Is Google Voice available for Android?
Google Voice is a telephony service from Google that provides users with a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail services. Some key features of Google Voice include: voicemail transcription, call screening, conference calling, SMS messaging, call blocking, and online call history. Google Voice works by linking to the user’s existing cell phone number, allowing them to seamlessly transition calls and messages between their cell provider and Google Voice.
Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google that is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel. It is used for running applications and middleware on devices like smartphones and tablets. Android is open source, allowing device manufacturers to customize and add their own enhancements. As of Q2 2022, Android holds over 85% market share among smartphone operating systems globally.1
This raises the question – with Android being Google’s flagship mobile operating system, is Google Voice available on Android devices? This article will examine the official Google Voice application for Android as well as alternatives for using Google Voice on an Android phone.
Google Voice Features
Google Voice offers several useful features, including voicemail transcription, call forwarding, text messaging, and affordable international calling (https://www.openphone.com/blog/how-does-google-voice-work/).
One of the most popular Google Voice features is voicemail transcription. Google Voice will automatically transcribe voicemails and send them to you as text messages or emails. This allows you to quickly scan voicemails instead of having to listen to each one (https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-cool-google-voice/).
Google Voice also supports call forwarding so you can set your Google Voice number to ring multiple phones. This way you can receive calls on your cell phone, landline, and computer all through your Google Voice number.
For texting, Google Voice provides an app and web interface for sending and receiving SMS text messages through your Google Voice number. You can text from your computer without needing your phone.
Finally, Google Voice offers low-cost international calling rates, which makes it affordable to call landlines and mobile phones in other countries. Rates start at just $0.01 per minute.
Android Overview
Android is the most popular mobile operating system worldwide. According to StatCounter, Android has 70.48% of the global mobile OS market share as of December 2022.
Android is an open source operating system developed by Google. The Android source code is available under free and open source software licenses for anyone to view, modify and distribute. This has allowed Android to be widely adopted by many device manufacturers.
Android powers a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, watches, TVs, cars and more. Its flexibility and cost effectiveness has made it the operating system of choice for many manufacturers of phones, tablets and other devices.
Official Google Voice App
Google first released their official Voice app for Android in 2011, which allowed Android users full access to Google Voice’s features and functionality.
According to the Google Voice app page on the Google Play store, the app “gives you a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail. It works on smartphones and computers, and syncs across your devices.” The release of the official app provided Android users with the ability to fully utilize Google Voice, when previously they had to rely on third-party apps or access it through the mobile site.
Using Google Voice on Android
The official Google Voice app allows Android users to take full advantage of Google Voice’s features right on their mobile device1. Once set up, the app enables users to make and receive calls over VoIP through their Google Voice number, rather than their regular mobile number2.
A key benefit of using Google Voice on Android is integration with the native phone dialer and messaging apps. This allows users to place outgoing calls through their Google Voice number, and receive incoming calls to that number, without needing to open the Google Voice app itself. SMS messages sent to the Google Voice number will also appear in the native messaging app.
By pairing Google Voice with the native dialer, Android users can enjoy VoIP calling and a unified inbox for SMS messages, with minimal tapping between apps required. This makes Google Voice incredibly convenient to use on a daily basis.
Limitations
While Google Voice works well on Android overall, there are some limitations to be aware of compared to the iPhone app:
The Android app lacks certain features related to voicemail display and management that are available on iPhone. For example, transcriptions of voicemails are not shown in the app itself on Android, only basic information like date/time and duration. The iPhone app provides transcriptions and allows easier deletion and management of voicemails from the app (source).
MMS messaging can also be limited or unsupported when using Google Voice on certain carriers’ Android phones. This is due to variations in MMS implementation across different networks. Sprint and T-Mobile users have reported issues sending and receiving MMS with Google Voice on Android, while Verizon users do not seem to encounter these problems as frequently (source).
Alternatives
While the official Google Voice app provides core functionality, there are some alternative apps and services that add additional features. For example, GrooveIP enables free calls over data/WiFi and visual voicemail access on Android. There are also options like ObiHai devices that allow you to connect your Google Voice number to a landline phone.
Alternative apps can provide a more feature-rich experience, like free calling and enhanced call management. However, the official Google Voice app remains the best option for seamless integration with your Google Voice number and account.
International Availability
Google Voice is only available in the United States and a few other countries, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden (see source). Unfortunately, Google Voice is not available globally in all countries.
For people living outside the supported countries, the only way to access Google Voice is through a VPN service that allows you to mask your location. This is against Google’s terms of service and could result in your account being banned if caught.
Alternatives like Skype work globally and allow you to get a virtual phone number and make calls internationally. While Google Voice has some unique features, the limited country availability is a major downside compared to VoIP services that work worldwide.
Hopefully Google will expand Google Voice to more countries in the future, but for now it remains constrained to the US and a handful of other nations.
The Bottom Line
In summary, Google Voice is fully available and supported for Android users in the United States. The official Google Voice app provides access to all the key features like voicemail, call forwarding, SMS messaging, and more. While there are some limitations compared to the iOS version, such as no calling support, most core functionality is present. For US-based Android users who want to take advantage of Google Voice’s capabilities, the app delivers a solid experience and enables full utilization of Google Voice on an Android device.
Conclusion
Google Voice has had official support for Android devices since 2011 when Google launched its official Voice app. Since then, Google has continued enhancing the Android app with features like VoIP calling.
While the official Voice app provides core functionality, some handy features like SMS from multiple numbers and seamless carrier integration are still missing. Using a third-party Voice client like Hangouts or gvSuite can help fill those gaps.
The best way to use Google Voice on Android is likely the official app for basic calling and texting paired with a third-party solution to add advanced features. With Google’s continued investment in Android support over the past decade, the future looks bright for Google Voice users on Android.