Google Voice android app is getting VoIP calling
- Fariha Khan
- January 27, 2017
- 929
Google just made a new update to its VOIP calling on android. So far, Voice features have been used through Hangouts on Android. Though you can still use it the same way, the company now encourages switching over to the new Voice apps for Android, iOS, and the web in order to enjoy latest features in the future. Google said
Going forward, we’ll provide new updates and features to the Google Voice android apps. If you currently use Hangouts for your Google Voice communication, there’s no need to change to the new apps, but you might want to try them out as we continue to bring new improvements.
For now, the switch has a downside. The lack of VoIP implies that you cannot take or make phone calls other than via Hangouts or by Voice’s call forwarding feature. But now Google has confirmed that VoIP integration for the new Voice is in under development.
The updated Google Voice app doesn’t have VoIP features — it has the same features for making calls as the existing Google Voice app. Hangouts will ring by default in addition to any forwarding phones on your account, just as it did before. We are working on VoIP integration.
Read also: Google Voice Revamped
While the complete scope of this transformation is not known but according to sources, WiFi calling is coming to all devices, with the aim of acting as an alternative in the absence of cellular service. This power to make a call via your number regardless of device could make Voice a full featured cellular substitute.
These future features of Google Voice android apps come as Hangouts undergoes to move toward being essentially an enterprise product. Seemingly, that future service would focus on becoming a competitive tool for businesses and other larger organizations. To achieve that “heavy encryption” is being done for Hangouts.
