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Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

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Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#21

Post by dave5104 »

furyg3 wrote: post #11

Maybe it's just me, but I've had this functionality on the iOS version of Hangouts for a while (I already have Google Voice). Outgoing phone calls from Hangouts show my GV number as caller ID. Incoming calls also ring on my Hangouts app. I did not know that that wasn't available for Android users... Anyway, it's very handy. I have a US Google Voice account, but live abroad. Calls from hangouts are the primary way I t…

Not just you. I was traveling internationally the last few weeks and was using the phone calling in my iOS hangouts app the entire time! So, this announcement must be either slightly belated, or they've been testing it on iOS beforehand?

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#22

Post by radnom »

abcdefidk wrote: post #8

So..... Why are we paying for ginormously expensive cell phone bills again? With a wifi connection, you can now: Talk Text Send MMS (think Snapchat) Do everything else smartphone-wise. I know a few things that might run into issues - you can't take a call while on the road without cell service. GPS would be a no-go. Things like Google Maps and Nike Running wouldn't work. But aside from that.... what good reasons stil…

You mean, besides all those good reasons you listed. Wifi is far from ubiquitous.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#23

Post by ejr »

jacquesm wrote: post #10
abcdefidk wrote: post #8

So..... Why are we paying for ginormously expensive cell phone bills again? With a wifi connection, you can now: Talk Text Send MMS (think Snapchat) Do everything else smartphone-wise. I know a few things that might run into issues - you can't take a call while on the road without cell service. GPS would be a no-go. Things like Google Maps and Nike Running wouldn't work. But aside from that.... what good reasons stil…

> But aside from that.... what good reasons still exist for having a cell phone bill? Coverage. Cell phones are much longer range than wi-fi. For instance, you couldn't make a wi-fi call out of your car without using the cell network. So if your cell phone is connected to the net in your car then you're using the cellular modem, not the wifi one.

I think widespread 3G is making the range less of an issue now. I can see providers - third party or not - using existing cellular networks offering data-only plans that make this far more feasible.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#25

Post by sologoub »

furyg3 wrote: post #11

Maybe it's just me, but I've had this functionality on the iOS version of Hangouts for a while (I already have Google Voice). Outgoing phone calls from Hangouts show my GV number as caller ID. Incoming calls also ring on my Hangouts app. I did not know that that wasn't available for Android users... Anyway, it's very handy. I have a US Google Voice account, but live abroad. Calls from hangouts are the primary way I t…

That was my thought also - I've been using this with and without GV (different accounts). I'm pretty sure it also worked in Google Apps before too.

In Android, GV has always been very tightly integrated, so I'm not sure there is a real change here.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#26

Post by xhrpost »

wlesieutre wrote: post #16
xhrpost wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Google Voice app still did a traditional cellular call to my knowledge. You had to get a third party app like GrooVe IP in order to make a data call via the Google Voice system.

They had a phone system built into Gmail's web interface, which IIRC could be treated the same as any other forwarding phone in GV. So when someone called me, it'd ring on my computer and on my phone, and I could answer either of them. I don't recall personally placing any calls from the Gmail interface, but I think the functionality existed.

The GMail functionality appears to still be there. I think OP was referring to the Android app Google Voice.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#27

Post by untog »

furyg3 wrote: post #11

Maybe it's just me, but I've had this functionality on the iOS version of Hangouts for a while (I already have Google Voice). Outgoing phone calls from Hangouts show my GV number as caller ID. Incoming calls also ring on my Hangouts app. I did not know that that wasn't available for Android users... Anyway, it's very handy. I have a US Google Voice account, but live abroad. Calls from hangouts are the primary way I t…

Yes, amazingly, this has been available on iOS and not on Android.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#28

Post by vlunkr »

untog wrote: post #6

According to /r/android this also finally brings Google Voice into Hangouts: http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2fz6hh/hangouts_and... I haven't seen the update yet to try it, but am hoping I do soon. This is long, long overdue. All this said - Hangouts on desktop is still so much worse than GChat was - and GChat had free calls too. I'd type a number, two seconds later it would be ringing in the bottom right co…

Seriously, my battery life plummets when I'm in a hangout from the heavy CPU usage.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#29

Post by archagon »

furyg3 wrote: post #11

Maybe it's just me, but I've had this functionality on the iOS version of Hangouts for a while (I already have Google Voice). Outgoing phone calls from Hangouts show my GV number as caller ID. Incoming calls also ring on my Hangouts app. I did not know that that wasn't available for Android users... Anyway, it's very handy. I have a US Google Voice account, but live abroad. Calls from hangouts are the primary way I t…

Yeah, been using it for maybe half a year. Also have Google Voice — maybe that was a prerequisite?

Seconding Hangouts as a really great solution for travelers. Bonus tip: if you're going away for a while, transfer your cell number to Google Voice and avoid the mess of having everyone update your phone # in their contacts.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#30

Post by wlesieutre »

xhrpost wrote: post #26
wlesieutre wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They had a phone system built into Gmail's web interface, which IIRC could be treated the same as any other forwarding phone in GV. So when someone called me, it'd ring on my computer and on my phone, and I could answer either of them. I don't recall personally placing any calls from the Gmail interface, but I think the functionality existed.

The GMail functionality appears to still be there. I think OP was referring to the Android app Google Voice.

Ah, I assumed he was talking about calls placed via the Chat interface in Gmail. I guess Google Chat has an Android app then?
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