What are /r/Googlevoice's favorite Products & Services?

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Use the old Google Voice app. Its outdated but in the set up wizard you are asked if you want to use google voice to make all calls, no calls, international calls only and ask every time.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice&hl=en

don't look at it as only google voice. put it in an office package in a business context. and that is what google has been doing for some time now. we on the personal-use side get the benefit for free. but use any of the google services in a business, then there is the paid version of Google Workspace aka Google for Business -- that's where google makes money with a comprehensive office cloud business package which includes google voice but for business purposes -- just think office online package of services which of course include phone lines, namely lots of google cloud services being used in the office including google voice lines -- and of course business customers pay for it all with all that

to get some sort idea as to $ numbers, go see: https://workspace.google.com/pricing.html

That's all Hangouts Dialer does. It only works over data (wifi or 3G/LTE). It does not use minutes. The built-in Phone dialer uses real-phone-minutes.

I was pretty sure that that was possible, but after a few minutes of Googling I couldn't find much, so my info may be out of date. There is an Xposed module that seems to be intended to do this, but I'm not sure if it still works/is up to date; see discussion here. Might be worth experimenting with this if you really need it, but I think most of us who use our GV numbers for daily texting just use the Google Voice or Hangouts apps.

Google has a closed beta for Reply, it's a workaround for smart replies in many messaging apps, including Google Voice.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/reply/

Android P is going to have a native option for this.

No forwarding of calls needed with an Obi200. And what you want to accomplish is possible, but complicated.

DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ON A COMPUTER - NOT A MOBILE DEVICE.

First, setup a google voice number on a separate google account and use it for the phone service.

Once you get the Obi200 working with your new GoogleVoice number, go to contacts.google.com while logged into the google account associated with the GoogleVoice number. Add only contacts to the contacts list that you want on the whitelist.

Next, while logged into the same google account, go to voice.google.com

In the upper-left of the page, click the 3-bar menu and select "Legacy Google Voice." On that page, you'll see 6 tabs there. Click on the first tab, which is "Phones."

Under "Forward Calls to," UNcheck the box next to the Obi device and phone numbers below it, if any.

To create the whitelist, click the "Groups" tab. Under "*Callers | All Contacts,"* click EDIT and make sure "Ring my" Obi device is checked.

The Anonymous section should be set to ring NONE.

Result: Calls from anyone in the All Contacts group should now ring the Obi200. Calls from anyone not in the All Contacts list should go directly to voicemail, without ringing the Obi200.

I use voip.ms. It's for the more technically inclined (it's basically a PBX in the cloud), but if you're somewhat nerdy, you should be able to cope with it.

​

Also, Canada is actually one the dozen or so countries GV is available in (https://workspace.google.com/terms/service-terms/voice/regional\_terms.html), just not the consumer account version that's only available in the US.

Probably because your headset is connected only as "Phone audio" and not as "Media audio", and Hangouts is playing its audio as media.

Try connecting your headset as "Media audio" in Bluetooth settings and see what happens. Hopefully Android will remember to always connect "Media audio" after that. If not, your can use an app like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect&hl=en

Yes. This is how my wife and I called each other while on vacation at a resort outside the US without an international phone plan. Just download the Hangouts Dialer app from the play store and have calls route through there: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.hangoutsdialer&hl=en

You also might want to look into a service like IFTTT ("if-this-then-that") for this as well. You should be able to set up an "applet" where if you place a phone call to a certain IFTTT number, it will send an SMS to whatever other number you want.

> Um... Google Hangouts used to be this. You could roll back with an old Hangouts APK to back before they removed this functionality.

Unfortunately, this will no longer work. The last version of Hangouts that would could send native/carrier SMS and could be set as the default SMS app was Hangouts v17, if I recall correctly. https://www.apkmirror.com/uploads/?q=hangouts

About six months after it was released, it started to nag users to upgrade it quite annoyingly. A few months after that, it totally stopped working until you upgrade it.

I used it until then, because the lack of the ability to set either Google Voice or newer versions of Hangouts as the default SMS app (using Google Voice) really, really, really pisses me off.

Yeah, that's a coincidence. You probably have a network issue on your end, and it could be one of many things, such as:

• A problem with your ISP, including bad equipment at your house or at any point along the path, including bad coax, bad connectors, etc.
• Other uses on your local network, especially streaming, gaming or torrents.
• Much less likely, but I'll put it out there: a failing power supply ("wall wart") or cable on your OBi or router, modem and/or switch.

Remember: basic speed tests like speedtest.net or fast.com do not measure suitability for VoIP calling. Streaming, for example, uses buffering in the app, to deal with brief signal quality problems. VoIP can't buffer more than about 1/4 second of data, without making you crazy with delayed audio. So, VoIP is very sensitive to connection quality.

There are alternative services like Line 2 for example, but I've never tried them so can't comment on how well they work.

Another option is a dual-SIM phone, assuming it supports both your work and personal carriers.

I think it tells you, before you pull the trigger to do it. Before you do it, you might want to download a copy of some or all your account's stuff at takeout.google.com

The contacts for each account will remain separate, but it's easy to Export/Import a copy of all your contacts between accounts. Use a computer and go to contacts.google.com Export the .csv file from one account and import it into the other account.

Is there not a SKIP button, when prompted to link a mobile number? Also, make sure in call settings for the app that you have selected "Prefer Wi-Fi & mobile data" (not Carrier) for calls.

If the above doesn't work, install Google Duo - the "Facetime" app on all new Android devices for voice & video calls. It's available in your app store and also available in the Google Play Store for older Android devices that didn't come with it pre-installed.

im using ByVoice notification announcer https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codococo.byvoice3

you can blacklist words to ignore calls. and change to read more than default 60 letters.

it skips old notifications if lots new ones incoming

Another post here changed my thinking a bit on this. Poly is still selling these and claiming Google Wifi support. Here's the direct link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FCS1NGM

With this quote/spec: "Works with Google Voice Google Voice provides the ability to make calls in the US and Canada for , using your broadband Internet and a regular home phone. It's easy to save with OBi!"

If Poly knows now that they are going to brick these devices for any google voice users in weeks/months - it is pretty iffy business ethics to continue to sell the same devices with the same promises. On the other hand - this gives me more confidence that they'll end up doing the right thing and dropping a firmware update with the new cert. It's not just supporting devices that were sold years ago - it's ones that are continuing to be sold right up through present day.

That is not Google Voice-related at all; that text message is for enabling Google's own implementation of RCS on Google's own Messages app (which is called "Chat features" inside said app).

Now, if you aren't using that app for sending texts, then that might be cause for worry.

Try the GrooVe IP or Talkatone app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snrblabs.grooveip and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talkatone.android if you have an Android device.

The account chooser is app-independent. Choosing an account in Gmail does not choose that account in Voice, same as on the web.

If you're only using gmail for that "person you help out," perhaps look into Shelter:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.typeblog.shelter
It activates the "work" profile functionality of Android.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/ccv32a/how_to_add_a_limited_access_google_account/etq1ved/

There was a way published a while back to make calls with the native Dialer, but it requires a rooted phone to get to the FreedomPop file containing the login info needed.

Barring that, you can always call your own GV# from the FreedomPop dialer and manually call out from there. When the automated system answers, I believe you press 2 and then can manually dial the number you want to call. Tedious but it works.

There's also an app in the play store which can kind of automate this for you - it will intercept the outgoing call, have GV call you back, & when you answer GV will then dial the number you wanted.

Probably not what you really want, but I have a Fitbit Charge HR 2 and use this app. It lets you pick apps that will send notifications to your Fitbit.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abhijitvalluri.android.fitnotifications&hl=en_US

Oh, so you know they're there because they came into voice.google.com, but the text forwarding is intermittent...

Is it an option for you to use the Google Voice app on the phone? I've found that to be pretty solid, and I just use that instead of the phone's messaging app...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice

Now that you mention it, I don't think I knew that text forwarding was a thing for a while.. only email.. I remember trying to finagle Voice to work with a flip phone (I feel like I'd done it before successfully), but ran into issues a couple years ago trying it again...

If you install this program, you can wildcard block prefixes:

NoPhoneSpam (Block unwanted calls) - https://f-droid.org/app/at.bitfire.nophonespam

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.bitfire.nophonespam

So, a 1-888-543-4321 calls and you want to block all 543 numbers, your filter will be +1888543*

Don't think you can block prefixes with GV directly.

Use Voice Choice to create a rule. Then you can create Direct Dial icons.

I use it all the time for my Google Voice number for work. I put all my work contacts in a Voice Choice group and then I can dial those people using the normal dialer.

Last month! Google is actually giving release notes, it's weird. Note the June text might not be there for you depending on the staged rollout.

>WHAT'S NEW > >June 2017:

>• High-contrast messaging bubbles (Settings -> High-contrast conversation view)

>• Bug fixes

>May 2017:

>• Sign up flow - create a Google Voice account in the Android app

>• Home screen widgets - long-press on the home screen to add a widget

>• Bug fixes and performance improvements

>March 2017:

>• Conversation delete

>• Do not disturb

>• Text notification setting

>• Conversation archive shortcut (long-press on conversation list)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice&hl=en

You can also do this with Google Voice app, not sure why you need a third party, plus the hangouts dialer? android.apps.googlevoice

You just configure it to send/receive all calls through google voice number. The only thing I encountered was double notifications for visual voicemail.

Install the ancient Google Voice app. It has an option to reroute all your calls through the dialer app with Google Voice (or give you the option every time you make a call). Launch the app and go to Settings > Making Calls.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice&hl=en

I can't say I've noticed it, but I don't make a lot of calls, so it might have been there with the .24 version and I just didn't notice. Does it also happen when dialing a contact directly from the call log tab and not the dialer? Only thing that occurs to me is to try version .26 from APK Mirror https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-voice/google-voice-2019-26-254275509-release/

Sorry it took so long to respond...

1. Those "switch" numbers should work for calling also.

2. I checked, but I think you're right. The only way to disable the silent notification would be to block all notifications from the app.

3. I've actually had this issue before also. The conditional call forwarding solution discussed in this article got me fixed again.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/google-voice-mail-not-integrating-with-your-carrier-try-conditional-call-forwarding/

Correct me if I'm right, but OP8 did not come with Google's Phone app factory-installed. It's possible that the OnePlus dialer does not support the way GV intercepts outgoing phone calls.

You can still install Google's app from the Play Store and set this to be your default dialer. You won't get integrated voicemail in this case, not sure if there's a separate app for that on the OP8.

The personal use GV is fine for one person businesses, but given your use case, if you do use GV, make sure you sign up for the actual business service.

Please note, if you aren't already using Google Workspace, GV may not be the cheapest solution, since it requires you have Workspace licenses as well. This is doubly so if you want to use an auto-attendant to answer calls, which means you'll need a standard instead of starter license.

https://workspace.google.com/intl/en_ca/products/voice/

Also, Texts can't be transferred between users in GV, nor can Auto-attendants . Generally SMS with GV isn't a great experience, but that's true of any VoIP phone service..

That said, with those caveats, given your use case, GV is actually a pretty good choice for cases like yours, since it also has calendar integration and multi-device ringing. If you can make use of other Workspace products, all the better.

Yep. That's the Subscriber Line Interface Circuit, or SLIC. It got fried from a voltage spike coming in via the telephone connection. If you had the OBi 200 backwired into your home's in-wall telephone wiring, then that's where the spike would most likely have come from. Do make sure that your home's telephone wiring is completely disconnected from the former telephone service provider (e.g. telephone or cable company) wiring, at the Network Interface Device (NID) or connection point outside, where service would connect to your premises.

I don't endorse or recommend this seller, but if you can make do with a rather large, desktop IP phone instead of an ATA, these were originally over $200, and they are returnable for refund:

https://www.amazon.com/Obihai-OBi2000-Gigabit-Phones-OBi2182/dp/B076JKV5CL

I've owned two of them for many years, and they are outstanding desk and speaker-phones.

Nope. There is no API for Google Voice.

Reading your post about your intended use case, this sounds like an engineer trying to engineer a solution to a problem that has already been solved with less engineering.

Specifically: simply buy one or two analog desk phones designed for people with hearing and/or vision disabilities. They have big buttons and a very bright red light that flashes when the phone rings.

Like this, for example: amazon.com/Amplified-Big-Button-Landline-Phone/dp/B001LK0W2O

Instead of plugging the OBi 200 into the telephone, you can plug the OBi 200 into his house's in-wall telephone wiring, at one of the modular jacks. Be absolutely certain that you have first completely disconnected the house wiring from the telephone or cable company's wiring at the telephone demarc box.

>I don’t have every single one of my 350+ contacts’ numbers memorized.

Congratulations?

​

>When viewing the message in GV app on iPhone, the name appears just fine.

Which doesn't mean a whole heck a lot, because the app isn't running on the watch.

Like I said I don't know anything about iOS development, but from a cursory search, it looks like watch notifications are done with standard apple notifications. I'm not particularly familiar with those, but I believe they're like WebPush notifications, which I am familiar with. If they're coming from the server, rather than phone, then the issue could be that you've got the contact on your phone, but not "contacts.google.com". So when using the app, it can look in your phone's address book to resolve the name, but when sending notifications from the server, they don't have access to your phone's contact list. I run into a similar issue when doing localization, on the web, when serving content for a webpage, I can see the user's language, and serve appropriately. But when sending a webpush notification, I have no way of knowing what language the user my have their browser set too.

Or it may just be a bug/oversight hence... provide feedback so they know what you want.

1. South Korea restricted/banned VoIP for many years. It's unclear whether that restriction has been officially lifted, although some people have reported success in placing calls.
2. Maybe.
3. Yes, unless #1 turns out to have changed.

NordVPN is one of the best available. I'd suggest giving it a try.

I had this same issue and was able to solve it by disabling the Private Internet Access Chrome Extension. Even when PIA was disconnected calls would not work. Only disabling the extension fixed the issue.

There may be other extensions that cause the same issue so try disabling all extensions to see if that fixes the issue. If that fixes it then incrementally enable extensions to determine which extension caused the issue.

>NO VoIP phone will connect to Google Voice

You might want to qualify that statement.

https://www.amazon.com/Obihai-OBi2000-Gigabit-Phones-OBi2182/dp/B076JKV5CL

>SMS and MMS from web, desk app, or phone app.

Couple additional caveats:

• MMS in GV is limited, it only can be used to send photos (e.g. no sending vCards). It can receive other types of content (including vCards) but not all. There is a work around to ensure you can received everything (by forwarding MMS to email, where the MMS attachements will be email attachments) but absolutely no way to send anything other than photos.
  
• Using GV SMS for mass texting, which includes not just traditional marketing, but can include sending receipts, and automatic reminders, can result in the SMS suspension. Basically, you should only use your SMS to reply to customers queries.
• In addition to deskphones, sharing a line (ring groups) requires the Standard plan as well. https://workspace.google.com/intl/en\_ca/products/voice/
• Ring groups are entirely landlines, they don't support SMS

Another option may be getting her a standard looking desktop phone with cell service. Then, get an low cost calling-only plan. That’s how I set up an older relative. She doesn’t even know it’s a cell phone. The service costs about 8 dollars/month for unlimited calling to North America- US, Canada, and Mexico. This is what one of those phones might look like. Just make sure it supports LTE. 3G is gone. AllAboutAdapters 4G Voice LTE 3G WCDMA Desk Phone with Text Message Mail FM Tuner (TEL-SIM4068) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09JDKX5NF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5090HKMHJRWZXGJ3N7KQ

Are you sure the names are in your Google Contacts? If you go to contacts.google.com do you see them?

The android app will use the contacts in your phone, even if they're not in contacts.google.com, so that could explain the difference.

The issue isn't about updating your brother's contact info, it's about update your sister's contact information to_NOT_ have your brother's number.

On the web, contacts are easy, just go to contacts.google.com, search for your brother's number and then update every contact that shows up except him.

The problem you might run into is after you update those contacts, one of your phones/devices may upload the old data back into your cloud contacts, contact syncing is just not very good.

Ozark's advice is good, a hard reset of the device works, or just repeated cleaning of contacts as best possible until everything is finally back the way you want.

One way is to export a copy of your apple device's contacts to the cloud. Then import them into Google Contacts.

Easiest way to import the contacts files is by using a computer and going to contacts.google.com

There are other methods.

Yep that'll all still work. But GV for WS has a bunch of (mostly admin) features.

If you start managing the accounts you'll get those features.

https://workspace.google.com/intl/en_us/products/voice/

The biggest thing for most people is just getting control of the numbers, so if you assign a number to an employee, they can't take it with them when they leave.

https://workspace.google.com/products/voice/

Google Voice: Business Phone System & Plans Stay connected and save time with an easy-to-use business phone solution that fits organizations of any size.

If you're happy to pay for a business plan (It'll be about $20/month per person, since you need a Google workspace license and a GV add on license) then that works well.
https://workspace.google.com/products/voice/

By paying for Workspace, you will get control of the numbers (i.e. if you end up in a contract dispute with your freelancers, you can take the number back). There will also be some calendar integration, you can share contacts, and (if they're also using the gmail address) they'll be able to receive calls in gmail even while Google Voice is closed.

That said, Google voice is pretty basic (no shared inboxes, no commercial SMS, and ringgroups/autoattends require you to upgrade and pay another $10 per user) so there are other alternative that will likely be a bit more cost effective and easier to set up if you don't need Workspace. Paid Google Voice truly is targeted at Google Workspace users, it's not really a standalone product.

Phone by Google app is for mobile numbers only - not GoogleVoice accounts. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.dialer It is the default phone dialer for some Android phones but can be installed on most other Androids that don't have it. That being said, some of the spam-screening features may not be available on all phones.

That number can never be used again to obtain a Google Voice number. That's how it works.

You'll either need another mobile number or if you have access to a landline that's never been used to obtain a Google Voice number, you can use that. Google will just call with the verification code.

If you want a cheap way to get a mobile number, you can use this Ultra Mobile 7-Day trial SIM

Yeah, you got it, an adapter kinda like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Headset-Microphone-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B004SP0WAQ

Then, you got it, just a generic male to male cord. After that, it should be as simple as playing the mp3 file while you're recording the voicemail. It will record all sound, basically, you're taking the speaker output and running it directly back to an input, you may have to time it a bit.

I found the setting that shows what devices that calls can be forwarded to, and unchecked them all. Browser, cellphone, everything. Then I made groups for Family, Friends, Acquaintances, Work, Business, etc and set the call forwarding rules for those groups to ring thru to my cell.

Last, I had to deal with spam calls that called my cell directly and bypassed gvoice. I started by setting my default ringer to silent and created 2 more groups - Ring1 and Ring2. Ring1 is for something that's important (work/family/friends) and Ring2 is for stuff that's not so urgent (acquaintances/business). I put the respective groups into those 2 Ring1/2 groups and then used this app to assign all my contacts a custom ringtone based on what group they're in:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.insadco.groupringtone

I made this switch back in 2016, haven't had any regrets!

I was able to setup a Google voice account for the first time just by using ProtonVPN. No location spoofing required. After that I never needed a VPN again to use google voice. I’m in Germany. Not sure about Vietnam good luck and tell us all what you end up doing, if it works or not.

I set mine up back in 2015 or 2016, and all was great. Then a few years later Google did the new interface but the settings still showed up in Legacy Voice and still worked. For the past 2ish years I've been unable to find / change the rules but they kept working with my existing groups, the only problem was that it kept forwarding numbers I didn't have saved to my cell. Once Google brought the feature back that part started working properly also.

One more tip - the Group Ringtones app is invaluable for this setup. I set my main ringer to silent, that way if my actual cell number gets a spam call it won't interrupt me. Then I use this app to have 2 different ringtones based on call priority. You can use the same groups as you do for call routing or you can just give everyone a 2nd group called Ring1 or Ring2 and use those only within the Group Ringtones app for assigning ringers. Whenever I add a number to my contacts I just go in to the app and hit refresh to update them.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.insadco.groupringtone

Google's native Messages app does all that, too, without locking you into a verizon account forever. Works on all US carriers. In Messages, just turn on Chat Features.

Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong, but it seems like you're doing your sister's account in a different order than you did for yourself, i.e.,

>I downloaded NordVPN and created a Google Voice account for myself and got a Google Voice number. I then added my US phone number, which I still had access to thanks to Verizon travelpass.

For your sister's account, you say:

>I can add her real US number to her Google Voice account, I get the verification code and everything, but it won't give me a Google Voice number.

So in your case, you added your real US number after getting the Google Voice number, but in your sister's case, you added her real number before getting the Google Voice number. Or did you try to link her real number to her Google Voice account before you got a Google Voice number? I don't even know if you can do that. I'm confused.

In this DigitalTrends article How to Set Up Google Voice, you do as you did the first time and select the Google Voice number before putting in the real number.

Since you added nordvpn to her iPhone, it sounds like you're trying to do this via a phone. If you have a laptop or tablet available, try doing it on that via . Obviously, you should still download NordVPN to whatever, laptop/tablet, device you use.

Try a different NordVPN server in the US. Not for GV, but I have ExpressVPN so I can watch US Netflix, YTTV, etc., and every so often I have to switch to a different ExpressVPN server to get them to work. Although, problem may be if you try and fail too many times, Google will just shut down registration for this number.

Porting your GV# to a mobile carrier is the only way to use Messages.

I've considered doing the same, but don't want to give up some of the Google Voice features I like having, just to gain the ability to send high quality images and the other features of Messages, which to me, are mostly trivial.

I have confirmed that freetone gives a message saying that "this is a premium type of SMS you need to subscribe to a weekly or monthly blah blah blah" but I tried using the phone call option and I did receive the call but my stupid Nexus 5 glitched out and I wasn't able to enter the code and I forgot what it was, and when I tried to get another call Google gave me a message saying "You've tried to verify your number too many times to verify, try again later" so I'll try again after work. if you want to sign up for an account, here's my referral link here or direct from the playstore here

Got it.

I don't know what she's paying for her current service, but I have Ooma, which acts as a replacement landline service that I forward my Google Voice number to. The Telo base is currently $73 at Amazon. After that purchase, Ooma only charges taxes each month ranging from $4 to $7.

The relative could possibly port the number to Ooma (odd that she can't to Google Voice) and forward the number to her cell.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-voice/google-voice-2019-14-240805279-release/google-voice-2019-14-240805279-android-apk-download/

One way that I found would remove contacts from "Suggestions", on the web version of Voice, was to go to contacts.google.com and edit your "Starred Contacts". Removing the star from the contact will remove them from the "Suggestions" list which sits above the "All Contacts" list in Voice.

You should be able to use your mobile number for texting abroad with Google Messages app over Wi-Fi. Just enable Chat Features (RCS) in the app Settings. It's the default messages app in new phones. Or install it from the link above.

If you're concerned about not using your GV# enough, just set a phone calendar reminder for you to send an outgoing text from GV every couple of months, to keep the number active.

If you're looking for cheap VOIP services, check out voip.ms or callcentric.com. With a cheap SIP adapter (here's one $40 example), you can set up line(s) that range from free to $3 - $4 per month and will probably have all the features you need for a landline. You can certainly forward GV to any of them, if you don't want to port out the GV number, and inbound calls wouldn't ever know. For outbound calls that you want to show the GV number, you'd have to dial via the google voice app, or do the clunky dial GV first then dial out from another landline.

Fwiw, the Reply app from Google has that same functionality you describe and works with Google voice and hangouts. It's currently a beta app, but imo works really well. I use it all the time. It's avaiilable for download from apkmirror. It provides smart suggestions for sms replys as well as the automatic replys via activity detection. You can enable or disable the individual components and apps you wish to use it with.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/reply/

https://apkpure.com/push-notifications-fixer/com.andqlimax.pushfixer.noroot

Try this link. It may not be available for some devices, but should still work without issue. Just make sure to turn off battery optimization for this app too.

Basically, it is a push notification app for android. I'm sure there are similar, but this worked for me on my old phone.

I second the other two comments (up to now), and am honestly amazed you haven't done this sooner under those circumstances. Texting with your GV# is handled by the GV app - which means it requires a data connection, although you can set it to forward copies to your actual cell SMS in the US as well as to your gmail (something I do for archival purposes). It really isn't a concern and this is something you definitely should do. It may take you a bit to get the hang of it (depending upon how much you know already), but once you do you'll wonder how you could possibly go without.

EDIT: there is technically a way to text via SMS only using your GV# (i.e. without requiring a data connection). It requires the party you're communicating with to text you via SMS first, though, so Google can create a kind of middle-man number for your contact - messages from your actual phone number to that go-between number get forwarded to the intended destination, but appearing to be from your GV# instead of your phone's actual number. It's basically a kludge to hide the fact your GV# isn't your phone's real number. A dated, but good quick explainer is here.

I hate the situation too, I remember when Hangouts had chat, GV sms/mms, group video calling, direct video calling, screen sharing to group or solo, remote desktop, all in one app/website. I hate that this is all broken up now.

but some ideas for your floating window request: look into "site specific web browsers" which create a mini app that opens a window with a browser connected to a specific site. If you are on Chrome, under "More Tools..." menu, you can create a shortcut which will make a separate browser window out of any site.

There are also a number of tools that will also do similar things (not sure of the advantages of using these over Chrome's though):

https://alternativeto.net/software/fluid/?license=free

I was not going to use that device. I am looking at this device!

https://www.amazon.com/Cell2jack-Cellphone-Adapter-Receive-landline/dp/B089984QRT/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3HP7GS35R4V25&keywords=celltojack&qid=1640004239&sprefix=celltojack%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-2

It is celltojack sold on Amazon.

The latest version is broken. Downgrade to the 2nd latest version and the echo problem will go away. I downgraded with the apk from here: https://apkpure.com/google-voice/com.google.android.apps.googlevoice

You might want to look into meet.google.com. The business version (that I use at work) has a call-in number for those that cannot connect via video or apps for some reason. For short calls I use Google voice but for long conversations I use meet.google.com instead. For business calls it helps a lot, there was one time where my machine died in the middle of a meeting but I could still call in to the meeting phone number and continue.

That's just about as false as any statement could get. As I mentioned in the post, Nikhyl Singhal, the Product Manager in charge of Hangouts, acknowledged that it's a work in progress.

You might be confusing sending and receiving SMS via Hangouts on iOS with Google's announcement that Hangouts would eventually support SMS.

On a real PC - not a phone, go to contacts.google.com and make new "Labels." Then drag/drop contacts into the labels you want them in.

If you want to use them in Legacy Google Voice, they will show up there, under "Groups."

Google contacts and google voice, like many things Google, are a dumpster fire, containing remnants of things that previous devs thought should be re-named, moved or changed. But they never followed through and renamed them everywhere.

Just set up a secondary work Gmail account (that you give the office), and have your primary Gmail account pull the email from the secondary:

https://mail.google.com/

Settings ->

All Settings ->

Accounts and Import tab ->

Check mail from other accounts ->

Add a mail account ->

​

That way, you only have to deal with a single Gmail account, but your work and personal email are separate.

I assume you're talking about Google Voice for Google Workspace?

The Poly VVX line of phones will not work with the consumer version of Google Voice. If using the consumer version of Google Voice you would want something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Obihai-OBi2000-Gigabit-Phones-OBi2182/dp/B076JKV5CL/

If you still have a Google Voice account and active telephone number, you could access it from Canada via a VPN that connects to a US server such as Hotspot Shield.

Hotspot Shield Free VPN

I send the vid or multiple pics to a shared folder on Google Drive. Then send the folder link to the recipient.

Ever so often, I delete old stuff in the shared folder, to conserve space on my Drive account.

Or send them them using your mobile number and Messages.

jpetrone is on the right track. There is a service known as Google "My Business", whereby you can provide information for your business listing: https://www.google.com/business/

When that information is available, Google Voice will use it for caller ID name information.

> This functionality does not in any way require Google Assistant support. That's evidenced by Facebook Messenger supporting it, which has no Google Assistant support.

Yes it does. It supports Google Assistant in Android Auto. This is another platform for Google Assistant, just like phones, speakers, etc.

https://assistant.google.com/platforms/cars/

Eh, I give up. Sure dude.

what you are looking for is called a "wireless bridge". many routers can do this, but the google wifi mesh routers cannot. here is a list of routers that can do this https://dd-wrt.com/support/router-database/

you can either get a cheap used router that supports wireless bridging for $6 for conversion, you can buy a used device specifically for wireless bridging for $10 or the $25 obihai wifi adapter.

with the wireless bridge router you get extra connectivity, extra lan ports, and options.

i used the wireless bridge for a while and it worked fine.

>On one hand, they don't know it's a GV number (yet)…

They may well know that it is a GV number. This is quite easy to determine from various free and paid carrier lookup services.

For example, here the FreeCarrierLookup.com result for a GV number:

https://snipboard.io/4IfxoU.jpg

sorry to be late to the game, but yes, you can make calls using the default dialer, and without data. literally no data. you can do this from a landline as well (provide you have the right phone).

the whole thing was described back in 2009 on Lifehacker.

I am in Dominican Republic trying to make US calls with vpn.ac. This fixed it for me with a few other adjustments that I am not sure had anything to do with the solution.

I tried "prefer wi-fi or mobile data" before switching it from the carrier, but somehow it got switched back to carrier. I changed it back to "prefer wi-fi or mobile data" but only AFTER removing the SIM, then got it working with no SIM. I put the SIM back in and it worked fine.

FWIW, I installed the google phone app (blue icon) and preferred it over the default phone app for the Samsung s9 (default is a green icon). So try removing the SIM, it might be worth a shot. Also possibly relevant is that taking out the tray with the SIM and SD card jostled some of the apps installed on the SD card, then they started working right when reinserted.

https://one.google.com/about

Blatantly says near the middle:

Experts, one tap away Get direct access to people who speak fluent Google. If you need help with our products and services, our team of experts is here for you.

Apparently they do not support Voice, but yes, I would expect it based on their page.

TextNow free texting & calling app & Talkatone are two other free (to use on wifi) services that give u a real phone # with incoming & outgoing service.

No credit card needed.

TOS also 13 years of age.

textnow has free unlimited calling and texting - perfect for irresponsible teens. they can call you or 911 without internet. there is a one-time fee of $10 for the sprint sim cards. used sprint flip phones are available on ebay for $20.

I don't know of anything off-the-shelf that does what you're looking for (but I'm also no expert).

I assume you'd be able to develop a system using Asterisk. But the time/skill investment might not be worth it for a small scale ad campaign.

Your best bet is probably to reach out to a few small marketing agencies to solicit pitches on what you're trying to do. Either you'll be able to ask enough probing questions or see readily what tools they use and whether you'd be able to do it yourself, or you'll find their rates reasonable and just let them worry about it.

Short answer: Nothing official, but totally doable.

Long answer: your best bet is either a pinned tab in your browser, or something like Franz or Rambox. Franz / Rambox will provide an always-open application, and as one of your tabs you can load the Google Voice web interface. I use Rambox, and in addition to GV, I've got Hangouts, FB Messenger, Whatsapp and Slack in different tabs. Works great for me.

Still working for me, via hangouts.google.com, via Gmail widget, via Pidgin plugin (github.com/EionRobb/purple-hangouts), and via Android Hangouts app (both old and new versions).

But yeah… once it rolls through, this sucks.

As u/HuntsvilleCPA writes, there's no other way to have my text messages and emails in one window. Why the 🤬 does Google remove features that everyone loves and uses? (cf. “making GV or GH the default texting app on Android”)

Are your contacts visible when you go to contacts.google.com ?

If they are not, it's likely that you have your phone set to store contacts locally to the device, not to your google account's contacts.

Choose the contacts to export and then export the file.

Go to contacts.google.com and import the file, using the import tool.

It'll be easier if you do this on a computer, not a phone.

> GV has always been slow, but after all this time I expected GV to get better, to at least not fall further behind.

I'm not disagreeing with this but I'm still a happy GV user. It's been my primary-to-exclusive number for about 10 years as well. Especially invaluable when traveling around the world.

> there's still no vcard support

?

You can drag/drop vcards into the Google Contacts web interface. What else are you looking for?

> internet only calling is still mediocre at best

Yeah, definitely a big frustration. OTOH, is there another consumer VoIP service out there that (a) is actually easier to use than GV and (b) can talk to plain-old telephone numbers? I'm not aware of one.

> RCS is nowhere to be found

Yeah. This one is annoying because GV users seem like the ideal test-bed for improving RCS. On the other hand, RCS seems so flawed (every carrier nitpicking and tweaking it to death, no E2E encryption, no planned support for iOS users) that I doubt it's every going to matter.

> I ported my number out today.

Why did you decide to port your number out instead of just forward it to a carrier number?

Humm... I think I may have found a way. Go to your contacts:

https://contacts.google.com/u/0/?cplus=0#contacts

Un my contacts, I see a "blocked" label. (Maybe you have to have at least 1 "contact" blocked in order for this to show up? I dunno - test)

Import your phone list to your contacts, then change or apply the Blocked Label to them.

I think that'll work. I tested it with some contacts.

You need to use the Legacy Google Voice site.

Using a desktop browser, visit voice.google.com, click the menu icon in the top left and select "Legacy Google Voice".

On the legacy site, go to the settings gear on the right side and open the Settings. You'll find the options you want under the "Groups" tab.

For me, I didn't want all of my contacts to ring through (sometimes I label certain callers as "junk" or automated reminder callers in my contacts, etc.), so I clicked "Edit" under "All Contacts" and deselected all of my forwarding phones. (I did the same for "Anonymous Callers".)

Then I added a label called "Trusted Contacts" at https://contacts.google.com/ and applied it to all of the contacts I wanted to ring through. Then reload the GV settings page, see "Trusted Contacts" now under the Groups tab, click "Edit" underneath, and select the phones to ring.

It would be a good idea to test it out afterward with a phone that's on the list, and a phone that's not, to make sure it behaves like you want. (Non-listed phones go straight to voicemail for me, so I still get notified instantly by my email alert plus a voicemail transcription, if they leave one.)

There are two different parts to the US caller ID service: the 11-digit number (CID) and the name (CNAM).

The telephone number is part of the call routing information, so it is easy for the called party's carrier to know and to display that number to their customer's phone.

The name is not sent with the call routing information. Instead, the called party's carrier needs to look it up, in real time, in a database of matching numbers and names (the LIDB). If a match is found, the called party's carrier will send that name to their customer's phone. If no match is found, it's up to that carrier as to what's substituted. In some cases, it's a generic city name (where that telephone exchange is located), or "Wireless caller" if it's a mobile number, or simply blank.

Google does not feed its users' names into the LIDB, and it does not "dip" into the LIDB to look up names on inbound calls. So, it only displays the number. It costs money to use the LIDB, and since Google Voice is mostly free, it's not cost-justified.

If the calling number is in the GV user's Google Contacts https://contacts.google.com/ or if the number is a business known to Google (it appears on Google Maps), then GV may display that name. This is not true CNAM; it is simply information provided by Google.

On your phone, open a contact that you feel isn't showing up in GV. Check what account the contact is stored in. Does it say "Phone"? Then it will never show up in GV; it needs to be stored in your Google Account.

You can check by logging in to the Google contacts site here: https://contacts.google.com/, and seeing what contacts exist. Only these contacts stored here will work with GV, because that's where GV does the lookup.

Looks great! However, I got stuck at the stage after importing contacts (https://contacts.google.com/u/0/preview/all) and can't find a way to prevent my phone from ringing and upload the MP3. Can you please ask your friend to publish instructions in a step-by-step list?

I tried in the regular Google Contacts also (not preview) and wasn't able to figure it out there either.

Thank you!

^^^I had a similar issue and seemed to have some success using the ExpressVPN app to set up Google Voice. Then I deleted the VPN and everything seems to work fine. I am in Australia but from the states.

Switch to Wi-Fi calling.

• Turn off forwarding to the mobile number.
• In GV app go to Call Settings and select Prefer Wi-fi and mobile data for calls.
• Use the GV app for all calls.

If it's better on Wi-Fi, it's the Visible mobile connection, which is bottom of the barrell in priority by verizon. If you install the FCC Speed Test app, you'll likely see poor numbers for Latency, Jitter and/or Packet Loss.

If you have no choice but to use the verizon towers, consider getting a postpaid account from them. When verizon tower congestion occurs, their postpaid customers really do get higher quality service.

Are VPNs illegal in Canada?

They're fairly quite affordableable depending on the brand you get, as many factors play into play: the speed of the Upload/Download speed when using the VPN, and other features that you might need to consider.

Personally, I've used NordVPN and had no problems with them. Other VPNs I have tried are IPVanish and ExpressVPN, but NordVPN is way above the west in my book.

Get the Google Messages app and make it default on your device, when prompted. It will work with your carrier number and uses RCS, the new texting standard adopted by the big 3 phone carriers. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging