Help How to get Google Voice to work on Optimus?

[RocketFoot]

Can someone give me a quick idea of how to get Google Voice working with my kid's V? The phone is not activated, he will be using WiFi for now. I have tried but I can't seem to get it set up.

 

[xbrokdikdogx]

you download the google voice app. Google voice isn't a voip client though so in order to make google voice work on the phone you need to have a phone number on the phone to assign the phone from google voice.

 

[MacFett]

I have been trying to get it to work on mine as well. I get to the point in the Google Voice wizard where it says to call the number which is *7thenmygooglevoice number. When I call it says I do not have authorization to call this number. Is this a VM message? Or a google message?

I would really like to use Google Voice if for nothing else than the Voice Mail. I hate VM's voice mail.

 

[xbrokdikdogx]

You can't use the google voice voicemail in place of virgin mobile's voicemail. None of the prepaid carriers allow the free call forwarding option that allows you to switch to google voice for voicemail.

The only option you would have is to call virgin mobile and turn off your virgin mobile voicemail. Then hand out your google voice number in place of your virgin mobile number. Then anyone who calls your google voice number, when you don't answer, would get your google voice mailbox. However, anyone who calls your virgin number will just get a message saying you do not have a voicemail account setup.

 

[MacFett]

The only option you would have is to call virgin mobile and turn off your virgin mobile voicemail.

I was told by VM that they can't switch off the voice mail.

 

[RocketFoot]

Ah, so there is no way to get a phone number with wifi only?

 

[obijohn]

You can't use the google voice voicemail in place of virgin mobile's voicemail.

This is correct, although Virgin Mobile has told me they are working to implement conditional call forwarding for the Android phones in the next couple of months, and then it will work. We'll just have to wait and see if they follow through.

None of the prepaid carriers allow the free call forwarding option that allows you to switch to google voice for voicemail.

Not true. Cricket does. MetroPCS does. US Cellular does. Verizon and AT&T prepaid plans do as well. Some may charge $1 or so extra for that feature, but Virgin Mobile and T-Mobile and the only 2 of the top 10 or so carriers that don't even offer the option to pay extra for it on prepaid plans.

The only option you would have is to call virgin mobile and turn off your virgin mobile voicemail. Then hand out your google voice number in place of your virgin mobile number. Then anyone who calls your google voice number, when you don't answer, would get your google voice mailbox. However, anyone who calls your virgin number will just get a message saying you do not have a voicemail account setup.

This works, but you're stuck with GV for texting, and it sucks for texting. No MMS, no customizations, can't use Handcent or GO SMS, etc. You could give everyone both numbers and use the Virgin number for texting only and the GV number for calls only. But that's a nightmare waiting to happen. You also have to get Virgin to disable voicemail or if your phone is off the Virgin voicemail will pick up before GV does.

I strongly suggest EVERYONE to call Virgin Mobile at 888-322-1122 (just keep saying "customer service representative" over and over until you get a live person) and request this feature as essential for the Android+Google integration experience. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Say that you want your request to be logged with others who have called about the issue, and that you know many people have already requested it. I've already done so. My wife has done so. There are threads all over the place about it, and nothing will get done unless Virgin feels pressure from their Android users to implement it.

It is time to exert that pressure.

 

[Deleted User]

Ah, so there is no way to get a phone number with wifi only?

Get him and you a set of walkie takes that look like cellphones that way you dont have to pay for service if your a cheapskate, or worry about minutes running over ...

 

[ravenas]

You also have to get Virgin to disable voicemail or if your phone is off the Virgin voicemail will pick up before GV does.

Hang on that's not true. I've been using Google Voice for years with my VM phone and GV always gets my voicemails. VM never gazzumps it.

One other option for using an Optimus as a WiFi phone is to use Skype Out on it. I paid the $30 a year and can make as many calls as I want on my Optimus or iPod Touch and iPad.

Incoming you'd need to pay the Skype Online Number fee. $18 for 3 mos.

I guess you can have GV forward to your Skype Online number.

 

[liebezeit]

Yes, you can use Android phones as Wifi-only. Set up a SIP client like CSipSimple with a SIP provider like Sipgate, plug the Sipgate number into Google Voice, add GVoice Callback for outgoing calls, and you're all set. But the total latency of Google Voice->Sipgate->CSipSimple is pretty high.

Another option is to use PBXes.org's GTalk peering arrangement to connect Google Voice, via Google Talk/Chat, to your SIP client. That removes some latency but it is a little unreliable due to PBXes.org. It also screws up your Talk/Chat status.

The best solution from a simplicity-and-low-latency perspective would be to run a straight Google Talk/Chat voice client (connected to Google Voice). But the only options currently (Vtok and Talkatone) are currently iOS only. They both claim to be working on an Android version. Hopefully they will integrate into the phone nicely like CSipSimple does.

 

[lizm]

One other option for using an Optimus as a WiFi phone is to use Skype Out on it. I paid the $30 a year and can make as many calls as I want on my Optimus or iPod Touch and iPad.

Incoming you'd need to pay the Skype Online Number fee. $18 for 3 mos.

That scenario would work in wifi only?

I travel to Jamaica 1-2x a year and keep an active J'can cellphone becaue it's cheap to do that. I would consider switching to this if it would work there. Will skype out dial any number for $30 a year, including Jamaican cell phones and land lines?

 

[fightingirish]

Are you talking voice search/recognition/voice-to-text?

The first few times it posted everything in some weird Spanish hybrid. Then I did a few nonsense Google searches via voice (so as to recognize my own voice). After that, voice-to-text worked pretty well.

Oh, you must have a Google/Gmail account for it to work.

 

[irha73]

I know this is an old thread, but there was a lot of FUD spread in this thread, though some of it was corrected later on. To clarify, virgin mobile does allow turning off voice mail. I had that interfere with my google voice voicemail and they said they couldn't increase the ring count, so I was able to get them to turn it off completely. Regarding the wifi only option, unlike the suggested complicated option of using a voip service, there is currently an app called GrooveIP that makes it extremely easy to use google voice to make and receive calls, no setup required, but you do have to pay for the app one time.

 

[MacFett]

To clarify, virgin mobile does allow turning off voice mail.

This depends to whom you speak. I have been told 3 different times by 5 different people that I can not have my voice mail disabled.

 

[koopakid08]

I know this is an old thread, but there was a lot of FUD spread in this thread, though some of it was corrected later on. To clarify, virgin mobile does allow turning off voice mail. I had that interfere with my google voice voicemail and they said they couldn't increase the ring count, so I was able to get them to turn it off completely. Regarding the wifi only option, unlike the suggested complicated option of using a voip service, there is currently an app called GrooveIP that makes it extremely easy to use google voice to make and receive calls, no setup required, but you do have to pay for the app one time.

Yep, GrooveIP is the way to go.

 

[ramster]

This depends to whom you speak. I have been told 3 different times by 5 different people that I can not have my voice mail disabled.

Not sure who you are talking with but I just got off the phone with VM and they said my voice mail will be shut off within the next 4 hours. Still don't think it is possible? Please call them and ask! lol

I am using GroveIP, but lately my wife and I have had terrible luck with this app... not working at all or terrible delay's... my wife has to travel for work each day, when she is driving is is no good even with a stronger signal... but again for the last few weeks nothing we've tried has helped to get away from the massive delay...


UPDATE: I just called my number and it rings for awhile and now goes to a message that states my phone number and then says "Sorry there is not a mailbox for this number, please try again later". My not be the best way to go, but I do not give out my VM# the issue I was having is when others called my Google Voice number I have it set to ring my VM# and Home#, dang VM# would go to voice mail when I did not here it and then I would end up with messages I did not want, and most of time didn't even know a message was left!

 

[irha73]

UPDATE: I just called my number and it rings for awhile and now goes to a message that states my phone number and then says "Sorry there is not a mailbox for this number, please try again later". My not be the best way to go, but I do not give out my VM# the issue I was having is when others called my Google Voice number I have it set to ring my VM# and Home#, dang VM# would go to voice mail when I did not here it and then I would end up with messages I did not want, and most of time didn't even know a message was left!

I remember facing this issue, but can't recollect if I had to do something or if it went away by itself. I just tried calling my virgin number directly and after exactly 6 rings, I heard the same message. How many rings does it take for you to hear this message?

 

[corinthos]

not sure where you are with this or what you're trying to accomplish. if you are simply trying to make sure that callers are forwarded to your Google voicemail instead of virgin mobile's and you want to keep your virgin phone number, you may have no choice but to port your number to Google. it will cost $20.

 

[xseanx]

google voice is a joke, last week i used google voice for 2 hours long and the next day i found out it charge to my VM minutes, i'm very sure i chose googlevoice when call, login my VM account to check call record and it even show google voice server number for that call.

 

[sevs753]

google voice is a joke, last week i used google voice for 2 hours long and the next day i found out it charge to my VM minutes, i'm very sure i chose googlevoice when call, login my VM account to check call record and it even show google voice server number for that call.

That's how google voice works. It calls their server which then redirects your call to the intended number. If you don't want to use your minutes, i'd suggest a voip app like GrooveIP. Uses wifi/3G to make calls and will not use your VM minutes.

 

[ramster]

I remember facing this issue, but can't recollect if I had to do something or if it went away by itself. I just tried calling my virgin number directly and after exactly 6 rings, I heard the same message. How many rings does it take for you to hear this message?

Ummm, well please read my whole post. The reason I get that message now is because I asked to have my voice mail turned off. I had ported over my cell number to Google voice, only issues was that when I signed up with Virgin Mobile they gave me a new number, therefore I now have two numbers. Yes I only give out my cell number/Google Voice number but at time when I have txted or called someone the VM # is seen, then when they call that it would go to voice mail or when someone is call me GV# I have it set to ring my cell number and at time it would then go to VM voice mail,,, sucked! Not sure what else to do at this time, seemed the best way to go for me right now was to have my virgin mobile voice mail shut off.

 

[xseanx]

That's how google voice works. It calls their server which then redirects your call to the intended number. If you don't want to use your minutes, i'd suggest a voip app like GrooveIP. Uses wifi/3G to make calls and will not use your VM minutes.

so what's the point of google voice on android? to hide your own number?

 

[lizm]

so what's the point of google voice on android? to hide your own number?

To have one number that you can send to any phone on any schedule you like and free visual voicemail instead of regular voicemail. I use my GV# as my business phone, was able to get rid of my business land line.

You do use your VM minutes UNLESS you also get an app like GrooveIP, which is around $5. I have that, quality is great over wifi and not bad over 3g.

 

[lizm]

I had ported over my cell number to Google voice, only issues was that when I signed up with Virgin Mobile they gave me a new number, therefore I now have two numbers. Yes I only give out my cell number/Google Voice number but at time when I have txted or called someone the VM # is seen, then when they call that it would go to voice mail or when someone is call me GV# I have it set to ring my cell number and at time it would then go to VM voice mail,,, sucked! Not sure what else to do at this time, seemed the best way to go for me right now was to have my virgin mobile voice mail shut off.

If you tell it to, your Gvoice # shows on people's caller ID, not your VM cell #. To get texts to show up as being from Gvoice, you have to text from the Gvoice app.

But maybe you knew that, if so, apologies.

I think if i began trying to use ONLY my Gvoice #, I'd probably just put a message on my VM voicemail saying I won't get the message and to call my Gvoice # instead.

 

[ramster]

If you tell it to, your Gvoice # shows on people's caller ID, not your VM cell #. To get texts to show up as being from Gvoice, you have to text from the Gvoice app.

But maybe you knew that, if so, apologies.

I think if i began trying to use ONLY my Gvoice #, I'd probably just put a message on my VM voicemail saying I won't get the message and to call my Gvoice # instead.

Yes I do and yes I have everything set the best way I can. So as I had written the best way for me at this time to stop unwanted voice messages on my cell phone was to have them shut it off. Other then that I find the Google voice very useful.