Google Voice app finally arrives on the iPhone

Emil

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Google has finally managed to get the Google Voice app on the iPhone (iOS 3.1 and a valid Google Voice account are required). Apple users can now grab the app from the iTunes Store for free.

Google Voice is only available in the US (as of June 2010). Now that international users have been warned, here's what they are missing, according to the app's features:

  • Cheap rates for international calls
  • Free text messaging to US numbers
  • Voicemail transcription
  • Display your Google Voice number as caller ID when making calls
  • Push notifications that alert you instantly when you receive a new voicemail or text message
  • Most of your calls will be placed via Direct Access Numbers, making them connect just as quickly as regular phone calls

Google Voice for Android has been available for over a year, all the while Google has been trying to get it on the iPhone. There has been a lot of tension between Apple, Google, and possibly AT&T in regards to releasing Google Voice on the iPhone. In fact, Cupertino actually rejected Mountain View's submission of its Google Voice app over a year ago. Earlier this year, Google responded with an HTML5 version, and now Apple has finally accepted the actual app. Sometimes all it takes is a little help from the FCC to get Apple to loosen its grip.

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Now all we have to do is get the tyrants at Apple to open the entire platform instead of ambiguously picking and choosing what they feel isn't a threat to their empire!
 
How exactly are US users going to make cheap international calls if the app is going to work only in US? So basically who are they going to call?
 
Guest said:
How exactly are US users going to make cheap international calls if the app is going to work only in US? So basically who are they going to call?

Google Voice works as a VoIP, so it works exactly like you're calling from a standard phone. It isn't like Skype that's Skype to Skype calls. So if I had a great grandmother Theresa overseas instead of using my minutes, fire up Google Voice, dial her international number and it just pulls data, but acts as a regular phone.
 
It provides great additional functionality for those of us who dial overseas since it can be done dirt cheap (with skype as well) and it makes a great spam box for those moments when you have to give out a valid phone number for some reason or other and don't' want to be pestered.
 
Google, YouTube, Chrome, Chrome OS, Android, Google TV, Google Voice... Now we only need Google Toilet and our lives will be complete.
 
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