iPhone TIPS: Using Google Voice Apps Outside The US [UPDATED 4x]

- by iphone-tips-tricks.com -  Dirt cheap phone calls and SMS messages, that is what I want on my iPhone and iPod Touch. In Europe, many mobile providers are starting charging calls per minute in stead of seconds. Which means, they charge me for 2 minutes if my iPhone call duration is 61 seconds in stead of charging me for 61 seconds - Those b*stards! - But they will pay for that. I will explain why. Mobile network providers should change their business model now. In stead of focusing on the ticks per minutes to charge their smart customers, they should focus more on the needs of the customer like better internet speed, better signals and better service. And let me tell you, within 1-3 years, the big providers are under control of companies like Google, because mobile network providers will not earn a penny on their charge-you-per-minute business model. Why? Because dirt cheap internet call services like Google Voice, Skype and SIP [See Fring Post] will takeover this part of the business too. including dirt cheap SMS texting and dirt cheap voice mail. Vodafone a subsidiary of Google?

[Developing Post........] Let's look what is happening now. Apple has started re-approving the Google Voice (GV) apps. Currently there are two of them available. 1. GV Connect ($2.99) and 2. GV Mobile + ($2.99)

NOTE: at the moment of writing the GV Connect was available, however the GV Mobile + was available on the US App Store, but not on all App Stores abroad. Probably still propagating to other servers in the world.

Review: GV Connect
I succeded to install GV Connect. The setup is very easy - Just sign in with your Gmail account where Google Voice is enabled. In my case, I am beta testing Gmail.
Unfortunately there is a known bug in this 1.0 version of GV Connect - It avoids me from login properly. The developer has put a statement on the app store page with the following text:

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NOTE: there seems to be an issue for some people (mostly outside the US) with the application being stuck continually logging in or loading settings
Version 1.0.1 which fixes this issue will be submitted shortly
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The screenshot below shows the symptom of this bug. So I have to wait for the update. 

1.0.0 issue? 1.0.1 should fix this

UPDATE 28 sept 2010 part 1

GV Connect version 1.0.1 is now available in the App Store. It does logging in successfully now. I tried to make a phone call but that doesn't work. I get a popup stating "invalid number". And I now understand why: You need to upgrade to a "Full" Google Voice account. Unfortunately I live outside the US and at this moment I can't upgrade. on the Google Voice Blog you see the instructions below:

"Upgrading to a full Google Voice account

If you do not already have a full Google Voice account, you must upgrade your account before receiving phone callsin Gmail. This process is free and gives you access to additional Google Voice features such as one number that rings all your phones and voicemail transcription.
To upgrade:

1. In Gmail, click the Call phone link in the Chat list.
2. From the Call window, click your current account balance and select History or Add credit.
3. Once in Google Voice, click the Upgrade your account button.
4. Complete the upgrade steps including picking your new Google number.

Note: upgrading requires a valid US number to get started."

Because you need to slect the number in GV Connect for the Start calls from setting. See quote from the support page

"I receive an 'Invalid Number' error message for every number I try to call - I'm sure that the number is correct! 

If you still get the error with numbers entered in on of the above formats, make sure that you have at least one actual phone number defined as a forwarding number on your Google Voice account on the website and select that number in the "Start calls from" setting - if your only number connected to your Google Voice number is your 'Google Talk' account you will get the 'Invalid Number' error.

"

Review  GV Mobile +:
As said, the app is still propagating to the app stores and hopefully also my local app store. As soon as it arrives, I will buy it and try it and tell you what my experiences are.

UPDATE 28 sept 2010 part 2
Well, no GV Mobile+. I asked the developer and he explained to me why he probably is not pushing the app to all the european app stores and I respect his decision. See the extended app description of  GV Mobile +

UPDATE 28 sept 2010 part 3
Techcrunch reports  Apple Has Already Approved The Official Google Voice App For iPhone, Expect It Soon Link

UPDATE 28 sept 2010 part 4
Techcrunch reports that Pinger app Now Turns Your iPod Touch Into A Free Cell Phone http://bit.ly/cISIW5