Help with Google Voice!

[Red Storm]

Android user, stock Droid 2.2.

I have the Google Voice app. I have a GV number. I am getting my voicemails through GV (for my normal cell number, not using GV for calls). I am trying to get texting to work with my GV number. Here's the problem:

I can send texts with my GV number (via the GV app) to people, and they get them just fine. However, when people reply or just send new texts to my GV number, I don't get them, but there is no error on my side or theirs.

Now the strange part. I can text myself through the GV app and it comes through just fine. So I'm wondering what the issue could be as there are no errors, but the messages just aren't coming in, only out. Please help!

 

[KingGheedora]

I've been wanting to try this out, to avoid paying the carrier for texts (i'm paying for a data plan, why should I pay extra for texts??).

How do you send texts from GV? I don't remember seeing an option in the android app.

 

[Red Storm]

Menu --> Compose from within the Google Voice app.

 

[cronos]

First things first:

Are you sure the checkbox of "Receive text messages on this phone (mobile phones only)" is checked for your destination number?

Have you tried the "Email the message to <email address>" and do the messages arrive in the e-mail address you've chosen?

These are both settings on voice.google.com

 

[Red Storm]

First things first:

Are you sure the checkbox of "Receive text messages on this phone (mobile phones only)" is checked for your destination number?

Have you tried the "Email the message to <email address>" and do the messages arrive in the e-mail address you've chosen?

These are both settings on voice.google.com

If I check "Receive text messages on this phone" then I get a normal text whenever I get a GV text, but that defeats the whole purpose of using GV to text. So I have that unchecked, but I do have it set to email me on text and that works fine.

I've tried it with "Forward to this number" checked and unchecked, still not getting anything from other people, and this is on the phone or on a computer checking my inbox. Do they just write to my GV number and that's it?

 

[KingGheedora]

Menu --> Compose from within the Google Voice app.

OK, "compose" wasn't there because I didn't have a google voice phone #. I just created one on the GV website, and then the "compose" option appeared. Was able to send and receive texts on GV. The response to my text appeared in GV, and not on my "phone's" messaging app.

I'm assuming that what happened is, the person receiving my text sees it as coming from my GV #, and when they reply, they reply to my GV#? So this completely bypasses my carrier's texting?

 

[Red Storm]

OK, "compose" wasn't there because I didn't have a google voice phone #. I just created one on the GV website, and then the "compose" option appeared. Was able to send and receive texts on GV. The response to my text appeared in GV, and not on my "phone's" messaging app.

I'm assuming that what happened is, the person receiving my text sees it as coming from my GV #, and when they reply, they reply to my GV#? So this completely bypasses my carrier's texting?

From what I understand, yes. The GV texts are using data, so if you have an unlimited data plan you also have unlimited texting. Now if only I could get mine to work... D:

 

[KingGheedora]

Have you tried logging into Google voice web page? Have you tried receiving texts to your GV number from multiple people, who are on different carriers?

 

[Red Storm]

Yep, I've tried eliminating the phone from being a possible issue and texted a few friends from a computer. They get my texts, but when they reply or send new messages I get nothing. If I text myself I can send and receive, so I dunno what it is.

Edit: Okay, so I logged into one of my other Gmail accounts and used the SMS via chat feature to send my GV account a text. Viola, it works. I get the message on my phone through the GV app. However, still no luck with actual mobile users sending me texts. Strange...

 

[cronos]

If I check "Receive text messages on this phone" then I get a normal text whenever I get a GV text, but that defeats the whole purpose of using GV to text. So I have that unchecked, but I do have it set to email me on text and that works fine.

You're correct. I was eager to solve a GV problem and completely disregard the point that forwarding texts to a cell phone is exactly what you want to avoid.

I've tried it with "Forward to this number" checked and unchecked, still not getting anything from other people, and this is on the phone or on a computer checking my inbox. Do they just write to my GV number and that's it?

Something is definitely not right. I've been trying tons of different forwarding settings with GV in the past few months and I'm pretty sure I've tried turning all forwarding completely off and I still received texts on my GV inbox.

Yeah I actually just tried now turning all forwarding off and it worked just fine.


Edit: Wait, did you not receive the texts at all or did you receive it in your GV inbox but it didn't get pushed to your phone's GV app? If you go to the GV website through a browser are the messages there?

 

[Red Storm]

Edit: Wait, did you not receive the texts at all or did you receive it in your GV inbox but it didn't get pushed to your phone's GV app? If you go to the GV website through a browser are the messages there?

I do not receive any messages from other people, on my phone or through a computer on the web. I do receive messages when I text myself through one of my other google accounts though, which technically would be "another person". So I guess the issue is that I can't get texts from mobile numbers?

It just occurred to me I could try using my phone's regular messaging app to send a text to GV. Tried that, it says message sent, but on the GV side I get nothing. I am confused.