In older versions of Android when a contact had multiple telephone numbers you could only send an SMS to their mobile number.
In 2.1 ALL numbers (including landlines) have the option to be used for sending an SMS. This makes the list really long if you have several numbers (home, work, mobile etc) because you can call or SMS each of them.
Also, when you compose an SMS and type in the "To" box, all the numbers show up there as well.
Both of these make it more difficult to pick the right number, as I found out earlier when I accidentally sent an SMS to a landline.
Are others seeing this, and if so, has anyone got a way to stop it abd revert to only show "Send message" to the mobile number?
zippyioa
Use Handcent SMS. There you can toggle the "Show mobile numbers only".
Already for several years sending and receiving SMS on a landline can be done. This may depend on your provider, the country you are in, and of course the phone itself. Some providers even offer an automatic text-to-voice service for this. All this may help explain why the distinction is fading, or even absent in this case.
If anything it should be an option to configure 'SMS allowed' for each number, and perhaps not for all landlines together. Google Android team, are you reading this?
Zappza said:
Use Handcent SMS. There you can toggle the "Show mobile numbers only".
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Thanks, I will take a look at it. That would solve the issue when composing an SMS. The long list of options in People will still be there though, which makes it harder to find the right number when calling.
It's not a huge issue, it's just different to what I was used to. I am sure I'll get used to it!
doggie123 said:
Already for several years sending and receiving SMS on a landline can be done. This may depend on your provider, the country you are in, and of course the phone itself. Some providers even offer an automatic text-to-voice service for this. All this may help explain why the distinction is fading, or even absent in this case.
If anything it should be an option to configure 'SMS allowed' for each number, and perhaps not for all landlines together. Google Android team, are you reading this?
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Click to collapse
I know you can send an SMS to landlines, we used to have the voice of Tom Baker (Little Britain narrator) for a while which was really funny, especially the words "balls". It's not something I ever use now though.
I agree, its something the Google team should look at!
How do others feel about it.... would you hide the option to SMS to landlines if you could?
Related
I'd like to be able to enter my contacts on my XDA Orbit, 7-digit number only, and have it recognize these contacts when they call. My carrier passes the number (123)456-7890 to my phone as +11234567890,, so why can't my phone realize that that number is the same as 4567890 (in the same area code). This way, whenever I receive a phone call or text message, I'm not sure who it is. Is it a simple setting? Thanks. My past phones (mostly Nokias and Samsungs) have not had problems with this at all.
jkomets said:
I'd like to be able to enter my contacts on my XDA Orbit, 7-digit number only, and have it recognize these contacts when they call. My carrier passes the number (123)456-7890 to my phone as +11234567890,, so why can't my phone realize that that number is the same as 4567890 (in the same area code). This way, whenever I receive a phone call or text message, I'm not sure who it is. Is it a simple setting? Thanks. My past phones (mostly Nokias and Samsungs) have not had problems with this at all.
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Click to collapse
Maybe you can try this:
Contacts > Menu > Options..., you can see the Area CODE, just Clear it.
Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I kept getting the 500 Internal Server Error when trying to access the site. Neither removing the area code, nor adding a 1, nor adding +1 works. Thanks for your help so far.
Anyone else here using Google Voice? And I don't just mean for the voicemail part. I just set up a number online with them and I'm considering dropping my unlimited SMS with VZW and using the Google voice SMS instead.
I'm just curious to see if anyone else has tried this? The number I got is the same last four as my current one, but the prefix is different, so that's not too bad. I figure I could drop my bill almost $30 by no longer using VZW's SMS service.
This is one of the first reasons why Android interested me. I've never paid for txt messages & never will.
Limitations:
1. You can't send an email-to-txt to a GV number
2. You can't receive MMS
3. You can't send txts to short numbers (like "Text REDCROSS to 90999")
Unless those features are worth $360/year, I think it's an easy decision...
Been using GV as my primary number for over a year now. My most recent VZW bill shows 0 text usage even though any of my friends would tell you that we exchange tons of texts
The biggest shortcoming is the lack of MMS support. If your friends aren't in the habit of sending you picture messages though (my circle just uses email), then it's a non-issue.
It's also great that using the Local Google Voice Settings Plugin with Tasker allows me to tweak GV call forwarding on the fly. Call me while I'm at work and you'll hit my desk phone. Call me in the evenings and you'll hit my cell.
Ok everything sounds pretty good to me then, the lack of MMS support is kinda weak though, I do that pretty frequently. I was considering just straight porting my number to them, but then I decided it wouldn't be worth it with my ETF. I'll give it a shot though with email instead of MMS, with Androids and all the options to share media, I'm sure I could live without it.
Afterthought: next question about GV, anyone have a way to integrate the incredible's messaging app with the SMS of GV? Mostly because I like how I have my widgets set up and would like to continue to use them. And secondly because GV isn't the most aesthetically pleasing to me at the moment
Well, you can choose to have your GV# forward text messages to your cell#. That way you could still use your stock messaging app/widget. The problem with that approach is that people's numbers won't come through looking like their number. Instead, you'll see another number that GV is essentially using as a proxy.
Before I had an Android device, I had my contacts set-up to take this into acct. So Johnny Smith might have phone number 444-555-6767, but when he called or texted my GV#, my phone would show incoming from 999-111-2323. I would store both the regular number and the 'proxy' number into someone's contact.
Your life will be a lot easier if you just use the GV app/widget. I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day, but that's your call.
But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting. I'll give it a shot, I future dated the change on my online account to start next billing cycle. Should give everyone enough time to take down my GV number. Thanks for the help guys! Anyone else that has something to add whether they're pros/cons please let me know.
Hypcrsy said:
But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting.
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Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)
I was actually thinking about this the other day....interesting responses, thanks guys
One thing great that has gone unmentioned is the browser accessibility of google voice....phone issues? Can text anywhere you can get internet via browser. I've used that a fair amount. The way the number can be routed to other phones is always a useful thing as well. I like not being attached to my physical phone numbers anymore.
I just got a google voice account the other day. I am still trying to figure out if I like it. So far it is pretty good. The voice to text is not that accurate yet but I hear that it improves over time. I have not given it out to people yet so not sure how it will work once I do that.
Thanks for the info...
SoBBie
I use GV as a business line. Complete with a business VM message. I love the fact u can screen the VM live then chime in if u wana talk. MMS is the only reason I will not use ot as a vzw replacement #.... Other wise I use it daily.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
byrong said:
Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)
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So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
that's correct, you will be charged if you have texts forwarded to your carrier phone #. Think of the google voice app on phone as a chat interface that is linked to a phone #. I have also thought as mentioned it's not the prettiest app...but there are some themed versions out there to be sure.
2faroffroad said:
So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
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Yes. If you have forwarding on, your phone treats it the same as receiving a regular text, since Google is forwarding a regular text to your Verizon phone #
I just use it to see how transcribing works. It is funny on many people but it usually gets the numbers right, which is awesome
I am with you 100% on the transcription - it is hilarious. It has no idea in the world what my wife is saying - 1 in 10 words right, I would guess! I only keep it on for the entertainment value.
So far I'm pretty happy with it. It does have those neat screening features for incoming calls. One weird thing I got was a voicemail recording of the phone ringing and my mom picking up and going "hello? hello?" Hopefully bugs like that don't happen too often. The one thing I will miss is the MMS ability, but hey, I have a Droid Incredible, there are many ways around that.
As for the themed versions of GV, can you point me in the right direction? I'd like like to see what I can find. Thanks again for all the responses, definitely made the decision a lot easier for me.
The best part of GV thus far is that I dropped my bill almost $30 a month. Sprint can suck it with there $69 simply everything plan....mine is Simply Unlimited Everything for $55 a month.
EDIT: Nevermind I found some solid looking themed GV inboxes. Thanks again everyone for responding!
I looked around and found similar-ish issues but not quite the same... I have a VZ GN and normally it works well, I get texts with just "Contact Name (number of texts)" but ever so often I will get a text with "Contact Name (xxx) xxx-xxxx" where the phone number is nothing even close to correct - weird area codes especially. then I'll have two threads from the same contact - one correct but one bizarre.
I've added the phone number to the contact in the past and it doesn't come back, but now I'm really starting to wonder WHY this is happening in the first place.
Thoughts?
chjade84 said:
I looked around and found similar-ish issues but not quite the same... I have a VZ GN and normally it works well, I get texts with just "Contact Name (number of texts)" but ever so often I will get a text with "Contact Name (xxx) xxx-xxxx" where the phone number is nothing even close to correct - weird area codes especially. then I'll have two threads from the same contact - one correct but one bizarre.
I've added the phone number to the contact in the past and it doesn't come back, but now I'm really starting to wonder WHY this is happening in the first place.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Texting through Google Voice (them, not you) will change the displayed and received phone number.
adrynalyne said:
Texting through Google Voice (them, not you) will change the displayed and received phone number.
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Excellent thought, however only I and one friend use GV - the rest do not even know what it is lol.
chjade84 said:
Excellent thought, however only I and one friend use GV - the rest do not even know what it is lol.
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Click to collapse
If you're using the stock SMS app (rather than the Google Voice app) to send/receive text messages (using your Google Voice number), you'll see exactly what you're describing. The number you see will basically be a forwarding number used by Google to get your message to the right person.
From what I've seen, the number will be unique to each contact, but won't have anything to do with their actual number. Everything will be correct on their end though, and your messages will be exchanged with the correct recipient.
codesplice said:
If you're using the stock SMS app (rather than the Google Voice app) to send/receive text messages (using your Google Voice number), you'll see exactly what you're describing. The number you see will basically be a forwarding number used by Google to get your message to the right person.
From what I've seen, the number will be unique to each contact, but won't have anything to do with their actual number. Everything will be correct on their end though, and your messages will be exchanged with the correct recipient.
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Click to collapse
Right, and I am using the stock SMS app - but I don't think I'm using GV. The only thing I use it for is visual voicemail (forward all calls to GV which then get routed back to my phone) but I have it set so all my calls use my regular number. People don't text me on my GV number... I don't think...
Hmmm...
chjade84 said:
Right, and I am using the stock SMS app - but I don't think I'm using GV. The only thing I use it for is visual voicemail (forward all calls to GV which then get routed back to my phone) but I have it set so all my calls use my regular number. People don't text me on my GV number... I don't think...
Hmmm...
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Click to collapse
You can check at http://voice.google.com. If you see the messages there, they were sending them to your GV number.
codesplice said:
You can check at http://voice.google.com. If you see the messages there, they were sending them to your GV number.
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Ah-ha!
Indeed they were... Not too sure how someone who sends me texts every couple days all of a sudden uses my GV number that's been stored in their phone for months, but at least I know what's going on.
Thanks!
chjade84 said:
Ah-ha!
Indeed they were... Not too sure how someone who sends me texts every couple days all of a sudden uses my GV number that's been stored in their phone for months, but at least I know what's going on.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I ever delete all messages and then when I go to send a message to someone who has multiple numbers saved I have no idea which # to send a message to. That is prob what happened.
I would like to find a way to send incoming "Private number" calls to voicemail, without downloading an app (with the security risks involved with this, as all apps I found want to read phone #, all of my contacts, and have access to the internet).
In Googling I found that on other, older, phones you could create a contact with "Private number" in the mobile phone field and select the "All calls to voicemail". I tried this on my Galaxy Nexus running 4.0.4 and it doesn't seem to be working.
Is there another built-in procedure that works to accomplish this?
Or does anybody know an app that is not a security risk (i.e. does not request access to the internet and/or my phone and/or my contacts)?
BTW, these are the permissions that one of these Apps (this one called Calls Blacklist) is requesting:
DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS
SEND SMS MESSAGES
RECEIVE SMS
READ SMS OR MMS
EDIT SMS OR MMS
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
READ CONTACT DATA
WRITE CONTACT DATA
READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
INTERCEPT OUTGOING CALLS
MODIFY/DELETE USB STORAGE CONTENTS MODIFY/DELETE SD CARD CONTENTS
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
CHANGE WI-FI STATE
PREVENT TABLET FROM SLEEPING PREVENT PHONE FROM SLEEPING
MODIFY GLOBAL SYSTEM SETTINGS
CHANGE/INTERCEPT NETWORK SETTINGS AND TRAFFIC
DISPLAY SYSTEM-LEVEL ALERTS
You can't have an app send private calls to voicemail, but not be granted permission to see who is calling.
That would be like me saying to you; "I'm sorry sir, you're not appropriately dressed for this restaurant." over the phone.
Read reviews, not all of those apps are bad (some are though), and most of them will do exactly what you are looking to accomplish.
Security risks? The app kinda needs that information. You're better off not installing any apps as any of them could steal your valuable phone number.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus running AOKP+Franco
Liskrig said:
You can't have an app send private calls to voicemail, but not be granted permission to see who is calling.
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Duh, of course, it's not listed above as one of the unneeded permissions above.
But none of these are even remotely needed to do the job:
INTERCEPT OUTGOING CALLS
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
READ CONTACT DATA
WRITE CONTACT DATA
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS
SEND SMS MESSAGES
EDIT SMS OR MMS
Liskrig said:
Read reviews, not all of those apps are bad (some are though), and most of them will do exactly what you are looking to accomplish.
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Click to collapse
How exactly could a reviewer know that the app author isn't selling all of my contacts to some spammer? The tenet of good security is to not leave the door open unecessarily.
Besides the fact that yet another app means yet another thing that can go wrong (battery drain, system instability, etc.)
Back to the original question: "Is there another built-in procedure that works to accomplish this?"
hillrider said:
Duh, of course!
But none of these are needed to do the job:
INTERCEPT OUTGOING CALLS
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
READ CONTACT DATA
WRITE CONTACT DATA
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
How exactly could a reviewer know that the app author isn't selling all of my contacts to some spammer? The tenet of good security is to not leave the door open unecessarily.
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Click to collapse
Get one that doesn't ask for those permissions then. You're so paranoid that maybe a smartphone just isn't for you. Ever thought of who could be hacking your Wi-fi? They could steal and intercept ANYTHING sent through your home internet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus running AOKP+Franco
theking_13 said:
Get one that doesn't ask for those permissions then.
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None found, hence this thread.
A response to the OP, without flaming and personal attacks would be greatly appreciated.
theking_13 said:
... You're so paranoid that maybe a smartphone just isn't for you...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus running AOKP+Franco
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
If you're willing to install Google Voice (and really, it doesn't matter what permissions it asks for, you're running Google's OS which has access to EVERYTHING, so there's not much to think about) and switch to a Google Voice number, you can set it through the website settings that anonymous callers are directly routed to voicemail.
copkay said:
If you're willing to install Google Voice (and really, it doesn't matter what permissions it asks for, you're running Google's OS which has access to EVERYTHING, so there's not much to think about)
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Agree about this--somehow I got painted as someone who trusts nobody, but of course while I wouldn't give my house keys to anyone, friends and cleaning service all have them.I do run many apps from trusted providers!
copkay said:
and switch to a Google Voice number
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Click to collapse
This is the issue: "Private number" callers will still call my regular, non Google Voice number, so it doesn't really do the trick.[/QUOTE]
So it seems that Google removed a feature that was available in previous versions of Android? Seems strange...
hillrider said:
Agree about this--somehow I got painted as someone who trusts nobody, but of course while I wouldn't give my house keys to anyone, friends and cleaning service all have them.I do run many apps from trusted providers!This is the issue: "Private number" callers will still call my regular, non Google Voice number, so it doesn't really do the trick.
So it seems that Google removed a feature that was available in previous versions of Android? Seems strange...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the replies haven't been particularly helpful so far. It's not "paranoid" to at least question the security of these apps, although the most popular ones are most likely fine.
You have a point with the non-Voice number. There's also the "no-turning-back" solution of porting your existing number to Google Voice for $20, which would then fix the problem, but it's not particularly ideal unless you're 100% sold on GV.
hillrider said:
Agree about this--somehow I got painted as someone who trusts nobody, but of course while I wouldn't give my house keys to anyone, friends and cleaning service all have them.I do run many apps from trusted providers!This is the issue: "Private number" callers will still call my regular, non Google Voice number, so it doesn't really do the trick.
So it seems that Google removed a feature that was available in previous versions of Android? Seems strange...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Port your actual phone number to Google Voice and ask for a new one from the carrier. Thats what I did. I setup a contact in my phone with my old number and have it setup to send the caller ID as my old number. So any call to that number all display as "Personal Call". The carrier number is my "Work Number".
I actually have 2 Google Voice numbers and my normal Verizon one (3 total). One for Personal, one for my side Website business, and my normal job.
I don't restrict any callers but there are options in there for unknowns and the likes. At least you can setup CALL SCREENING, where it asks for the persons name. So I can answer ANY call, it will say, "Call from... Donut Marketing" and it gives me 2 options, 1 to take the call... and 2 to send to VM.
If you press 2, it then says, "Ok I've sent the caller to VM. Press STAR at any time to join the call". So if the VM is someone I WANT to speak with, I just pop in and say Hi. Most Marketers will shy away from leaving their name... no name, no call. They typically hang up immediately. Still prevents me from having to talk to them and try to get off the phone.
Even when they do leave me a Google Voice Mail, it gets translated to text and emailed to me so I can read it seconds after they've left it. Then just delete like a normal email.
Super easy.
You can probably also call up your carrier and say you are getting lots of Marketing calls from Unknown numbers and want them blocked. They'll probably want to charge you a fee... but maybe not.
player911 said:
Port your actual phone number to Google Voice and ask for a new one from the carrier. Thats what I did. I setup a contact in my phone with my old number and have it setup to send the caller ID as my old number. So any call to that number all display as "Personal Call". The carrier number is my "Work Number".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you get verizon to port your number without killing your contract? i just called and they said its not possible.
Root call blocker does this.
When I say "OK Google, text Bob, what's up?", if Bob has multiple numbers in my phone, it will ask me "Which number?", making me look down and click on the watch. This seems very counter-intuitive, especially if the person's contact numbers are clearly labeled "work", "mobile", etc. I'd think it should automatically use the mobile number when sending SMS. It does remember my choice, but only for a short time.
Does anyone know a way to make the watch keep my choices, or better yet, automatically choose the mobile number?
Also, does anyone know how to use your voice to make that choice? I've tried saying "mobile" to no avail.