Google Hangouts gets a huge update, including Google Voice integration

There's also a brand new Android app and VoIP calling.

Read the whole story

 

[macemoneta]

LJ[/url]":3byddavd]

macemoneta[/url]":3byddavd]The SMS in Hangouts also don't go out with the GV phone number, as they did with GV. That's the reason I still have GV installed; no one knows my phone's actual number.

Not true. People who had this rolled out reported being able to send with the GV number from hangouts. However, they said they could not choose *which* GV number the texts came from.

I only have a single GV number so I don't mind.

I tested it; only my mobile number is used for SMS. The GV number is used when making calls.

 

[vassago]

Did they integrate the visual voicemail feature of Voice into Hangouts? I'm not seeing my VMs, but haven't received a new one since updating Hangouts. VM is really the only reason I still have Voice around (and the rare text from someone who doesn't have my regular number since I only list my Voice number of FB).

 

[Rabbiddog]

macemoneta[/url]":2udx7wdw]

LJ[/url]":2udx7wdw]

macemoneta[/url]":2udx7wdw]The SMS in Hangouts also don't go out with the GV phone number, as they did with GV. That's the reason I still have GV installed; no one knows my phone's actual number.

Not true. People who had this rolled out reported being able to send with the GV number from hangouts. However, they said they could not choose *which* GV number the texts came from.

I only have a single GV number so I don't mind.

I tested it; only my mobile number is used for SMS. The GV number is used when making calls.

Keep in mind this also may have to do with what carrier you are on. I am on Sprint and have my GV number integrated. As I have tested, both SMS and calls show it coming from my GV number.

 

[TheMerricat]

Anyone with the hangouts update mind posting the version number they have?

 

[Rabbiddog]

TheMerricat[/url]":128kgnwq]Anyone with the hangouts update mind posting the version number they have?

Version 2.3.75067996

 

[Rabbiddog]

For anyone wanting to update Hangouts without having to wait for it to roll out to their device.

http://www.apkreleases.com/2014/09/10/h ... download/#

 

[pen_sq]

I just got an email from Obihai that their little standalone VOIP unit now supports Google Voice. Is Google really going back to a world of APIs and interoperability?

Furthermore, does this have anything to do with that mass coronal ejection that's going to destroy the Earth in 2 days?

 

[LJ]

macemoneta[/url]":2zan56jc]

LJ[/url]":2zan56jc]

macemoneta[/url]":2zan56jc]The SMS in Hangouts also don't go out with the GV phone number, as they did with GV. That's the reason I still have GV installed; no one knows my phone's actual number.

Not true. People who had this rolled out reported being able to send with the GV number from hangouts. However, they said they could not choose *which* GV number the texts came from.

I only have a single GV number so I don't mind.

I tested it; only my mobile number is used for SMS. The GV number is used when making calls.

Did they roll out the GV SMS integration to your account already server side? If so, you should get an option specifically to send from your GV number. Very few people have it enabled yet, however.

[edit] This is what it looks like if you have google voice integration enabled server side vs if you just have hangouts 2.3 without the integration enabled:

https://plus.google.com/+DroidLife/post ... 1214603343

 

[TheMerricat]

Rabbiddog[/url]":2oqa3mfb]

TheMerricat[/url]":2oqa3mfb]Anyone with the hangouts update mind posting the version number they have?

Version 2.3.75067996

Thank you double kindly.

 

[Sufinsil]

"often failing to send messages, freezing, and generally being a terrible experience for users."

Never had problems with Voice. Great visual voicemail and free calls to Canada. Really do not want it integrated with GChat.

 

[taiganaut]

macemoneta[/url]":21wfqs3g]The SMS in Hangouts also don't go out with the GV phone number, as they did with GV. That's the reason I still have GV installed; no one knows my phone's actual number.

Ugh. I don't have to uninstall the crappy-but-dragging-itself-along-like-the-Walking-Dead GV app for this bullshit, do I?

The ONLY thing I care about is having outbound SMS and calls of any kind originate from my GV number. What the hell is the point if it doesn't?

 

[strohminator]

And the dialer isn't supported on Android 4.2. Thanks a lot Google.

 

[taiganaut]

strohminator[/url]":vu7vt86y]And the dialer isn't supported on Android 4.2. Thanks a lot Google.

Oy fucking vey.

Welp, looks like I'm sticking with VOIP-to-analog adapters and very, very minimal voice when I'm not at my house. (Yeah, I've tried cSipSimple et al with my VOIP provider - without a solid wifi connection, it's worse than pointless.)

 

[bthylafh]

strohminator[/url]":3at1kogi]And the dialer isn't supported on Android 4.2. Thanks a lot Google.

Thank $DEITY my phone is supported by Cyanogenmod or I'd be stuck on 4.1.

 

[rvspinx]

I'm an idiot ---- not a good start

 

[taiganaut]

bthylafh[/url]":1c717c7a]

strohminator[/url]":1c717c7a]And the dialer isn't supported on Android 4.2. Thanks a lot Google.

Thank $DEITY my phone is supported by Cyanogenmod or I'd be stuck on 4.1.

I non-jokingly compare Android to Windows 95 and iOS to OS 8 in their current incarnations, but I think the situation is actually worse - at least you didn't have third party groups repackaging Win95 so it would be usable on hardware you bought specifically in order to run it.

 

[sapphir8]

On the flip side, iOS finally got an updated Google Voice. Looks nice and clean.

 

[aexcorp]

One thing I just noticed though: I made a call from Hangout to a friend's phone, and the caller ID said "Unknown". I have a Google Voice number as well as an "actual" number and Hangout lists them under settings, but neither were used. Can anybody else try and see if they have the same issue?

I find that rather strange and annoying. I typically used Skype because I can place VoIP calls over 3G/4G/WiFi and my number shows up on people's phone (I'm on the T-Mobile "Walmart" plan with only 100 minutes...) If the new Hangout can't do this, then it's rather pointless. Many people don't pick up their phones when they are called from an unknown caller...

 

[Decoherent]

logic_88[/url]"u8xypel]

Decoherent[/url]"u8xypel]I just got an update to Google Voice whose changelog was "Integration with Hangouts", but I still can't get the new Hangouts update. Why the hell would you stagger an app rollout, anyway?

There are several hundred million Android devices in use. Do you really want to try updating all of them at once?

Not to be snide, but they do that literally every single day for millions of apps. Hell, they pushed out updates to 4 of their own just today.

I suppose they don't want their VoIP servers falling down and giving a bad experience, but it's also a bad experience when you're the only one of your friends who has the new app, and you want to try it out

 

[aexcorp]

Decoherent[/url]":nst8h88g]

logic_88[/url]":nst8h88g]

Decoherent[/url]":nst8h88g]I just got an update to Google Voice whose changelog was "Integration with Hangouts", but I still can't get the new Hangouts update. Why the hell would you stagger an app rollout, anyway?

There are several hundred million Android devices in use. Do you really want to try updating all of them at once?

Not to be snide, but they do that literally every single day for millions of apps. Hell, they pushed out updates to 4 of their own just today.

I suppose they don't want their VoIP servers falling down and giving a bad experience, but it's also a bad experience when you're the only one of your friends who has the new app, and you want to try it out

Just sideload the APK... but of course, get it from a reputable source.

 

[TK]

1232[/url]":h99bnzmi]No thanks. My contact list is still polluted with random strangers of Google+ (I don't even have Google+) everytime I search on my contact list. No Google, I don't want to hang out with random people ...

You configured your address book improperly. Whether G+ circle members are included or not (and which ones) is a single checkbox.

 

[slaimus]

Is this the final nail in the coffin for my venerable OBI100 box? It still worked with Google Voice as of last week.

 

[logic_88]

Decoherent[/url]":3rzv30u7]

logic_88[/url]":3rzv30u7]

Decoherent[/url]":3rzv30u7]I just got an update to Google Voice whose changelog was "Integration with Hangouts", but I still can't get the new Hangouts update. Why the hell would you stagger an app rollout, anyway?

There are several hundred million Android devices in use. Do you really want to try updating all of them at once?

Not to be snide, but they do that literally every single day for millions of apps. Hell, they pushed out updates to 4 of their own just today.

I suppose they don't want their VoIP servers falling down and giving a bad experience, but it's also a bad experience when you're the only one of your friends who has the new app, and you want to try it out

AFAIK, all apps have staged rollouts. Whenever we push an update for our app to the Play Store, our users report seeing the update anywhere from instantly to not seeing it until a day or more has passed.

 

[logic_88]

aexcorp[/url]":34n13ea6]One thing I just noticed though: I made a call from Hangout to a friend's phone, and the caller ID said "Unknown". I have a Google Voice number as well as an "actual" number and Hangout lists them under settings, but neither were used. Can anybody else try and see if they have the same issue?

My GV # showed up correctly when I called my cell from a WiFi-only GS4.

 

[Roy Hashimoto]

slaimus[/url]":2bhhgidl]Is this the final nail in the coffin for my venerable OBI100 box? It still worked with Google Voice as of last week.

Just the opposite; Google Voice is now officially supported on ObiHai:

http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=8560.0

 

[aexcorp]

logic_88[/url]":1ewdst18]

aexcorp[/url]":1ewdst18]One thing I just noticed though: I made a call from Hangout to a friend's phone, and the caller ID said "Unknown". I have a Google Voice number as well as an "actual" number and Hangout lists them under settings, but neither were used. Can anybody else try and see if they have the same issue?

My GV # showed up correctly when I called my cell from a WiFi-only GS4.

Umm, thanks for the reply. I think I figured out what the issue was. I have 4 different Google accounts, but my GV # is tied only to my primary, personal account. I first called with my work account, with which there is no GV or cell number attached...

I just retried on my work phone using my primary personal account and the GV# shows up on the caller ID. Victory!

 

[tangerinecheese]

I dunno about hangouts dialer, I really like the swipe to call / message feature of the touchwiz dialer, and the favorites/frequent tab that floats my most called people to the top.

 

[TK]

Roy Hashimoto[/url]":1478qswg]

slaimus[/url]":1478qswg]Is this the final nail in the coffin for my venerable OBI100 box? It still worked with Google Voice as of last week.

Just the opposite; Google Voice is now officially supported on ObiHai:

http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=8560.0

When did they swing that!? It was my understanding that the protocol that Obi (and lots of other things!) used to initiate GVoice calls was getting deprecated

Ah, looks like they have some kind of new API hotness. Cool!

https://plus.google.com/+CheeChew/posts/DRi3GxJ5hWK

 

[omgia]

When I test it on my burner phone, Google Voice/Hangouts continues to ring 3 to 5 seconds after I answer on the phone I called. Quite annoying.

 

[Xeric]

Google will find a way to make our own voices work against us.

 

[hpmmfs]

1232[/url]":28b8ypde]No thanks. My contact list is still polluted with random strangers of Google+ (I don't even have Google+) everytime I search on my contact list. No Google, I don't want to hang out with random people ...

many downvotes but the fact is, he is expressing an opinion and not misrepresenting facts. I happen to agree with him. at this point, good bye google voice. and NO hello to hangouts.
now I have to figure out how to migrate my business away from hangouts.
and why would I want to "hangout" in chat with people I call?
convergence isn't always good.

 

[phoenix_rizzen]

Coriolanus[/url]":1nf1ho9n]

alai[/url]":1nf1ho9n]Thank fucking god! Is it too much to hope that this will also finally provide a decent MMS experience?

Yes, apparently, because this Hangouts update still doesn't support MMS.

MMS works fine with Hangouts on the Rogers network up here in the Great White North. Can send, receive, view, download, play, and otherwise manipulate media messages (pic, video, audio, files). To/from other Rogers numbers, and to/from my wife on Bell.

What kind of issues are you having down South?

[Edit: add note about networks used.]

 

[Chemical Tribe]

omgia[/url]":2sq04d3q]When I test it on my burner phone, Google Voice/Hangouts continues to ring 3 to 5 seconds after I answer on the phone I called. Quite annoying.

If you will use the new hangouts, then you should turn off ringing to the number on that phone. Otherwise, yeah, it will ring twice.

 

[Chemical Tribe]

hpmmfs[/url]":sifn8lr1]

1232[/url]":sifn8lr1]No thanks. My contact list is still polluted with random strangers of Google+ (I don't even have Google+) everytime I search on my contact list. No Google, I don't want to hang out with random people ...

many downvotes but the fact is, he is expressing an opinion and not misrepresenting facts. I happen to agree with him. at this point, good bye google voice. and NO hello to hangouts.
now I have to figure out how to migrate my business away from hangouts.
and why would I want to "hangout" in chat with people I call?
convergence isn't always good.

Without more info, it more than likely is. He could just turn off people search. Heck, I have g+ but all I see is my contacts I have on g+, not "random people."

 

[kvndoom]

pen_sq[/url]":2wv11vr1]I just got an email from Obihai that their little standalone VOIP unit now supports Google Voice. Is Google really going back to a world of APIs and interoperability?

Furthermore, does this have anything to do with that mass coronal ejection that's going to destroy the Earth in 2 days?

Maybe I should blow my paycheck on Krakenhookers (TM) instead of paying bills tomorrow...

I got the same email from Obi tonight. I had been holding out on paying for service for my "landline" since it was still working on Google well after the May 12th deadline. This really brought a smile to my face.

Maybe a slap in the face to ISP/cable providers who charge monthly for essentially the same thing?

 

[Deleted member 192806]

Glad it's working for most. Android still a mess. Standard dialer, Voip dialer, and now Hangouts dialer.

 

[Putrid Polecat]

That blue "migrate Google voice to hangouts" dialog shown in the article? I'm utterly unable to fucking get to it.

 

[capcavern]

Did I faile to configure something or the Dialer does not integrate completly with the google contacts, by not offering the phone number (Cell ,house ,work etc..) associated with them? So we have to manually key them.When I type somebody's name in the dialer I would expect to have a dynamic menu listing names of people related to the keys i'm pressing...But nothing!

 

[d4Njv]

Andy Somnifac[/url]":apyp56yw]It's cool to see the integration finally. A couple of things to note though:

(I'm on Sprint, so my GV number is my carrier number. That may affect these observations.)

I can set the Hangouts app to show incoming calls to my GV (Sprint number) number and it does ring on incoming calls. However, if I decline a call, the built in Android dialer then begins to ring and I have to decline it a second time.
...

Make sure that you have call forwarding to your carrier number disabled in google voice.

 

[Wudan Master]

Gonna guess none of the phone stuff works in the UK right?