Windows Phone and google/ google voice integration (+wifi calling)

[Nvidiaguy07]

Long time android user, but very interested in windows phone.

My favorite thing about android is the google integration, and how i can use it even if i dont have a sim.

I sync all my contacts through google, use google calendar, google voice to make calls and for voicemail, and just about every other google service you can think of.

I also have grooveip installed on my old captivate so i can use the phone over wifi. The phone is fully functional, and anywhere theres wifi its just as capable as my phone with the sim in it.

This gives me the flexibility of using more than one phone at the same time, and also switching phones easily when needed.

I want to try out windows phone, but i heavily rely on google services and google voice. Calling over wifi would be icing on the cake, but i do need contact sync, gmail, and google voice to work.

So windows phone users, can you answer any of these questions?

 

[pantsaregood]

Long time android user, but very interested in windows phone.

My favorite thing about android is the google integration, and how i can use it even if i dont have a sim.

I sync all my contacts through google, use google calendar, google voice to make calls and for voicemail, and just about every other google service you can think of.

I also have grooveip installed on my old captivate so i can use the phone over wifi. The phone is fully functional, and anywhere theres wifi its just as capable as my phone with the sim in it.

This gives me the flexibility of using more than one phone at the same time, and also switching phones easily when needed.

I want to try out windows phone, but i heavily rely on google services and google voice. Calling over wifi would be icing on the cake, but i do need contact sync, gmail, and google voice to work.

So windows phone users, can you answer any of these questions?

I don't have any personal experience with Google Voice, but contact sync and Gmail are features that are integrated into the OS. There are several Google Voice apps available, and (based on my understanding of Google Voice) they should all be able to work over Wi-Fi.

That said, it isn't possible to replace the default phone application or SMS application on WP7. Using Google Voice uses a third-party app.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I don't have any personal experience with Google Voice, but contact sync and Gmail are features that are integrated into the OS. There are several Google Voice apps available, and (based on my understanding of Google Voice) they should all be able to work over Wi-Fi.

That said, it isn't possible to replace the default phone application or SMS application on WP7. Using Google Voice uses a third-party app.

so gmail and contact sync are ok. Is there somewhere where i can check these apps out?

I want to have at least text and voicemail with google voice. I also would like to call from my google voice number by default. Calls over wifi arent that important, but it would be nice.

 

[Deeko]

I don't use Google Voice so I can't attest to these, but there are a few apps:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/bb4b335c-844a-e011-854c-00237de2db9e
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/3ea568cc-86ff-df11-9264-00237de2db9e

 

[SunnyD]

Having gone though this exact experiment myself with a Dell Venue Pro, I can say without any uncertainty - DON'T EVEN BOTHER.

WP7 has zero integration for Google services save from:

- Using IMAP to sync your mail
- Using 3rd party apps to access your Google Voice account

Those 3rd party apps are a complete failure imho. At best, they allow you to read GV Text Messages/Transcribed voicemails, and that's about it, and not to mention none of them support proper background tasks/tile notifications. There is no integration for dialing via Google Voice. There is no facility for voice over IP via Google Voice (there's absolutely no analogue of GrooveIP). There is pretty much no ability to use GoogleTalk. Calendar integration is horrible - heck I forget if there even was any whatsoever. There's no ability to use Google Apps (Docs, etc) that's efficient or easy (I think there was ONE third party app).

Basically, the ONLY reasons you want a WP7 phone is if your infrastructure uses Exchange/Office, or you're into the XBox Live integration (which imho is a joke on WP7 anyway).

WP7's support for Google Services is horrible at best. Of course, why should it be good, it's a competing product/service/company to Microsoft.

Don't even bother. Just stick with Android.

 

[Deeko]

How long ago did you try it? From reading the description of the first app, it sounds like they've added Mango support (meaning, background tasks). And gmail has always used ActiveSync for me, not imap, along with contacts and calendars, since day one.

 

[SunnyD]

How long ago did you try it? From reading the description of the first app, it sounds like they've added Mango support (meaning, background tasks). And gmail has always used ActiveSync for me, not imap, along with contacts and calendars, since day one.

~3 months or so.

 

[abaez]

I wanted to try out WP7 too, but after reading the little to no GV integration at all, with no apps that really make up for it, I decided against it.

 

[finbarqs]

I wanted a WP7 too, until I realized the W stood for Winblows. Seriously, who would want a M$ product anyway? lol


Warning against trolling.
The OP was asking specific questions about enabling google voice integration on a a Windows Mobile device. Your post is not helpful in answering these questions, and really contains nothing of value regarding the OP's questions except some general insults against Microsoft. Link to a YouTube video of Steve Ballmer looking less than stellar removed as off-topic for the original post.

Moderator PM

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

If they ever get a google voice app I might try, but until then I think i'm out.

Maybe I'll try picking up an older focus for about 100 on craigslist and playing with it.

 

[pantsaregood]

I wanted a WP7 too, until I realized the W stood for Winblows. Seriously, who would want a M$ product anyway? lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc

This is hilarious. Especially funny that you say "M$" instead of "MS" because Microsoft makes so much money

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Im hoping there will be a google voice app released soon. Windows phone is going to be pushed harder this year, and im hoping with its success will be an official google voice app, just they they have for iphone and blackberry.

Or will google not release out because windows phone will likely steal market share from android, and they want to discourage that?

The lumia 900 looks pretty sweet btw.

 

[TeacherTim2]

I use GoVoice on my HTC Arrive on Sprint, and it works just fine. They've added notifications recently, and it does everything I get from my iPhone Google Voice app.

WiFi calling isn't available.

You will probably not see Google apps for Windows Phone for a while...Windows Phone needs to grab a lot more marketshare before that happens, IMO, but as long as there are APIs for Google, developers will tap into those APIs and build apps for Windows Phone.