Google Releases Updated Version of Google Voice App for iPhone

By Ed Silverstein, TMCnet Contributor

Things seem to be constantly getting better for iPod Touch and iPad users.

Google (News - Alert) has released an updated version of its Google Voice application for the iPhone that adds support for the iPod Touch and iPad.

Marcus Foster, Google product manager said in a blog post, that users can download a new version of Google Voice that lets them take advantage of all the features of the application on these devices.

“Since we launched Google Voice for iPhone (News - Alert) a few weeks ago, we’ve been hard at work to add a few improvements that didn’t make it into the first release,” Foster said. “At the top of the list was adding support for iPod Touch and iPad.”

Users can use the iPod or iPad “to initiate Google Voice calls with your phones. We call this feature Click2Call,” Foster said. “Simply click any ‘Call’ button in the Google Voice app on your iPod or iPad and then select which of your phones you want to ring. Google Voice will call your phone and then connect your call.”

Other improvements to the app include:

The sending of text messages is easier because users no longer have to press the “OK” button.

To archive or delete messages, tap and hold messages in the inbox.

Users can send all callers right to voicemail by turning on the “do not disturb” feature in the “Settings” tab.

When using the “Push Notifications” feature, Google will automatically disable “text forwarding” so users don’t get multiple notifications.

It is easier to place calls from an address book now with a “contacts button.”

The Google Voice app can be downloaded from the Apple (News - Alert) App Store. Users need an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with iOS 3.1 or later. They will also need a valid Google Voice account to use the app.

Google Voice is available only in the United States, for now.

In related company news, TMCnet reported earlier this year that Google said its integration of Google Voice with Gmail reached 1 million customers within 24 hours of the launch. The speed of the adoption showed demand was there for the integrated offering, TMCnet reported.

(source: http://ivr.tmcnet.com/topics/ivr-voicexml/articles/127033-google-releases-updated-version-google-voice-app-iphone.htm)