Hangouts SMS Integration into 1 Thread

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

It's here: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/21/google-hangouts-2-1/

Question to all: How much do you care about this? It seems like on some Android boards people are going wild like it's 1999.

To me, big deal. I use a 3rd party SMS app anyway, and integration is a bit overrated for me.

 

[Deeko]

It's unbelievable that they didn't have this already. Palm had this in WebOS half a decade ago. Windows Phone has it with Facebook messenger and SMS. iOS has it with iMessage and SMS. The integration in Hangouts up until now was half assed at best, so this is definitely a good thing.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I don't doubt it's a good thing, I just don't think it's as necessary as some make it seem.

To me, we're better off just migrating onto Hangouts or WhatsApp. It's like saying why don't we integrate Twitter and Facebook and Linked In?

 

[Yuriman]

I don't doubt it's a good thing, I just don't think it's as necessary as some make it seem.

To me, we're better off just migrating onto Hangouts or WhatsApp. It's like saying why don't we integrate Twitter and Facebook and Linked In?

I'm in a tiny minority here, but I'm often on Republic Wireless's text/talk only plan and still rely on SMS. I only pay for data when I'm traveling. This is big news for me.

 

[Deeko]

You've obviously never used a Windows Phone where all three of those feeds are integrated into the People hub. It is a far superior experience to other platforms.

What it comes down to is that we can't force our friends to use the platforms we want...and its convenient to have all of your messaging together. Hangouts, in particular, is still used as gchat through the computer, but those people might then use SMS on their phone. Having that conversation in a single stream is much more manageable.

 

[cronos]

I said it before, and will say it again: Dislike :thumbsdown:

I don't want people to 'accidentally' send me a text when they're supposed to send me a message through Hangouts. I can't trust everyone to look at the color codes and do what they're supposed to do.

 

[Red Storm]

If it's not a big deal to you, why make a thread?

I like it. I currently use the Xvoice module which lets me use Hangouts to text with my Google Voice # seamlessly (until Google finally merges the two, which they are working on). Increased integration is a good thing to me.

For those who don't use Hangouts for SMS and would rather have separate apps... well, go right ahead and keep on doing that. This is a good thing for those of us that do like to use a single app for both chat and SMS.

 

[cliftonite]

Love it. Hopefully they integrate google voice with hangouts next. Hangouts is basically the only chat app I use now.

 

[cronos]

Love it. Hopefully they integrate google voice with hangouts next. Hangouts is basically the only chat app I use now.

Now this is something I want as well. And I wish I could be like you, using Hangouts exclusively. But 200+ people on WhatsApp and around 50 on Telegram... yeah that's not happening for me unfortunately :\

 

[podspi]

I use Hangouts and while I was jonesing for that feature, doesn't bother me either, as long as its easy to differentiate between the two in-thread.


I second gvoice integration though. That would be awesome. And gvoice MMS.

 

[Red Storm]

I second gvoice integration though. That would be awesome. And gvoice MMS.

We know they are working on it. Most likely to happen this summer. But for now if you root and use Xposed modules, the one called Xvoice let's you do it now.

 

[magomago]

In order to keep track of things, the two sources are color-coded, and you can separate them any time you'd like.

That is a big key item - some people don't like the integration. For me the main issue is that some people leave their PCs on all day with Hangouts active, and if I message them, they aren't necessarily going to get it on their phone.

Once google figures out how to ensure it goes to the correct device EVERY TIME, then quite frankly I don't care how they do it. they could default to gchat as long as the user has an internet connection and an account and then drop to SMS only when data is not available for whatever reason for all I care.

 

[Red Storm]

Once google figures out how to ensure it goes to the correct device EVERY TIME, then quite frankly I don't care how they do it. they could default to gchat as long as the user has an internet connection and an account and then drop to SMS only when data is not available for whatever reason for all I care.

Hangouts chat messages go to all devices.

 

[dawheat]

Last time I tried these integrated messengers, what frustrated me was not being able to bring up past SMSs when there's no data connectivity. Sometime there was information (numbers, addresses, etc) that I needed when on the subway or just in a packed place where data was spotty and found I couldn't retrieve it. Anyone know if this is fixed?

 

[Red Storm]

Last time I tried these integrated messengers, what frustrated me was not being able to bring up past SMSs when there's no data connectivity. Sometime there was information (numbers, addresses, etc) that I needed when on the subway or just in a packed place where data was spotty and found I couldn't retrieve it. Anyone know if this is fixed?

I have never heard of this before?

 

[trmiv]

I just wish they would add a pop-up quick reply. I use that on Verizon Messages sms app all the time.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Hangouts chat messages go to all devices.

The messages are synced so they will show up, but the notifications only go out to the active device. It's very easy to miss a Hangouts message.

 

[Red Storm]

The messages are synced so they will show up, but the notifications only go out to the active device. It's very easy to miss a Hangouts message.

Unless you're using your phone and computer simultaneously, I've never had the notification go to the wrong device.

The one thing I hate about Hangouts is that it plays the notification sound even if you're in the app, and even in the conversation window! I don't need a sound alert for an app/conversation that I'm actively looking at. This started happening shortly before the Google Talk to Hangouts move. I don't understand why it does that.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'd also argue that keeping Google Voice alive will keep SMS and MMS around. Google Voice to me made more sense as a secondary number. But because people wanted to port their numbers and avoid SMS charges, we got tied into this limbo where people are now dependent on Google Voice. To me, the proper solution to this mobile messaging mess is to move to a mobile messenger. Countries in Asia and Europe had no problem moving to WhatsApp, Line or Facebook Messenger. They did it without the need of Google Voice or SMS integration.

If anything, integration of SMS and Google Voice just keeps SMS around, and for the black hole of lost MMS messages will continue to be a problem.

Unless you're using your phone and computer simultaneously, I've never had the notification go to the wrong device.

That is a very possible situation for many who are at work, have Gmail open, and have their phone by their side. It's also just as possible if I message my friend to get lunch, and say I'm heading out on my work computer, and step away from my desk. I've had it happen where my friend shot a few last minute messages back asking to postpone when I said I'm heading out to meet him already. I never got it on my phone until I opened Hangouts after I walked to the restaurant 15 minutes away and only then did the messages sync in. The notification was always on my work computer. At that point all I could do was waste 30 minutes hanging out by myself at the restaurant with my phone.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this "smart" notification system is completely bad. It's supposed to be smart, but it's not smart enough to deal with typical use cases. In some ways, this is where WhatsApp's 1 device limitation can be a strength. I'm never going to miss a notification unless I don't have my phone on me. But I'd argue that's the same as an SMS or a phone call. It's why we as a society carry our phones on us all the time.

 

[Red Storm]

Well I got my Google Voice # because of the forwarding feature. I can give out that one number and then forward it to any number of devices. I can also switch carriers/phones very easily and not worry about giving out a new number. That was what made me switch to Google Voice.

 

[lothar]

It's here: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/21/google-hangouts-2-1/

Question to all: How much do you care about this? It seems like on some Android boards people are going wild like it's 1999.

To me, big deal. I use a 3rd party SMS app anyway, and integration is a bit overrated for me.

Yeah, I don't get it either but maybe it's because I use Google Voice as my main number.

I don't care about using my phone carrier's number to send SMS on Hangouts.
Hell, I don't even know what my T-Mobile number is...

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yeah, I don't get it either but maybe it's because I use Google Voice as my main number.

I don't care about using my phone carrier's number to send SMS on Hangouts.
Hell, I don't even know what my T-Mobile number is...

Right. I could see a case for integrating with Google voice though. Don't you find that app atrocious? It's also quite laggy for an app in 2014.

 

[Bateluer]

I said it before, and will say it again: Dislike :thumbsdown:

I don't want people to 'accidentally' send me a text when they're supposed to send me a message through Hangouts. I can't trust everyone to look at the color codes and do what they're supposed to do.

My thoughts as well. I don't want every IM/SMS client integrated into one client because too many people don't understand the differences between them. Even then, there are times when I'll have to send an sms message because thats all I have the signal strength for.

 

[Jodell88]

It's unbelievable that they didn't have this already. Palm had this in WebOS half a decade ago. Windows Phone has it with Facebook messenger and SMS. iOS has it with iMessage and SMS. The integration in Hangouts up until now was half assed at best, so this is definitely a good thing.

:thumbsup:

I still miss WebOS.

 

[basslover1]

It doesn't bother me, but it is nice to not have multiple threads of conversations for the same people.

However this goes out to you, Google. F&&K YOU!

You're probably asking, why? Well let me explain. Apparently Google finds it necessary to take away control of your own personal contacts. Merged SMS/Hangouts automatically displays the person's G+ profile, with no way to change it back. Meaning, if someone has a G+ profile, but haven't updated it in forever (a lot of my friends), I now have either out dated profile pictures, or none at all just a blue place holder. Even though I use haxsync to get updated profile pics from Facebook, Google overrides that. It also decides to change your contact's displayed name to their G+ profile. IE: "Billy" turns into "William Tell," with out a way to change it back.

WTF, Google?