Do I STILL.....need Google Voice?? Or can I simply use Hangouts now?

[jonzer]

Ok, some time ago when Google began integrating Hangouts and Google Voice, I knew that I still needed to keep Google Voice installed for Hangouts to send SMS through my GV number and for Hangouts Dialer to call through my GV number. But is this still the case? Can I finally uninstall the uninspired Google Voice app and still have things work properly through Hangouts using my GV number??

I have tried to research this...on Google of course, but I am not finding a definitive answer...and there has not been much talk about this lately.

 

[sniffs]

I think the only thing you still need it for is if you want to use it for visual voicemail. If you uninstall it, you can't set it as the voicemail option.. I could be wrong though.

 

[02840]

As long as you're using Hangouts for all your calling needs you no longer need the GV App.

If you still use the phone's dialer then I believe you'd still need the GV App if you want your outgoing calls to go through GV.

I've been keeping the GV App just to route my stock dialer calls through GV still.

Hangouts Dialer now actually identifies itself as a dialer app

 

[sniffs]

As long as you're using Hangouts for all your calling needs you no longer need the GV App.

If you still use the phone's dialer then I believe you'd still need the GV App if you want your outgoing calls to go through GV.

I've been keeping the GV App just to route my stock dialer calls through GV still.

Hangouts Dialer now actually identifies itself as a dialer app

If you uninstall it though, your voicemail settings to back to "My Carrier" and you'll use your carrier voicemail instead of Google's

 

[02840]

If you uninstall it though, your voicemail settings to back to "My Carrier" and you'll use your carrier voicemail instead of Google's

I've used GV for voicemail without the App installed. GV voicemail works independently of the App. Setup can be done via https://www.google.com/voice

As long as your carrier supports conditional call forwarding the following instructions will allow setup of GV voice without the need of the App. Hangouts can be set to handle both GV texts and voicemail notifications/transcription/review.

Set up or remove Google voicemail

If you don't use the GV App or Hangouts I believe there was an option to get an email or text notification (to your cell #) of new voicemail. You'd then need to go through the browser to retrieve the transcription and listen to the message; or you could call into your GV number to listen to the message. I used that option waaayyy back before GV had an App available.

 

[ChilinMichael]

S6 Edge VZW, just set up Google Voice instructions at their site Just select the first drop down "If you're a Verizon Wireless user click here". Make sure you do ALL THREE. I have Hangouts/Hangouts Dialer installed, no Google Voice. Works perfect. Hangouts rings with Voice number (Just make sure you turn it on in-app for any device you want to ring, it defaults off) and then alerts for voicemail.

For other carriers, follow instructions otherwise.