Archive for category News
Google Voice Disables International SMS
(VOICETALK.ORG) — On Sunday, June 6, around 10:30 p.m. PT, the world went quiet as Google Voice international text messaging suddenly became disabled. Having credit or no credit, it doesn’t seem to matter. After sending a text message to one of my contacts in Mexico, I received the message:
Error: this message was not successfully delivered
My other friends seem to have had the same results with Mexico over the past day. After doing a bit more research on the Google Voice forums, I found this post and a popular response by a Google representative.
All,
International SMS has never been officially supported by Google Voice but enough users started using it nonetheless for certain destinations where it worked that we had to actively prevent it until we can bill for it. We are working on a comprehensive international SMS coverage, which we plan to make available at very low prices soon.
Thank you for your patience.
Vincent Paque
Google Voice Immediately Available for Military
(VOICETALK.ORG) — In a brilliant patriotic move, the company with a credo of ”do no evil” is now allowing immediate availability of Google Voice to military personnel.
The Official Google Blog had a special guest blogger, Sergeant Dale Sweetnam, to announce a special Google Voice invitation that grants access within a day vs. the average wait time of a week or up to a month for civilians.
Sweetnam states, “I flew in Black Hawks over Balad and Baghdad working to generate news coverage about my fellow soldiers. The whole experience was physically and emotionally draining, but it was especially difficult when I called home at the end of the day and nobody was there to answer.”
Intended Use
The Google Voice service is probably not meant for live calling on the battlefield such as, “Sorry dear, I’m in the middle of bombing attack, can we discuss Bonnie’s poor grades at a later time?” The service is intended more for when a soldier gets back to a tent with Internet access so he can check voicemail and respond from a computer — SMS might actually be best.
Assistance with Account Creation
Many soldiers may find that their account cannot be created outside of the United States borders since Google restricts foreign IP addresses. Military personnel might need assistance from family or friends within the confines of the United States to complete the account providing the intended area code for use.
References
See the Official Google Blog for a special link to military personnel with valid .MIL email addresses.
Google Voice Competitor 3jam Arises
(VOICETALK.ORG) — 3jam, a San Francisco startup, has announced open beta of a new service that competes directly with Google Voice. 3jam began its debut within the SMS niche back in June 2008 with SuperText technology to route messages to a computer or mobile device, but they have apparently shifted gears with the voice routing business model.
Many of the features duplicate that of Google Voice including call-forwarding, visual voicemail, voicemail transcription, and SMS to email. A few things different include:
- Number portability which is currently proposed but not offerred by Google Voice.
- VOIP forwarding to Skype and other IM voice services such as Yahoo Messenger.
- International availability
- Service Charge
As noted above, a major difference separating 3jam from that of Google Voice is the premium service charge. The site promotes for “as little as $4.99 per month” with a 12 month committment, a 3 month bundle for $5.99 or pay per month at $8.99. Texting plans start at $5 a month.
FCC Questions Apple & AT&T About Google Voice Rejections
(VOICETALK.ORG) — Both Apple and AT&T are getting a little heat in regards to fair trade practices. Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sent letters to Apple and AT&T questioning the rejection of the official Google’s iPhone application for Google Voice and the prompt removal earlier this week of two previously available App Store submissions GV Mobile and VoiceCentral. Apple was asked if they acted alone or if there was any influence by AT&T, the exclusive wireless provider for the iPhone.
A Google spokesperson said earlier this week that they would continue to pursue other possible technologies that would possibly involve the web browser to deliver the Google Voice service to the iPhone.
The head of the FCC’s wireless division, James D. Schlichting asked in the letter:
Did Apple act alone, or in consultation with AT&T, in deciding to reject the Google Voice application and related applications? If the latter, please describe the communications between Apple and AT&T in connection with the decision to reject Google Voice.
Chairman Julius Genachowski stated that the FCC “has a mission to foster a competitive wireless marketplace, protect and empower consumers, and promote innovation and investment,” adding, “Recent news reports raise questions about practices in the mobile marketplace.” Both companies have been asked to respond by August 21. It should be noted that the letters are not formal investigations.
Gizmo5 Now Charging for Google Voice Outgoing Calls
(VOICETALK.ORG) — Last weekend it was too good to be true. Gizmo5 added an entry in their account section meaning that all calls using Google Voice were free. That is now past tense as things have changed over the course a week. At first outgoing calls were limited to 20 minutes and then further reduced to 3 minutes.
Now, outgoing calls using Google Voice are charged at 2 cents a minute. Now, outgoing calls are metered while incoming calls continue to be free. This still proves to be a great bargain vs. the use of the traditional phone line but no longer as sweet. Michael Robertson, CEO of Gizmo5 addressed the changes in an open letter:
Thanks for trying our experimental Gizmo Voice service. The viral spread of this service surprised us and we’ve received valuable feedback from many users on their experience of linking their Google Voice number to a Gizmo5 account so they can make and receive calls from wifi phones, ATAs, PC software and even a browser window using GizmoCall.com. Many of you have told us about the wide range of SIP devices you can now use to connect to Google Voice and we’re keeping a list of user suggestions of compatible wifi phones and software you might want to try out.
We’re now moving the service from Experimental to Beta and there are some important facts you should know:
* Gizmo Voice will remain a free service for Google Voice users to link their telephone number to a SIP account via Gizmo5.
* Unlimited incoming calls will be permitted to any SIP software or hardware.
* Free 3 minute calls to US numbers.
* All outbound calls will display your Google Voice CallerID.
* Longer calls will require a purchase of Gizmo5’s Call-Out which offers low per minute fees to all destinations.
* Unanswered inbound calls will use Google’s voicemail with unlimited online storage and free voicemail transcripts.
We hope you are enjoying the high quality VOIP service Gizmo5 has to offer, which includes unlimited calls to 800 numbers, other SIP networks, GoogleTalk users and even the ability to call a Skype user from any SIP device. (To test the SIP to Skype gateway call Try dialing 1-333-666-1111 which is the Skype echo line.) Gizmo5 is committed to user empowerment that comes from the use of open standards and interconnected services.
Please let me know any feedback you might have and thanks for considering Gizmo5 for your VOIP solution.
–MR
Michael Robertson
CEO, Gizmo5 Technologies, Inc
Apple Rejects Google Voice iPhone Apps
(VOICETALK.ORG) — In a shocking blow to iPhone users, the official Google Voice app by Google has been denied by Apple. Caught in the sweep were two leading third party applications for Google Voice that were removed from the Apple’s App Store on Tuesday — both GV Mobile and VoiceCentral. The reasons cited by Apple to Sean Kovacs, GV Mobile developer, was that his application duplicates features already available on the iPhone such as SMS messaging. GV Mobile is now available for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia. GV Mobile developer Sean Kovacs wrote on twitter noting Phil Schiller — Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing,
Existing user(s) will be able to keep GV Mobile… Funny how my app gets approved personally by Phil Schiller, now to get pulled. WTH Phil!!?
A Google spokeswoman told wired.com, “We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone,” adding “Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.”
If we examine this move in more details, it’s likely that AT&T — the exclusive iPhone provider — may have influenced the removal of these applications. Google Voice software can hurt their bottom line if customers begin sending SMS messages via Google Voice rather than the AT&T network. For example, it costs $20 a month for an unlimited SMS plan. Most can now get away with the lowest AT&T plan of $5 for 200 messages when implementing Google Voice.
Free VOIP Calls with Gizmo5 & Google Voice
Gizmo5, the VOIP service has added support for Google Voice this weekend. Gizmo5 has now a Google Voice Calling section within the member account section. Previously, Gizmo5 members needed to call their Gizmo5 number using their Google Voice number using a separate application. Now, the Gizmo5 application allows for direct calls to your contacts with Google Voice showing as your caller ID. Best of all, no callout credits are required.(VOICETALK.ORG) — Gizmo5, the VOIP service, has added support for Google Voice. Starting this weekend, Gizmo5 now has a Google Voice calling area within their member account section.This means that (1) now, you don’t even need to have a physical landline or mobile phone to use Google Voice.
This also means (2) direct dial from Gizmo5. Previous to this change, users of Gizmo5 needed to dial their Gizmo5 number from their Google Voice account by use of a thrid party application. Now, the Gizmo5 application allows for direct calls to Gizmo5 contacts with the Google Voice number showing as the caller ID. Best of all, no call out credits are required.
Adding Google Voice as an option sparks interest as to why a VOIP provider, previously seen as competing with Google Voice, would allow for use with Google Voice. It’s possible this collaboration might be padded by compensation by Google. Another theory is that Google may be examining Gizmo5 as a possible Google acquisition.
Gizmo5 has been an up and coming player in the VOIP field, competing with Vonage, Skype and magicJack. Currently, Skype does not allow for validation of Google Voice numbers meaning it doesn’t support having your Caller ID show up as your Google Voice number when making outbound calls.
Google Voice Apps for Android and Blackberry
(VOICETALK.ORG) — One hurdle with Google Voice has been ease of use for techies and non-techies alike. What often happens is you see a missed call or voice mail, and you instinctively hit the option to call them back. This is a big no-no. This will allow your contact see your real number and add it to their contacts list thus bypassing Google Voice – something you want to avoid. I’ve always had to remind myself to first dial my Google Voice number first then hit Option # 2 to use Google as a switchboard to make any outgoing calls. This way, your contacts will only see your Google number as an incoming call.
On Wednesday, the official Google Mobile blog release of Google Voice applications for both Android and Blackberry making the process more automated with those smart phones. Users of Apple’s iPhone have already had three applications thus far including GV Mobile, GVdialer, and VoiceCentral making use of Google Voice a walk in the park. Now Google has taken it to both Android and Blackberry.
The Google Mobile blog states,
We’re excited to release the Google Voice app for Android and Blackberry. You can use the app to make outgoing SMS messages and calls from your Google Voice number. What’s more, this app improves the mobile experience of Google Voice in a number of ways.
The Google Voice app integrates seamlessly with your phone’s native address book, making it even easier to call or text with your Voice number. Voicemail transcriptions are now available, and the app will highlight individual words during playback just like your favorite karaoke song.
Google Voice Talk Web Site Debut
(VOICETALK.ORG) — Welcome to Google Voice Talk — the site dedicated to the Google Voice service. I’ve been a member of Grand Central since August 7, 2007 just after it was purchased by Google. At the time, I just saw a discussion on a message board about this service, and made a public requested an invite which was fulfilled. From the buzz, I could tell the service had much potential. The service seemed to stagnate for a year with no new innovations until recently, when there were signs of life.
On March 12, 2009, Google announced that they’ve rebranded the service as Google Voice. Things started to work like calling out using your Google Voice number and they added additional features such as voicemail translated to text. Heck, I don’t even check my voicemail anymore, I just read the text. It’s that good. iPhone apps have also started to roll out making it seem more seamless. It’s an exciting time for early adopters and I’m glad to be in on the ground floor of this project.