If you have "unlimited calling" set up on your Incredible, DO NOT upgrade Google Voice!

[Bing]

Read this article first:

http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/faster-dialing-with-google-voice-on.html

If you, like me, have your outbound Google Voice access number set as one of your "Family and Friends", you'll find that all outbound calls are currently free (since Verizon sees them as going through the outbound number, regardless of who you actually call). However, this new method assigns a personal number to EACH contact.

So if your girlfriend or brother already had Verizon, and you didn't use Google Voice, it would be free calling.

But if you called them with the old Google Voice application, they would both appear on your bill as calls to your Google Voice access number. (So if you had that one number on your Friends and Family line, you could call both of them -- and anyone else -- without using any minutes.)

HOWEVER, if you upgraded, your brother essentially has 1 non-Verizon number, and your girlfriend has another non-Verizon number, so even though they're both Verizon users, you're going to get screwed over with minute usage.

Keep an eye out for these things! Google either needs to work with Verizon (and AT&T, etc.) to fix this gap, or they need to keep it an option to use a single outbound access number. I know I won't be upgrading my Google Voice app until they fix this.

 

[The_Law2]

Thanks very much for the heads-up. Just backed up the old apk in case I forget and accidentally update!

 

[Bing]

I'd like to make an appeal to the admins to keep this in the Incredible directory, instead of under Tips & Tricks. The parents (Incredible) directory gets a lot more visibility, and I was hoping this would serve as a public warning so everyone could see it.

Just my two cents. Thanks!

 

[Kwake]

what was the version number before the update that added the direct access numbers?

 

[amarryat]

I screwed up and updated it. Then read the blog and was about to post in here how that affects your friends and family list. Sounded like it may be bad, thanks for the confirmation. Ugh.

 

[Bing]

what was the version number before the update that added the direct access numbers?

I'm running version 30413 (takes up 3.26 MB). I believe I had the latest version before this new update.

 

[Bug Splat]

Here is the old APK....

http://files.me.com/unofficialitguy/9unfft
Not my link. Thank member unofficialitguy for it. I'm just reposting his old link.

Uninstall your updated GV program and manually install the linked APK above.

 

[Kwake]

I'm running version 30413 (takes up 3.26 MB). I believe I had the latest version before this new update.

Thanks. I'm running the same version. Just wanted to make sure I hadn't updated since sometimes I tend to update without reading.

 

[tmorris]

Just use google voice callback GV Callback from the market. This app sends the request via web to google voice which then calls you back at your google voice number. Free call.

 

[fastlsx]

If you have unlimited, why does it even matter?

 

[MikeekiM]

Is there any benefit to the newest GV version over version 0.3.4?

I still have 0.3.4 (#13) installed on mine, just as a precaution... Someone above mentioned backing up the apk file... Where is the apk file kept, and what is it named?

I may just upgrade (because I don't make that many calls anyway), but keep the older APK version as a backup in case something changes in my calling situation...

Again...my bigger question is what (besides locking down this loophole) does the newest version bring in terms of value add to normal users?

Thanks All!

 

[Weazol]

Is there any benefit to the newest GV version over version 0.3.4?

I still have 0.3.4 (#13) installed on mine, just as a precaution... Someone above mentioned backing up the apk file... Where is the apk file kept, and what is it named?

I may just upgrade (because I don't make that many calls anyway), but keep the older APK version as a backup in case something changes in my calling situation...

Again...my bigger question is what (besides locking down this loophole) does the newest version bring in terms of value add to normal users?

Thanks All!

I use to have a problem when i recieved a text, I would try and open it from the notification bar but instead of going to the new text it went to the last open conversation.
This was fixed with the new one.

 

[MikeekiM]

I have a question...

I am on a old grandfathered plan... It's a low minute plan (250 minutes), which works out perfectly for my needs... I never need that many minutes...

The problem is that this old grandfathered plan is from the old days when there were no nationwide long distance plans... All I get is local airtime minutes...

Now for the tricky part... If I use the Google Voice app on my Android, and make call using Google Voice...do I now effectively have 250 minutes of nationwide calling?

 

[Sauk]

this royally sucks! Ever since the verizon agreement it seems this change happened.

So because of this I will be moving away from google voice, oh well.

 

[MikeekiM]

Hi Sauk - What change are you referring to? The closed loophole?

And why would you move away from GV? Isn't GV still convenient, even without the loophole?

Not challenging you here...just seriously curious...

 

[Sauk]

Mike,

No worries, the changes I was referring to was the fact that each individual contact gets their own number. I don't know all of the tech stuff behind GV so I am not sure why they went that way. Before it was one number that it dialed out, which made it easy to use and not kill all my minutes.

I don't consider it a loophole to be honest, but I can see how others might.

I am moving away from GV because I can just use my own number and not use any minutes as with Sprint it is any mobile any time. Why take a chance of using all of my minutes up when I can just call for free using sprint now.

Is GV convenient, yes, but again the minutes and money is what matters.

Hope that clears it up

 

[MikeekiM]

Hi Sauk... Have you considered just staying with the 0.3.4 version that does not change things? I am actually still on this older release because I am hesitant to pull the trigger on the change... I still don't quite understand the implications of the change...

But if you are happy with GV convenience...and you like the old way...you can still have your cake and eat it...no?

 

[mauiblue]

I've been fortunate that I found this thread before I saw the update for GV on the Market. I still have the old version of GV and have that backed up on my SD card. I like the options that GV gives me on both the computer and my android phone.

 

[MikeekiM]

Crap... I just discovered something...

With my update to Froyo 2.2, GV mobile app now shows me the outbound call being made...and it is consistently the same number in the 916 area code (consistent because I am still on the old version of GV mobile app)...

This is TERRIBLE for me because 916 is a LD call for me! Which means that every single outbound call I make will be consistently considered a LD call for me since I am on a grandfathered local-only plan...

Crap... This is not good... I need to think about my options here...

 

[Sauk]

where can I get an old gv app.

 

[jprow507]

I use Flex Dialer as it can be turned on and off with a widget and when on will first dial your GV number, then input the appropriate codes and pin before dialing the outbound number, thus the outbound calls are still from your GV number.

Is it still the case that when you let GV manage your outbound calls, is does not actually dial your GV number? I would think they should fix this.

 

[Bing]

Is it still the case that when you let GV manage your outbound calls, is does not actually dial your GV number? I would think they should fix this.

Correct. When you call someone through Google Voice now, if you have the old version, it uses an access number. It is static (like your Google Voice number, but a different #) so you can add it as family & friends and get unlimited outbound calls. The advantage is that the OS works with it, so when I checked who I last called, it doesn't display my Google Voice # in place of the people I ACTUALLY called.

 

[luvit]

for those who have not updated.. this is what i did to prevent an accidental update within Market.

--backup your APK to your SDcard.
-- reinstall it from the SDcard and you'll never be prompted for an update by Market, since the source installation was not from Market.
--i use APKshare app to backup my APKs to my Gmail.

 

[prchohan]

Google just announced two new GV widgets (settings and inbox) but they are included only in the latest version of the app. I've been using the old version to get "unlimited calling". Is there a way to get the widgets with the old version of GV?

 

[jprow507]

Google just announced two new GV widgets (settings and inbox) but they are included only in the latest version of the app. I've been using the old version to get "unlimited calling". Is there a way to get the widgets with the old version of GV?

Yes - just get the new version and use the app Flex Dialer lite. It has a toggle widget to turn on/off GV dialing and will dial out from you GV number itself (thereby free calls) ..... I really didn't find the new widgets that useful though