Google Gets Its iPhone Voice

snydeq writes "Google has found a way to let iPhone owners use Google Voice, launching a Google Voice Web app that runs on iPhone 3.0 OS devices, as well as on Palm WebOS devices. The Google Voice application leverages HTML 5's functionality for running sophisticated Web applications on a browser at speeds matching those of native applications, Google said. The Google Voice-iPhone conflict is one of several issues putting the companies on a collision course, the latest of which involves Apple potentially courting Microsoft to tap Bing as the iPhone's default search."

Comments

iPod Touch Fails

[Jedi Holocron]

Yeah, this is impressive, but it will not function properly on an iPod Touch. Google needs to have a way to switch to a different mode of operation that is Touch compatible.

Yeah, I could use the Skype App....but then I'd have to pay.

Re:iPod Touch Fails

[Sandbags]

That's because Google Voice is not a VoIP app, but a call redirection service. On a touch, the ONLY features it has are managing voice mail and contacts, it can NOT place calls.

On an iPhone, from the web app, if you select a contact to call here's what happens:
1) Google generates a "one time" number in your local area if possible.
2) Google programs this number such that an incoming call from your selected phone to that number is routed to your selected contact's phone number
3) it presents you a UI button to press to have the iPhone call the Google one-time number.
4) when you click the button, you iPhone calls Google's selected one-time number (not your contact). This call will appear on your bill as a call from your cell phone to Google and uses airtime (which depending on your plan and time of day might be free).
5) Google routes the call and rings your contacts number, presenting your Google voice number on their caller ID screen.

Re:iPod Touch Fails

[Sandbags]

There is an explicit reason this is so. Google currently operates solely as a call forwarding service. They also offer Gizmo services on that number, but only to other gizmo subscribers as PC to PC communication. Should Google offer to connect a traditional Voip Provider, as a voIP extention accessing a google numebr that could call terrestrial lines, then google would become a telephone proivider, not a routing service provider, and then they'de be responsible for 911, e911, and special rates they don't want to pay (that AT&T is fighting to make them pay).

By remaining a simple central routing point for other numbers and services, Google provides a good service for free. Stepping across certain lines opens them up to regulation, requires them to collect certain taxes, and incurs fees to you.

It IS possible to have Google voice forward to a Skype-in number, and it;s also possible to dial through google voice with Skype, however, that's not going to work through an iPod touch as the google web app is trying to contact the iPhone dialer API which does not exist there, and web programs can't access app launch protocols so the google web app can't talk to the skype app at all (for very good security reasons!)

Experience?

[whisper_jeff]

Anyone have some first-hand experience with Google Voice willing to share their thoughts? I find it very intriguing but am very hesitant to use it without knowing more...

Re:Experience?

[Anonymous Coward]

I use Google Voice routed to my Gizmo5 number on a jailbroken iPhone. The combined effect is free VOIP phone calls over 3G or wifi. If the call quality remains reliable, I will attempt to drop the voice plan from my ATT contract entirely.

Having said that, this webapp does not provide that functionality. It defaults to using the native phone app, skipping the Gizmo5 route entirely. My current setup uses GV Mobile to initiate calls and Gizmo by Acrobits to answer the calls.

Even if you don't want to go the VOIP route, the free text messaging alone should save you money on your bill.

Re:Experience?

[AlexBirch]

Google voice is awesome... free texting, I can mark incoming calls as spam, you can listen to a voicemail while it's being recorded and can actually pick up the call.

Re:Experience?

[Itninja]

Been using GV on my Android for about 3 months now. Works pretty good. One big complaint is poor call quality. Making a call with my T-Mobile service is fine. But making the same call, from the same location, with GV gives me echos, 1+ seconds delays, and a few other oddities. However the transcribed voice mail is cool, albeit marginally accurate.

Re:Experience?

[Trashman]

Arstechnica has a pretty good write-up on what it is and how it works. I've been using it for several months now. I don't give out my real number anymore and trying to get people to delete my old number and use my Google Voice number to reach me. As It gives much more control.

And yeah, it's somewhat cumbersome to initiate a call from the website but (much) less so than it is to do that from your phone. A native iPhone app would solve most of the hassles of initiating calls..

Re:Experience?

[natehoy]

Love it. I have one phone number, and it rings all of my phones based on a schedule I set up. When I'm at work, I get no cell signal at my desk, so I answer my work phone. When I'm on the road, my cell is the only one I'm near, so I answer that. When I'm at home, I answer my Gizmo line so I don't use cell minutes.

The beauty is, if you want to reach me, you don't have to know where I am. You don't have to keep track of three or more numbers to reach me. You just dial my Google Voice number and, if I'm reachable, I answer. And if I'm not, you leave me a voicemail. I get an SMS on my phone with a transcription of that voicemail, and a copy of the transcription is sent to my Gmail account. Plus I can always call Google from any of my phones and listen to your voicemail directly, or listen to it over the Web.

And if you are a telemarketer who calls me a lot, you get my "go away" message and I never have to be aware of your existence again. :)

Re:Experience?

[L3370]

I use it for its primarily for the relatively cheap international calling. YMMV, but I do get some good rates to the countries I call, and it beats having to drive to the nearest oriental market for calling cards to asia.

SMS is where you can save some cash. I used to have an unlimited texting plan but I've nixed that.

It is great for those of us that have multiple contact numbers. You can add forwarding numbers to your GV account so people that want to contact you only need to know your google number. You can forward that number to any or all of the phone numbers you choose. Your home phone, cell, work number...or even a vacation spot.

I also like it as a junk call screener. I've nixed all my telemarketer calls. If I sign up for some service that needs my number, I give them the GV number. If that service provider sells my number off to other marketing groups they get nixed too.

Re:Does that mean

[Sandbags]

No, Google Voice is NOT a Voip technology. The app simple helps you place/connect calls to your multiple phones. The advantage of the app on the iPhone really boils down to a) managing your Google contacts better and b) when you place a call from your cell phone, the target sees your Google voice on their caller ID, not your cell number, so when they call back, it;s routed through Google voice. With a native app and notifications, if you choose not to pass through caller ID the app would be able to tell you who's calling while caller ID simply displays your Google voice number. (this was originally a good idea that might have enabled free calling to/from your Google voice number if you added it to your "list" but providers quickly began IDing google voice numbers and auto-remove them from your list as it;s against their ToS to use call redirection technology.

Forget Google's Web App

[pudge]

Use GV Mobile, available through Cydia. Much much better. An actual app for starters. :-)

Re:Does that mean

[nneonneo]

HTML5's local storage feature means that this app, if written correctly (which I suspect is the case), can be used offline without a data connection at all.

For example, see Neven Mrgan's GlyphBoard; this is a web app which you can add to your home screen and use offline. The iPhone's new online user manual is another example of a fully offline web app.

Re:Oh Apple, let the Apps through already!

[TooMuchToDo]

Slashdot reader =/= average consumer.

iPhone consumer =/= average consumer.

Re:Oh Apple, let the Apps through already!

[bilbravo]

It's interesting that you said it was because of Verizon, because on my Droid Google Voice is allowed. I can't vouch for the "my 5" fave list removal, because I don't have a fave list. You mention that it is available on all plans and that is not true. At least for family plans, you must be on a plan that has at least 1400 minutes. My wife and I have a plan with 700 minutes and it has no option for any numbers. And it is 10, not 5.

Your post seems to be FUD, but I'll let others decide for themselves.

Re:Does that mean

[DragonWriter]

Google Voice does not and cannot change the outgoing caller ID of any of your phones. Instead, the Google Voice server calls both of you at the same time (the number you're "dialing" using the Google Voice interface and the number of the phone you want to use on your end) and conferences them.

Google Voice does not, in fact, call your phone with the new app, which is the change from the previous mobile web app (which used the same model as the regular, non-mobile web interface, which calls back to one of your registered phones.)

The new app gives your phone a number to call and invokes the dialer of your phone, so you make an outgoing call, but to Google Voice, not the final destination of your call. Otherwise, it works the way you describe.

Re:Oh Apple, let the Apps through already!

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple came out and said it was not allowed because it replaced the default "contacts" list and dialer that Apple uses. Doing so is quite clearly against Apples terms - you can't replace their built in functionality. They also didn't like the "security" of having the contacts stored at Google with no official notice from Google on how secure or private they are. This was all clearly documented. As far as Verizon, their cheaper plans don't do the "my 5", only the more expensive ones. I'm on one of the more expensive plans with my Droid and my "my 5" has my GV number.

Re:Oh Apple, let the Apps through already!

[karlandtanya]

Verizon has since (as well as AT&T) implemented a system for identifying google voice numbers, and will automatically remove them from your 5 if you add it, and backbill you for any minutes you might have used in excess of plan minutes otherwise. it is against their ToS to use a call redirection number in your fav list.

Citation, please?

I just read the Verizon "Customer Agreement" and found no mention of "call redirection"--in fact, the text "redir" doesn't even appear.

The only restrictions I could find were in their faq article below--still nothing to preclude gv.

What type of numbers can I add to Friends & Family?
Your Friends & Family list can contain any valid U.S. number as well as any 800-type number, including 888, 866 and 877 (excluding 800-555-1212). Your Friends & Family list can not include directory assistance, 900-type numbers, your own wireless number or voice mail access number, or numbers from Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands.

Re:Oh Apple, let the Apps through already!

[mdwh2]

Jesus Christ - please actually take the time to check some basic market stats before throwing such a ludicrous insult. Apple have a few percent of the market, RIM are better, although just about every other company - LG, Samsung, Motorola - are way ahead, with Nokia the market leader. Those are the facts.

I don't know where you get out, but it isn't a typical representation of what people actually buy.