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Google Voice Receives First Update in Five Years (zdnet.com)
Google Voice hasn't seen a lot of love or attention since it launched with some fanfare in 2009, but surprisingly Google wants people to know that it still cares about the communication app. In a new sprawling release -- the first of its kind in years -- Google has revamped all versions of its Voice app and site with a clean, modern look, new features, and, perhaps the best news of all, the promise of regular updates. From a report: Google is finally adding two features Google Voice users have long missed out on: MMS support for photo messaging and group chats. Previously workarounds were required to send and receive picture messages, and group chats were flat out not possible.
They migrated it to hangouts. If you used hangouts MMS has worked since 2014, complete with group messaging and responses.
I use it as my primary voice/text number, so I sure as hell hope it never dies
Looking forward to finally being able to send pics and join group chats though
Love Google Voice. Lack of MMS was so frustrating too. I set my Mom up with GV on a tablet I gave her but the only way to send her pics was through e-mail. I can send from my MMS app to her mail, but the fact that every MMS message I sent was a separate e-mail for her was obviously not good.
Yes it does, because I have used it for group messages. Unfortunately you had to use the phone app for it because there's no way to specify on the hangouts site that you want to use google voice without punching in everyone's bloody phone number. I am so glad that I can drop hangouts soon.
I fear that Google is giving their Voice app some attention because they are actively trying to kill Hangouts.
With my instant messaging and SMS converged in one app and accessible via the web, I have been living in the future for a while. I am going to miss the future.
Sure, except that Google is (slowly) killing Hangouts, thanks to Allo and Duo: http://betanews.com/2017/01/07... - As goeth the API, so goeth the service.
Haven't they also been trying to unbundle SMS/MMS and Hangouts for a year or two now as well? I mean, it was frustrating getting those two to work in concert but I wanted it to function in the end. I'd just like to know if all their posturing with regards to messaging is "Change for the sake of Change" or if it's really going to be useful. It'd be nice to know what the end of their road map is or if they're playing Sonic The Hedgehog and are stuck in the Casino Night Zone.
Is Jibe still a thing?? I sorta gave up on Google phones when the prices hit premium level so I'm not into all the google stuff anymore.
At any rate, I've had Voice installed for the last seven years or so and while I'm okay with Hangouts handling my VM and whatnot I do use Voice for some stuff because Hangouts is often buggy on the S5 provided by my workplace.
This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
Assuming you're on android, Try downloading google's "messenger" and set that as your phone's texting app, Then in hangouts when you select "new sms" it should send from your google voice number. Or you can fiddle with your hangouts settings to default or let you choose which number to send from.
https://blog.google/products/g...
Because I hate going to a site to go to a site to...you get the point.
I love Google Voice. Lack of MMS was a real blessing. When some idiot decided that I needed to see 15 photos that he sent to ALL of his friends, my copy would go to my email account but not forward to my cell phone and start driving up costs. And when other idiots did a "Reply ALL" to try to send him their photos of their precious brats, they didn't add more costs to my cell plan either. I hope that I can disable MMS in the new system but I have low expectations.
Not too excited about the group chat either. The few times I wanted to do this there have been other good ways to accomplish it. Might come in handy at some point, but not a must have upgrade.
I don't see any change on the Google Voice website yet. That suits me fine.
I do miss the Google Talk IM app, I found it really useful and wish that they would give it back. When they start mucking with something as good as Google Voice they worry me.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
Please let me know when I can use all these with the same number on a Google Apps account.
GV, Hangouts, Allo, Google+, Messenger, Android - it's all a hot mess.
Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
yes it does, it will say "sent from google voice" if it was sent that way. Also, if it's sent from google voice there will be a little blue "SMS" by the profile pic, and if it is sent from your cell phone number then there will be a gray "SMS" by the profile pic. If it is sent via hangouts, there's just the profile pic.
Call filtering based on a search expression.
I want ALL calls that start with 800* to go to voicemail without exception and never ring the phone. I can do this with Asterisk. Why the hell cant I do this with google Voice? I know it is absolutely capable of doing it.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
My doctor has not used Fax for years. All my records are available on his and the hospitals website. and yes it is HIPPA approved.
Hell I even sign things electronically on that website.
There is ZERO reason for fax anymore.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Still cant point a SIP phone at it and have a desk phone as a GV number.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I'm still confused. How does this new Voice update integrate for fit with they new Allo? Allo is their new Text app. Wait - I thought Hangout was the new messaging and communication platform. No no -- wait there's an update for Voice. This should tie it all together...right?!
Whatever. I've had voice for many many years and it hasn't changed. I figured it was dead and stopped using it. It is still my public phone# (I use the PBX feature) but I've gone 99% native with iMessaging and find myself using FB Messenger a bit more too. But Hangout yeah never.
Allo was DOA. What is it?! How does it fit? Have you tried it - if not I'll wait... back yet? Did you try chatting with your G+ friends? Can't find them b/c they're on Hangout?! How about SMS? Totally bogus -- looks like a spam message on the recipient end. yeah what is it?!
I think you're confusing Google Voice with an SMS handling app. It's more of a backend service that forwards messages to any number of anonymous phones allowing you to give out just one number. If someone sent an MMS to that number (provided by Google Voice) it didn't go through and you would get an email with the picture attachment. Group chat was/is impossible.