Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene

Google Voice might have just been unceremoniously thrown out of the iPhone App Store, but that doesn't mean development isn't racing forward on other platforms -- say hello to dkGoogleVoice, an unofficial client for the Palm Pre. Yeah, it's buggy and has a bare-bones feature set, but hey -- it exists, and it's only going to get better. Can't say that about your little phone, can you Steve?

[Via PreCentral]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:07PM]

kickin' it monochromatic

[PlatinumSkeet Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:06PM]

AT&T's fault honestly. Iphone needs to go to another provider...

[tavisjohn Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:50PM]

No I blame Apple. The whole "No duplicate features" BS is a total rip.

However AT&T are also at fault. But I suspect that if the iPhone was on another carrior, Google Talk apps would not be brought back.

[sam1am Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:24PM]

Apple is in a position to allow the app regardless of what AT&T wants. You think AT&T is going to begin punishing Apple or going to stop selling iPhones?

[peestandingup Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:41PM]

Whatever makes you feel better, but Apple didnt just ban it in the US, they banned it world wide.

Still AT&Ts fault?? I like Apples products as much as anyone else, but they're bending you iPhone users over big time & you all keep asking for more.

[JONNNathannn Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:05PM]

How did Apple ban it worldwide if it only exists in the US.

Goodness, Engadget comments hating on the iPhone for the hell of it is getting old.

And clearly there's another factor here. Apple doesn't mind Textfree, browsers, etc being in the app store. Clearly AT&T has something to do with this, as they did with Slingplayer.

[Steve B Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:46PM]

@Jonathan:
Uh, the iPhone has been sold around the world in dozens of countries since the 3G came out, and yes, iPhones in all of those countries are prevented from getting Google Voice. AT&T, however, does only exist in the US, so I don't think the denial of Google Talk has anything to do with them.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 1:00AM]

So, apps like Skype, TextFree etc, which allow calling, integrate a keypad/dialer, allow you to send and receive SMS are legit, but if Google Voice incorporates a keypad/dialer AND an SMS interface, it's against the rules??

Sounds kind of counter-productive, don't you think?? As it is, the iPhone's inability to allow multitasking applications hurts apps like Google Voice and Skype a lot. Since the apps are not running in the backgrounds, you don't get instant notifications of incoming voice calls, and you have to the app running at all times!

I haven't yet upgraded to v3.0, so I don't know if this is the scenario still exists on the newest version of the OS and whether the Push Notifications help alleviate any of these problems. I'd appreciate it if someone can tell me whether v3.0 allows you to receive notifications of incoming calls on Skype, but I doubt it!

I also have an Android device, and I receive all notifications on that device without any problems, and I love the phone for it! Seriously, I am starting to believe that if you want functionality, use Android, and if you want style, use the iPhone!

I am aghast at Apple's (and AT&T's) stand on the Google Voice Apps. It's just unfortunate that iPhone users have to suffer while everyone else (including other Blackberry/Symbian etc) users can continue to use SIP and VOIP apps on their devices while they're using the AT&T network!

Why are you guys paying the iPhone premium tax anyway??

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 10:36AM]

Has to be Apple's fault. Why does the Blackberry Phones under the AT&T umbrella get the Google Voice app? That was never rejected.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:06PM]

Can someone please explain why Google voice would be better on a phone than a phone?

[OriginalJosh Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:09PM]

i think it would be so the receiver sees the call coming from your gv# as opposed to your actual cell number

[ZZMitch Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:10PM]

Free calls, free texts

[Poop Chef Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:10PM]

Because its important to let google monitor your calls as well as everything else. Don't you want pinpointed advertisements for the products or services that you don't need?

[PlatinumSkeet Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:21PM]

There's a lot of benefits of having a google TN. For instance...

If you don't want to give someone your "real" telephone # but you want them to contact you. You can give them the google TN.

OR

You can set google TN as your primary TN so no matter what telephone company you go to, even if your service is suddenly disconnected you'll always have that same # for free and able to get to all your voicemails.

OR

You can have a second line for your cellphone for business purposes. That way you know whenever a number comes up a certain way that it's calling for that purpose and allow you to switch. Plus all the texts will go to a server online allowing you to check on the information on your computer too...

There's a ton of uses for it you just need to find a place to use it. Shit even a kid can find use for this sort of thing to use for prank calls...

Possibilities endless and since it's google the features will just add over so with it being a free service I have no complaints from my side...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:29PM]

Or if you use it as a Tmobile Favs Number, all calls are free :)

[Fred Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:52PM]

There's lots of reasons, but to finally have true "number portability" is the best. I've transferred my cell number twice, and it was always a huge pain. They wouldn't even let me transfer my last home number because I moved to a neighboring zip code, only about 4 miles away. Specifically, the Pre (and blocked iPhone) app lets you appear to the call recipient's Caller ID as your Google Voice number. If you're in the Google Voice area code locality, and the recipient is domestic long distance, it also lets you avoid any long-distance call charges.
Finally, I have a number I can keep practically forever, even if I change any phone services. At any point in time I can forward it to my current cell, home, work, VoIP, or any or all of the above. I can set the forwarding rules based on the caller ID, and change them online anytime. Even if I'm away from home and lose my cell phone, I can set up temporary forwards to the nearest handy phone. If people call me while I'm near any land line, I can use that to avoid the double-charge system of call-in minutes charges on the cell phone. If I'm near a capable PC and Internet connection, I can use my Gizmo account (hopefully more VoIP options will come later) to avoid ALL line charges. If my call recipient has a Gizmo or Google Voice account, we can use that to avoid even International charges.

Google Voice numbers are truly portable in a way no device-locked phone number can ever be. Add voicemail transcriptions, email notifications, solicitor blocking, Caller ID forwarding rules... I will never willingly use any number locked to a specific device or place ever again.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:57PM]

AT&T, and thus the iPhone don't have it, because quite frankly they suck.

But with Sprint for example (or TMo), you can add a feature to your calling plan (some calling plans on Sprint/Tmo with it for free even) called Pick 3 or Fave 5's, respectively.

With Sprint's Pick 3 for instance, you can set your GV # as one of your 3 "picks", so anytime you dial out via your GV#, all of your outgoing calls are FREE.

Unlimited outgoing calls in other words, and with an app such as GVDialer for WinMo, it incorporates itself seamlessly into your Contacts List, so all you have to do is dial a number or select a person from your contacts list, and then select the GV Dialer option when calling, and all outgoing calls = Free.

Yet another reason why AT&T / iPhone / Apple suck.
Lack of features.

[monkey with glasses Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:26PM]

How do you use or get GV. Not a tech guy so don't blast me for not knowing.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:40PM]

Thanks for all the replies.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:39PM]

@Monkey with glasses

To use/get Google Voice you need to sign up for it and wait for an invitation.

[monkey with glasses Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:08PM]

Thanks for the reply.

[Fred Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:09PM]

I was lucky enough to get an early Google Voice invite. It may become a determining factor on my next phone purchase -- being able to bypass locality minutes charges and block solicitor calls is way too nice to give up. Of course, iPhone was out of the running already because I don't want monopoly-ware on a monopoly carrier. Of course, that takes Pre out of the running right now, but I expect them to spread the love a little faster. Steve is too stingy.

[PlatinumSkeet Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:23PM]

It'll help people in this recession. Say if your phones about to get cut off or someone looking for a job gets their phone disconnected they can have voicemails left at their google phone # and just check them online. This is just going to hurt phone companies in the end because it's making the telephone industry more liquid...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 12:55PM]

The Pre will be moving to more carriers in early 2010. Also webOS is just open, and it's far from a pain in the ass to mess around with(while still under warranty!). Plus the webOS interface will be out on two phones probably in early 2010, and be around the world before 2010.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:11PM]

Who on earth would hand out google fake number to customer? This app is for kids! :)

[MarcusMaximus Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:19PM]

Next time make more sense and maybe people will listen to you.

[logicbombde Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:18PM]

This app did a dissapointment.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:14PM]

"it exists, and it's only going to get better. Can't say that about your little phone, can you Steve?"

Actually, we can say that about the iPhone. Not sure why you can't except perhaps ignorance.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:22PM]

...I didn't know Apple just allowed the Google Voice app on the Iphone, when did you see that?? So unless its there now then we can say that about the iPhone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:28PM]

Its for unlocked iphones and its free :)

[The Dead Marxist Trio Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:45PM]

Engadget messed up on that comparison- they're both "unofficial" apps, so the point is moot.

[sam1am Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:28PM]

@NoAndThen: Not really, since the unofficial app on the Pre has an officially supported install path (and it's NOT through an app store). That's a pretty big deal.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:02PM]

funny thing is.. this is just going to push MORE people to jailbreak and unlock.. as I have.. isn't that the opposite of what they'd like to happen? I'm not sure they thought this through.. but whatever :)

[JONNNathannn Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:08PM]

@sam it doesn't matter how it gets there, the point is it's not official. No phone has an official client, both phones have unofficial clients.

[logicbombde Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:20PM]

I have Google voice on my iPhone via Cydia.


just sayin

[cloud858rk Posted Jul 29th 2009 10:37PM]

@Jonathan
Um hello, Android has an official Google Voice client.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:27PM]

google voice is awesome, love it on my iPhone, every phone should have it if you need a invite i have plenty....

[The Dead Marxist Trio Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:41PM]

I would definitely like an invite, please.

[e-mail]

thanks!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:46PM]

can i get one?
[e-mail]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:59PM]

Both sent:)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:29PM]

@geekgirl,

I like an invite =)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:30PM]

Me too, GeekGirl!!!

[e-mail]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:44PM]

@GeekGirl
I'll take one. Thanks!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 6:45PM]

Oopsie, [e-mail]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:03PM]

Could you send one my way please? :-)

spencer DOT shepard AT gmail DOT com

Thanks!

[Tonezorz Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:55PM]

if there's any left, anthonymazel at gmail dawt com wants one ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:02PM]

all out of invites:(

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2009 8:08AM]

Hey, can I have an invite as well, GeekGirl? My e-mail address is [e-mail] .

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2009 8:10AM]

Oh, shoot. My bad.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:31PM]

LOL if anyone was considering an iPhone w/ Google Voice I'd reconsider...
At least till the carrier marriage is over...

GV is more than just an extra number... Google it.