Using Contacts in Google Voice text messaging

[superdesi]

When I go to compose a new txt message in GV, I dont have the option of adding a contact. I have to type in a phone number. Is there anyway to integrate Google voice with contacts?

 

[DR0ID]

if your GV account it set up to the same e-mail that you have your contact list set to it should work fine

 

[superdesi]

I see i have to type in the name and it finds it. I thought it was similiar to SMS where you needed to hit a + sign to add a contact on the send list.
I saw this post by athflying which also helped solve the problem of using handcent with GV (http://androidforums.com/motorola-d...-voice-text-messages-handcent.html#post101245) :
This isn't the easiest solution, but it works. Have GV set to forward texts to your mobile number and turn off notifications in GV. Then text everyone in your contacts list from GV. When they text you back, it will be sent to your mobile number, but the reply will be a 406 number. Save that number to the contact and then from now on, use your SMS app to text to the 406 number. This way you can use your default or Handcent app to text, but it will appear to the person you are texting that you sent it from your GV number. It's easier than it sounds and once you start doing it, it will make sense.

 

[superdesi]

my next question is I have it set so GV notifies my when I get new messages in my GV inbox. This is a bit annoying bc now I get three notifications: one from handcent, one from the stock SMS program, and one from GV. If I turned off GV inbox notifications in the settings, would that mean I won't get notifications of Voicemails if I have my GV set up on my phone?

If so that means I'll have to switch to Verizon voicemail then....

 

[Dragoro]

No youll get notification through the gv app. Having the notifications to your phone checked sends an instantaneous notification, but counts against your cell plans text messages.

 

[vincentp]

my next question is I have it set so GV notifies my when I get new messages in my GV inbox. This is a bit annoying bc now I get three notifications: one from handcent, one from the stock SMS program, and one from GV. If I turned off GV inbox notifications in the settings, would that mean I won't get notifications of Voicemails if I have my GV set up on my phone?

If so that means I'll have to switch to Verizon voicemail then....

To deal with the notification you're receiving from the default messaging app, just go into that app and turn off notifications all together if you're using Handcent. That gets rid of one of them.

You should (note "should", I haven't tried this myself) be able to handle the GV notification issue the following way:

- In your GV settings (online), go to the "Voicemail and SMS" tab, then under the "Voicemail" section, check "Send a text message to:" and your normal mobile number.

- Turn off GV notifications (on the phone app).

Ideally, this would mean that the GV app on your phone will never directly notify you of anything. When you get a text, it will show up in the app, but the only notification you should receive on the phone will be from Handcent, since you already set that up. Finally, when you receive a VM, your GV account should send you a text indicating this, then if you want to hop in the GV app to listen to it, you can, but you should still only be receiving one notification.

The only problem I see with this workaround is that you can't really distinguish between a text and voicemail since they will all be coming through SMS. That may or may not be a big deal for you.

Try it and let me know if it works, I was just screwing around with settings trying to figure out if that actually solves your issue or if I'm just an idiot.

 

[Dragoro]

To deal with the notification you're receiving from the default messaging app, just go into that app and turn off notifications all together if you're using Handcent. That gets rid of one of them.

You should (note "should", I haven't tried this myself) be able to handle the GV notification issue the following way:

- In your GV settings (online), go to the "Voicemail and SMS" tab, then under the "Voicemail" section, check "Send a text message to:" and your normal mobile number.

- Turn off GV notifications (on the phone app).

Ideally, this would mean that the GV app on your phone will never directly notify you of anything. When you get a text, it will show up in the app, but the only notification you should receive on the phone will be from Handcent, since you already set that up. Finally, when you receive a VM, your GV account should send you a text indicating this, then if you want to hop in the GV app to listen to it, you can, but you should still only be receiving one notification.

The only problem I see with this workaround is that you can't really distinguish between a text and voicemail since they will all be coming through SMS. That may or may not be a big deal for you.

Try it and let me know if it works, I was just screwing around with settings trying to figure out if that actually solves your issue or if I'm just an idiot.

Doing that will make the texts count against his plan and wont be free. You cant use gv sms for free with the default message app or handcent.

 

[superdesi]

Doing that will make the texts count against his plan and wont be free. You cant use gv sms for free with the default message app or handcent.

yea i ended up turning off all sms notifications to the phone but I did leave on email notifications which means that whenever someone leaves me a voicemail i'll get a gmail notification about it instead. Now the only drawback is I need to have 3g service (email push notifications dont work in 1g do they?) and I may have to wait several minutes before i get the email notification on my phone but it my just work. And since I'm not getting any high call volumes and needing to keep track of voicemails, i should be okay.

SMS is working as long as they message me on my GV number and i message them on their 406 number. I even added the 406 number to my contacts so I can message directly from handcent and have threaded messages and the like. so far so good.

 

[Dragoro]

Ah yeah thats true. Using the google voice app for sms is threaded too, at least for that conversation.

 

[superdesi]

Ah yeah thats true. Using the google voice app for sms is threaded too, at least for that conversation.

Ooh thats good to know. I still prefer the aesthetics of handcent over GV

 

[Dragoro]

I havent been able to figure out how to get the 406 number. There an easy way to get it? Also, if ya use handcent, dont the sms go to the gv app too? Wont that flood the gv app with a bunch of messages youll have to sort through to see your voicemail messages?

 

[superdesi]

I havent been able to figure out how to get the 406 number. There an easy way to get it? Also, if ya use handcent, dont the sms go to the gv app too? Wont that flood the gv app with a bunch of messages youll have to sort through to see your voicemail messages?

Played around with it some more. Apparently if someone txts my GV number it now goes directly to handcent. It also shows up in my GV inbox but I turned off notifications and they are automatically set to be read when they arrive at the inbox.

As for Voicemails, I have to wait for an email noitification from Gmail to see a new Voicemail has arrived. Sometimes its quick sometimes it takes a while. All depends on how fast the gmail app wants to be in syncing my mail. But still it works well. No complaints, and I have free text as long as a save everyones "406" number.

 

[superdesi]

this is probably redundant but i figured i might as well do it here too since this thread is also another important how to get free texting thru GV thread

When I go to GV, I text someone from there and when they txt me back, it comes thru handcent (as well as GV) but the reply number is a 406 number. Now, if i txt back the reply number, the recipient sees my number now as my GV number and not my cell number. Its simple tho, and I just save their 406 number as a new contact. However, my VZW account is showing me use up my SMS when texting to a 406 number thru handcent. Now the weird thing is....i forgot how to stop Handcent from getting all my GV texts. They automatically get sent and Im lost at exactly what steps i need to take to turn off handcent accept my GV txts

 

[DR0ID]

this is probably redundant but i figured i might as well do it here too since this thread is also another important how to get free texting thru GV thread

When I go to GV, I text someone from there and when they txt me back, it comes thru handcent (as well as GV) but the reply number is a 406 number. Now, if i txt back the reply number, the recipient sees my number now as my GV number and not my cell number. Its simple tho, and I just save their 406 number as a new contact. However, my VZW account is showing me use up my SMS when texting to a 406 number thru handcent. Now the weird thing is....i forgot how to stop Handcent from getting all my GV texts. They automatically get sent and Im lost at exactly what steps i need to take to turn off handcent accept my GV txts

go to your GV account on your computer
click settings and under the phones tab it will have your cell phone number ...click edit...should be a box checked to forward SMS...uncheck it...save and should be good

 

[superdesi]

go to your GV account on your computer
click settings and under the phones tab it will have your cell phone number ...click edit...should be a box checked to forward SMS...uncheck it...save and should be good

i.....love.....you

That did it. Now I guess I have to rely on GV instead of Handcent for txting. thats okay, cant beat free texting!