+ SMS, MMS
Hangouts, Google's answer to unifying all of their various messaging services/apps has been updated recently. To date, it merges Google Talk and G+ Messenger into one app. It's a great beginning to what will most probably become the defacto messaging app across multiple platforms including, but not limited to Android, Chrome, and Apple's iOS.
Although it doesn't support SMS at the moment, there is a workaround to receive Hangouts messages as SMS when idle. Below are instructions for setting this up as well as how to route your Google Voice messages to the same app as well, if you are one of the many Google Voice users like me.
How To Route All Messages To One Place
- On your device, open the Google Voice app > Settings > Sync and Notifications > Receive text messages: (choose Messaging App).
- Next, go HERE
- Look for SMS for Hangouts > Edit Settings > Enter your standard carrier phone # and hit SAVE. (Don't worry about the country drop-down box above the phone number field; it doesn't show USA, but it works regardless.)
- On your device, you should be able to receive all your text messages from carrier number, Google Voice number, and Hangouts as well as MMS from both carrier # and Hangouts. Remember, Google Voice still doesn't support MMS at this time (5/17/2013) unless you're on Sprint.
- (Optional) Add the Messaging widget to one of your homescreens. From here, you'll be able to view your messages at a glance, scroll through them, place a phone call, and even attach a file.
This is confirmed to work, although messages sent from the Messaging app on Android didn't always appear correctly on the iOS Hangouts app. Not sure why, but be aware of this glitch up front.
Be sure to comment and +1 this post. Thanks guys!
Edit: Don't want to route Hangouts messages to the Messaging app? Simply substitute your carrier number with your Google Voice number in Step 3. Be advised, by doing this, you will not be able to send MMS, as GV doesn't currently support MMS unless you are on Sprint.
Also, remember that this is merely a workaround until Google fully implements everything. So do the above at your own risk or sit tight & wait it out. Either way, at least they're working on it now;-)
-Dan
UPDATE: As Google has integrated SMS into Hangouts, the link in Step 2 no longer available. It links to a page that cannot be found.
This is a good thing, however, as it means this work around is no longer needed=D
Edit: Don't want to route Hangouts messages to the Messaging app? Simply substitute your carrier number with your Google Voice number in Step 3. Be advised, by doing this, you will not be able to send MMS, as GV doesn't currently support MMS unless you are on Sprint.
Also, remember that this is merely a workaround until Google fully implements everything. So do the above at your own risk or sit tight & wait it out. Either way, at least they're working on it now;-)
-Dan
UPDATE: As Google has integrated SMS into Hangouts, the link in Step 2 no longer available. It links to a page that cannot be found.
This is a good thing, however, as it means this work around is no longer needed=D
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