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Google Voice

User Rating3.72/5

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Google Voice for Android lets you place calls and send SMS showing your Google number. Listen to voicemail and/or read transcripts from the Google Voice inbox. Google Voice account required, currently only available in the US. IMPORTANT: You must open Google Voice at least once after upgrading to route calls.

Price: Free

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

• Choose a local Google Voice number associated to you, not network carrier
• Send/Receive Calls and SMS Text Messages
• Free Transcribed Visual Voicemail
• Loads of features

Cons

• Google Voice is currently available by invite only. Request an invite
• Only available in the U.S. so far
• No MMS Picture Message Support

Features:

Google Voice Android App offers a suite of telephony services such as; a Google voice number, place calls, receive calls, send and receive SMS text messages, listen to or read transcribed visual voicemail!  The benefit of having a Google Voice account is because the phone number is tied to you and not a network carrier.  Just like many other Google products you can access these tools online. i.e. start a call, send and receive a text messages, listen to or read voicemail.

Other cool features are the ability to block unwanted callers, create custom voicemail greetings for contacts, custom call screen greeting, plus have your Google Voice number ring any phone of your choice, record a conversation, send voicemail to email, SMS and Android notifications, free toll calls to local numbers (as it connects you to a local number) and low cost International calling.

Please note: Google Voice is not free VOIP, rather offers toll free local calling. You need Gizmo5 (pre-Google acquistion) to make Free outgoing calls.

Video: Google Voice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua9Q5frlQ2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Q9MJdT5Ds

Usefulness:

Google Voice is a unique feature enhancement of traditional telephone services, to the savvy this service and app is invaluable. Great for travel, anonymity or reachability.

How to Use Google Voice:

• Once you receive your invitation, you have two options of using the service: keep your own phone number (yet you’re limited in full feature set) or choose a Google Voice number to take advantage of full feature set.
• Download Google Voice for Android or Blackberry.
• Set up your calling options and voicemail settings.
  • Choose whether to use Google Voice all the time, for International calls only, choose when or none of the time.
  • Choose to screen all calls (callers must identify themselves)… I choose to screen none and will set on a per annoyance basis.
  • Labels are just like folders.
  • Save Google Voice contacts with Android contacts (kinda sucks that Android contacts are not recognized in Google Voice unless you add to contacts via Google Voice)

Frequently Used:

If used… every time your phone rings, you call out or you send or receive a text message or voicemail message.

Interface:

Sleek and optimal for mobile use. It great that you can almost control your Google Voice account while mobile, however the online interface offers greater control in the settings menu.