to input a phone number by hand.

I think my only option is going to be using something like Text Now, which assigns you a phone number. I wanted to avoid this, because everyone I know who would text me knows that phone number, and I don't want to have to give everyone another number to use when they want to text me, but it doesn't look like I have much choice, seeing as the GrooVe IP messaging feature isn't working worth a damn.

There's really no other way?
 
not sure what your aversion to talkatone is. it uses my google voice number. and i'm guessing the number you ported to google voice is what talkatone would use.

i also cannot get google voice to run directly, as i too don't have cell service.
 
When I wanted to establish Google Voice on my wifi only tablet I used my phone to setup google voice, denied the google voice app from changing anything on my phone, and when the account was established I deleted google voice from my phone.

I then logged into google voice on my wifi tablet, added groove IP and have had no issues since.

Get a friend or family member to get google voice on their working phone, confirm the account, then uninstall it.
 
boathead said:
not sure what your aversion to talkatone is. it uses my google voice number. and i'm guessing the number you ported to google voice is what talkatone would use.

i also cannot get google voice to run directly, as i too don't have cell service.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried Talkatone because I spent the $4.99 on the GrooVe IP application, so I'd prefer to not have that money be wasted. If I have to use Talkatone in the end, then I'll do that, but if I can avoid wasting $5, then I'd like to do that.

WoohooGuy said:
When I wanted to establish Google Voice on my wifi only tablet I used my phone to setup google voice, denied the google voice app from changing anything on my phone, and when the account was established I deleted google voice from my phone.

I then logged into google voice on my wifi tablet, added groove IP and have had no issues since.

Get a friend or family member to get google voice on their working phone, confirm the account, then uninstall it.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I'll see if I can get this to work!
 
This problem has been resolved.

I sent an e-mail to the makers of GrooVe IP and they got back to me quickly with a solution that worked perfectly. The problem was that I didn't have the option to forward texts to e-mail in the Google Voice settings turned on. Without that setting enabled, the GrooVe IP application doesn't know right away that you've received a text message, so you might not get it until hours, or even days later.
 
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