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Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

pcworld.com

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Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#81

Post by hanley »

cdjk wrote: post #52

The most useful feature of Google Voice to me is the voicemail transcription. It's not perfect, but it's good enough it saves me from having to listen to the voicemail about 90% of the time. There are plenty of other voip/call forwarding services, but are there any that duplicate that functionality?

This is all that I use Google Voice for. I love having a transcribed voicemail emailed to me, for free. Are there any other options out there? I've noticed lately that the Google Voice app sucks - the UI is unintuitive and is painfully slow to refresh my messages. I'd be happy to switch if there is an alternative.

Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#83

Post by darklajid »

morsch wrote: post #63
darklajid wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aaand no federation with TextSecure either.. :/

No? I think it's something they want to do, there's a reference to it in the recent blog post[0]: "The new TextSecure push transport is a federated protocol, and inter-operates transparently with the CyanogenMod deployment of the TextSecure protocol to their 10MM+ users a few months ago." I gotta say, while I can't really fault them for not releasing the software as quickly as I'd wish they did, I do think their comm…

Yes, but in related threads my hope was crushed: It seems that 'federated' means: "We have a list of servers that we trust". CM is one of those.

You and I won't be able to host a TextSecure server for our friends and family and still be connected to the general public.

Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#84

Post by fluidcruft »

morsch wrote: post #63
darklajid wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aaand no federation with TextSecure either.. :/

No? I think it's something they want to do, there's a reference to it in the recent blog post[0]: "The new TextSecure push transport is a federated protocol, and inter-operates transparently with the CyanogenMod deployment of the TextSecure protocol to their 10MM+ users a few months ago." I gotta say, while I can't really fault them for not releasing the software as quickly as I'd wish they did, I do think their comm…

The federation challenge for TextSecure comes up a lot and IIRC it has to do with the fact that it's a SMS replacement so accounts are phone number and phone numbers aren't routable to the user's domain. If I understand correctly it would be like trying to deliver messages after truncating the "@blah.tld" part from a jabber/email address--lots of opportunity for shenanigans.

Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#85

Post by fidlefodl »

kristopolous wrote: post #66

Why is google willfully sabotaging every great product they have all in the name of one terrible one that nobody wants? Up until about 2010 or so, they were absolutely legendary for their skillful execution of ideas - just the right interface, feature-set, and balance. Time and time again, everything they did they knocked out of the park. And then, something changed. Now they are changing what they did right by takin…

I like it, but then i generally like the products as a whole.

- I've been using Voice for ages, with little to no improvement. This will bring lots of improvement, instead of me worrying about Voice like it's the next Reader. - I've also been using Plus for ages, so i don't have a fear it either.

I understand this Plus requirement is annoying to some, but i honestly don't get the resentment.

To me, Plus is google doing what they should have done with Wave. Made a product, and invested in it. As a company, integrating your products is not a bad thing, it's a good thing, imo. I'm sure many will scream "But not when your users hate your other product!" and.. well.. tough shit heh.

If it ends up being a terrible move then they'll pay for it and die out. But i don't think it's a wrong move for them to try.

As it is, Voice is a wasteland, and it actually getting some love and attention will be awesome. I'm looking forward to it.

Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#86

Post by balladeer »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #19
chimeracoder wrote: post #8

Well, this kind of sucks. I use a Google Voice number that is associated with a Gmail account that I do not use for any other purpose (Hangouts/Talk or otherwise). It doesn't even have a Google+ account associated with it. It's nice to have single number that can ring all my lines. If/when this is killed, what's the alternative? (Article appears to be down/inaccessible for me).

I have Google Voice. I don't use it for outbound calls, just inbound. I'm porting it out to Twilio. $1/month for keeping the number plus $0.01/minute to receive calls ( http://www.twilio.com/voice/pricing ). It'll be more complicated, but I'm not terribly shocked I have to replace yet another Google service with an outside solution. Hurry up Mailpile.is! Before I have to move out of Gmail!

Twilio is sure complicated. It's not at all for the end users who are just looking for a ready to use service or app. It's a lot costlier.

Re: Google to reportedly kill Voice, integrate it into Hangouts

#87

Post by toomuchtodo »

balladeer wrote: post #86
toomuchtodo wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have Google Voice. I don't use it for outbound calls, just inbound. I'm porting it out to Twilio. $1/month for keeping the number plus $0.01/minute to receive calls ( http://www.twilio.com/voice/pricing ). It'll be more complicated, but I'm not terribly shocked I have to replace yet another Google service with an outside solution. Hurry up Mailpile.is! Before I have to move out of Gmail!

Twilio is sure complicated. It's not at all for the end users who are just looking for a ready to use service or app. It's a lot costlier.

True, but this is Hacker News. We're not the typical audience.

With regards to costlier, yes, pennies per minute are more than free Google Voice. But if Google Voice is going away in the traditional sense, having another option is worthwhile even if you must pay for it.

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