Google Voice on your Cell Phone?
Update 07/27/09: The GVMobile application has been removed from the Application Store by Apple. Also, there is an official application for GV for the Blackberry. Please read the post for other tips…. Thanks.
Google has now started to send out invites for its much anticipated Google Voice service. So, how can you use it on your mobile devices to make it more usable? I try to answer the simple question with two viable scenarios. The first will detail any and all cellular phones, including the iPhone. The second will detail an application available for the iPhone exclusively.
All Cell Phones:
I am trying to transition most of my personal calls through Google Voice and thus I needed a simple way to make calls to my contacts without having to be near a computer. The solution is quite simple. Google Voice allows you to set up your cellular phone as a device it recognizes (GV will prompt you to verify the device by calling you and requiring you to enter the provided 2 digit pin). You are able to let GV know if you require a pin being entered from that device or not, if you select the latter then you can dial in directly without the need for a pin number. Once you are in the GV system you have the following options:
- Listen to your messages
- Make a Call
- Goog 411
- Change your Settings
I use a Blackberry as my day to day device and thus added it as one of my available phones in GV. Once verified I was able to let GV know that if I dialed from this Blackberry, no pin number should be requested. Simple. My Blackberry now has the ‘G’ key programmed to speed dial in to GV. Once I am dialed in I can perform all of the tasks listed above. Naturally, this can be done for any device you wish…including your iPhone.
NOTE: I have been using both items detailed in this post and having a positive experience with them. The people I call have no idea what device I am using and, to date, have not complained about voice quality.
The iPhone 3GS:
The iPhone, having Apps available, makes the Google Voice experience a bit better. Sean Kovacs has written GV Mobile Free (iTunes Link) and GV Mobile (iTunes Link for $2.99 USD) both of which bring the whole Google Voice experience to your iPhone. Basically you set your GV account up in the application and you are presented with a keypad to make calls, send SMS messages (paid version only), and change your settings. GV Mobile requires access to a wireless network in order to work for the time being, but I am sure it will work over 3G in the future.
Naturally, you are able to set GV as a favorite on your iPhone and dial in to do the same as any other phone allows. GV Mobile just makes the experience a bit more fun.
Screen shots will best tell this story and thus please take a look at them below.
