Hangouts SMS Integration into 1 Thread

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

lothar

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2000
6,674
7
76
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.
I'm okay with integrating Google Voice to Hangouts.
I don't care about integrating my carrier's number to Hangouts because I don't use my carrier's number for anything in particular.

While the Google Voice app is a bit clunky, it still does what I need.
If I can find an alternative on the Play Store, I would try it but as of now there is still no alternative.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
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.

It's common knowledge that Google is working to migrate Voice into Hangouts. They've said it themselves, and it should be done by this summer. That's why the Voice app kinda sucks, they haven't updated it at all because in a few months it'll go the way of Google Talk.

Thankfully with Xvoice I haven't had to actually use the Google Voice app, just have it installed. Everything routes through Hangouts with no issue.
 

lothar

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2000
6,674
7
76
It's common knowledge that Google is working to migrate Voice into Hangouts. They've said it themselves, and it should be done by this summer. That's why the Voice app kinda sucks, they haven't updated it at all because in a few months it'll go the way of Google Talk.

Thankfully with Xvoice I haven't had to actually use the Google Voice app, just have it installed. Everything routes through Hangouts with no issue.
Is this full integration or is it more like a hack?
In other words...If I install that, will I still continue to get SMS by email like I do today on my Google Voice account?

When you say "everything", you mean including Visual Voice mail, email backup for SMS, etc...?
 

Seven

Senior member
Jan 26, 2000
339
2
76
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?

Just noticed this as well. Its very based on Google+ profile.

One more thing. Is this Hangouts/SMS integration means you can the SMS over the wifi?
 
Last edited:

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
Is this full integration or is it more like a hack?
In other words...If I install that, will I still continue to get SMS by email like I do today on my Google Voice account?

When you say "everything", you mean including Visual Voice mail, email backup for SMS, etc...?

Well I'm talking about texting specifically as that's all I do with it. Instead of using Voice, it allows me to send and receive my Google Voice texts through Hangouts. The texts still come and go through the Voice app so you have to turn off notifications for it.

It's an Xposed Framework module that does the job until Google merges the two apps.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
91
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.

Had :\

WP8.1 is upping the MS Tango in my view -- 1 step forward, several explosive shits back D:

And don't you dare criticize any of the failings or changes over at WPCentral. You'll be branded a heretic or a mouthbreathing "user".

I've been on the platform since early 2011, seriously considering trying iOS this year. :\
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Had :\

WP8.1 is upping the MS Tango in my view -- 1 step forward, several explosive shits back D:

And don't you dare criticize any of the failings or changes over at WPCentral. You'll be branded a heretic or a mouthbreathing "user".

I've been on the platform since early 2011, seriously considering trying iOS this year. :\

Ha - I just came here from responding to someone arguing with me in the WPCentral comments when I dared criticize the decoupling of Facebook in 8.1 - but that's a story for a different thread.