Moto Z voice and bluetooth sms

[Jimmy_W]

I now have the Moto voice activated on my Moto Z Force. I have a uConnect 730N system in my Jeep. I typically keep my phone in my pocket, but I still receive SMS messages through my uConnect. Basically, the uConnect annouces that I have a "new message from joe" and asks me whether I want to reply. However, my answer will not be heard by the uConect if the phone's in my pocket. I can hear incoming announcements with the phone in my pocket, but the Moto voice app won't "hear" me. I can engage in phone conversations without any problems. Maybe I don't understand the basic concepts here, so perhaps someone has an explanation. Perhaps it's a uConnect and not a droid issue. Thanks!

 

[Photo_Drew]

Turn off driving option in the Moto app. The car should still tell you there's a message but the phone won't ask for a reply.

 

[Jimmy_W]

Thanks very much! Before I give it a try, do you know whether the car will ask me for a reply? Otherwise, I might as well just let the phone announce that there's a message.

I recall that, before I started using Moto voice, I could receive and reply to SMS through OK Google. I understand that Moto is pretty much a front end OK Google, but I can't set OK Google as a "trusted voice" in Security settings because of the bug that states that I can't use the microphone (described in http://forums.androidcentral.com/moto-z-force/754462-ok-google-microphone-issue.html). While I can use OKG for things like searches when the screen's unlocked, I can't engage in OKG stuff when it's locked because I can't set up a trusted voice. In my case, none of the fixes suggested in the above thread resolved the issue, and Verizon suggested that I reset all of my apps to their defaults, which seems like a pain. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

 

[Jake711]

I'm here to tell you the Bluetooth, handsfree calling, and talk to text on these phones is a joke.

Half the time my phone does what you describe, it's connected to the truck, but tries to "talk" through the phone.

The other half of the time it won't connect at all.

After trouble shooting and multiple resets, I'm done with my Moto.

I'm having my old HTC Windows Phone reactivated tomorrow. Yea, it's won't stay charged anymore, but it connects 100% of the time to BT and WI Fi.

This is not how I wanted to spend $700

 

[Ry]

I'm here to tell you the Bluetooth, handsfree calling, and talk to text on these phones is a joke.

Half the time my phone does what you describe, it's connected to the truck, but tries to "talk" through the phone.

The other half of the time it won't connect at all.

After trouble shooting and multiple resets, I'm done with my Moto.

I'm having my old HTC Windows Phone reactivated tomorrow. Yea, it's won't stay charged anymore, but it connects 100% of the time to BT and WI Fi.

This is not how I wanted to spend $700

I'm here to tell you that I have had 0 issues with WiFi at home or work.

I'm here to tell you that I have had 0 issues with Bluetooth in multiple vehicles.

 

[Jimmy_W]

I'm here to tell you that I have had 0 issues with WiFi at home or work.
I'm here to tell you that I have had 0 issues with Bluetooth in multiple vehicles.

I also have no issues with WiFi anywhere. My issue is with BT/SMS Can you reply to an SMS through your vehicle's system without having the phone out? What if it's locked? Can you send an SMS in the vehicle under the same conditions? Lastly, do you use the Moto app or OK Google? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[Mike-Mike]

i have a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, I had the 430N before I replaced it with a Joying unit. I found Uconnect to be a big piece of crap in the Jeep, I previously had a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 730N. I also have a 2015 Chrysler 300c, the Uconnect in it with the 8.4N is way better.

I am of not a lot of help to you since I do not drive the 300 anymore, and I do not have the 430N or 730N anymore either. I had the Samsung S7 Edge when I had the 430N and I didn't use the SMS feature, but I felt like any of the Uconnect voice commands didn't work very well.

Any chance you could have another car to try it in?

in regards to the other posts, my Moto Z Force Droid has a way better WiFi signal than my previous Samsung S7 Edge, and my Moto Z never has a problem connecting with Bluetooth to my vehicles. It does occasionally drop on my Samsung S2 watch, but that is probably more of a Samsung and non-Samsung thing

 

[Jimmy_W]

Thanks. My 730n is in a '15 JKU-HR. I doubt that I could find a Chysler to try, but I'll be on the lookout. I can't tell whether it's the phone or the uConnect. My old Droid RAZR Maxx didn't receive or send SMS through the uConnect. From what I understand, the 730n doesn't support SMS, so I was surprised to get announcements when I receive SMS. Somehow, the phone & Bluetooth speaker are connecting, but the uConnect mike will not. Voice calling & uConnect work fine, although using dial commands through the uConnect is pretty bad.

 

[Ry]

I also have no issues with WiFi anywhere. My issue is with BT/SMS Can you reply to an SMS through your vehicle's system without having the phone out? What if it's locked? Can you send an SMS in the vehicle under the same conditions? Lastly, do you use the Moto app or OK Google? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for any advice you can offer.

I use Moto Voice. For the most part, Moto Voice is now just a gateway to OK Google. Essentially, it just let's you have a custom launcher phrase.

With my car's Bluetooth, my phone needs to be out of my pocket in order to hear me say my launch phrase. The action button initiates my car's own voice menu. I had an older car where I could set it to my phone's voice prompt.

With this set up, the phone can't be in your pocket to initiate the voice prompt. I put my phone in mount so I have no troubles initiating Moto Voice/OK Google.

But if I get a text message, Moto Voice kicks in and sends it over the Bluetooth connection as a phone call. I have 0 issues listening and replying to text messages - even if I happen to leave my phone in my pocket.

I haven't tried this while locked because my Moto 360 and my car are both trusted Bluetooth devices.

 

[Jimmy_W]

But if I get a text message, Moto Voice kicks in and sends it over the Bluetooth connection as a phone call. I have 0 issues listening and replying to text messages - even if I happen to leave my phone in my pocket.

Thanks very much for the detailed reply! It just may be that I'll have to keep the phone out to use SMS. That way, I could initiate an SMS and engage in messaging. However, I'd be happy to just reply to an SMS as you do, with the phone in pocket.

 

[Jimmy_W]

Well, I've now spoken with Verizon and Motorola tech support. The final word is to try a factory reset of my Moto Z Force. As that's a giant pain, I thought I'd ask whether anyone knows of an app that will allow me to reply to SMS through the uConnect bluetooth in my Jeep. There are several apps that will read SMS, but that's worthless. I realize that Moto basically is a front end for OK Google, but it apparently hosed my ability to set up OK Google once again. And I don't want to take my phone out every time I get in the Jeep. Thanks.