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Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

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Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#71

Post by pouzy »

Pxtl wrote: post #61
pouzy wrote: post #46

Well, this took a while. It's been the most frustrating experience having Hangouts since it rolled out, because of this exact issue: I based everything on GrooveIP at the time, having a small voice plan but unlimited data. Then Hangouts showed up and everything became messy (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user) I wrote this a bit more that a year ag…

> (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly. I look at Hangouts the same as I look at Plus - great idea to integrate the myriad things into one place and consolidate…

Most of the people I contact are way less reactive on hangouts (if they ever look at it) than they can be through SMS. I've been a few times in the situation where I realized that I was contacting them through hangouts involuntarily, and that's why they weren't answering. I've never had a Windows phone or IOS, so I don't know how they do, I just hope that it's easier to use

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#73

Post by dragonwriter »

Pxtl wrote: post #61
pouzy wrote: post #46

Well, this took a while. It's been the most frustrating experience having Hangouts since it rolled out, because of this exact issue: I based everything on GrooveIP at the time, having a small voice plan but unlimited data. Then Hangouts showed up and everything became messy (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user) I wrote this a bit more that a year ag…

> (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly. I look at Hangouts the same as I look at Plus - great idea to integrate the myriad things into one place and consolidate…

> Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly.

Smartphone plans with unlimited text and limited data with a high surchage for overages are easier to find than ones with limited SMS and unlimited data, so its not really clear that "SMS is overpriced" anymore, especially when compared with data.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#74

Post by dragonwriter »

ulfw wrote: post #72

Introducing the simple rebranding/reworking of Google Voice into Hangouts. (the same 'free calls' have been on Google Voice for years)

Its more of an integration than a "rebranding". Hangouts has a lot of things that were never part of Voice.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#75

Post by ErikRogneby »

I can install the dialer, but can't seem to find the 2.3 upgrade from 2.1.2. You'd think this would work on a Nexus 4. EDIT "To get started on Android, just grab the new version of Hangouts (v2.3, rolling out over the next few days),"

Why release the dialer in the play store if it requires a yet to be released updated hangouts version?

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#77

Post by silverbax88 »

flavor8 wrote: post #17

Fine, but I wish they'd stop breaking some of the core features in hangouts. Since fairly recently, non google users are unable to get into video hangouts via new-style (non /_/calendar/ ) google calendar created links. Uberconference integration doesn't consistently work. Screenshare (since the plugin was phased out) doesn't work in chromium/ubuntu, but does in firefox. I've reported all of these issues in the produ…

I honestly just wish Google would stop breaking core features in any of their applications.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#78

Post by Pxtl »

dragonwriter wrote: post #73
Pxtl wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly. I look at Hangouts the same as I look at Plus - great idea to integrate the myriad things into one place and consolidate…

> Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly. Smartphone plans with unlimited text and limited data with a high surchage for overages are easier to find than ones with limited SMS and unlimited data, so its not really clear that "SMS is overpriced" anymore, especially whe…

Wifi is free and Hangouts messages are tiny anyways. The bigger concern is avoiding accidentally sendning a message to a user who isn't connected to Hangouts through their primary device - I've often found Hangouts messages waiting for me on my tablet at home.

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#79

Post by parfe »

zaphoyd wrote: post #66
mncolinlee wrote: post #60

Who needs a voice plan now? You can also receive calls on your Google Voice number in Hangouts. This means that if you have data service, you can make and receive calls. It seems the best argument for a voice and SMS plan nowadays is for traveling in areas where data coverage is poor or spotty.

How do I not get a voice plan? (tablet aside) Nearly all decent data plans (in the US at least) have a mandatory unlimited voice/SMS bundled.

Go to a store with tablets on display compatible with Verizon LTE (or borrow one from a friend). Activate a SIM on the Verizon network, data only, for the tablet. Pop the SIM into your phone and presto, data only plan that Verizon can't do anything about (Thanks to Google's involvement in the bidding process for the LTE spectrum).

Re: Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts

#80

Post by duskwuff »

pouzy wrote: post #71
Pxtl wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (I still hate hangouts, putting SMS and web chat at the same place is very confusing for the average user Apple and WinPhone do this fine and it's an excellent idea in a world where SMS is overpriced that the app should automatically look for free ways to get the message to the target seamlessly. I look at Hangouts the same as I look at Plus - great idea to integrate the myriad things into one place and consolidate…

Most of the people I contact are way less reactive on hangouts (if they ever look at it) than they can be through SMS. I've been a few times in the situation where I realized that I was contacting them through hangouts involuntarily, and that's why they weren't answering. I've never had a Windows phone or IOS, so I don't know how they do, I just hope that it's easier to use

I can't speak for Windows Phone, but iOS displays messages from iMessages -- their private messaging service -- almost identically to normal SMS. (There are some subtle indicators of which one's being used, but it's not obviously different.)
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