Can Google Voice receive SMS texts?
Google Voice is a telephony service from Google that offers features such as a free phone number for calls and texts, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and more. With Google Voice, users can make and receive calls as well as send and receive text messages (SMS/MMS) through one central phone number.
SMS stands for Short Message Service and refers to the text messages sent between cell phones. SMS messages contain up to 160 characters and can include emojis, images, and video. SMS is a common way for people to communicate via their mobile phones.
The question this article seeks to address is whether Google Voice, in addition to making calls and sending SMS texts, also has the ability to receive incoming SMS text messages just as a normal cell phone number can.
How Google Voice Works
Google Voice gives you a virtual phone number that can receive calls and texts. When someone calls your Google Voice number, it forwards the call to your linked phone numbers, such as your mobile phone or landline. You can set your preferences so that all your devices ring at once, or create customized rules for ringing different devices at different times.
One of the key features of Google Voice is that it transcribes voicemail messages into text so you can read them. Instead of having to listen to voicemails, Google Voice converts the audio into text transcripts that are delivered to your inbox or Google Voice app.[1] This makes it easy to scan through messages without needing to listen to each one.
Overall, Google Voice gives you additional phone functionality through a virtual number. It works by linking with your existing phones and forwarding calls and messages through its system. The transcription of voicemail into text makes it convenient to manage inbound communications.
Google Voice and SMS Texts
SMS (Short Message Service) texts are a separate service from phone calls and work differently than calls made through Google Voice. SMS texts are short text-only messages sent over cellular networks. When an SMS text is sent from one phone to another, it goes through the SMS Center (SMSC) of the carrier networks involved. The SMSC then delivers the message to the destination device.
So when someone sends an SMS text to your Google Voice number, it goes to your carrier’s SMSC first before getting routed to Google’s servers and finally your Google Voice app. This is different from regular phone calls which connect directly through Google’s VoIP system.
Google Voice was originally built for VoIP calling and voicemail, with SMS capabilities added later. Google does not have direct control over the SMS text routing process which involves external carrier networks. This is why SMS functionality works differently compared to native phone calls in Google Voice.
[1]
Receiving SMS Texts on Google Voice
Google Voice cannot natively receive SMS text messages directly to your Google Voice number (source). This is because Google Voice works by forwarding calls and texts to your linked phone numbers rather than being a phone number itself. In order to receive SMS texts on your Google Voice number, you need to link a mobile number that can receive text messages and enable text forwarding to that number (source).
When someone sends an SMS text message to your Google Voice number, it will be forwarded to your linked mobile number. You can then read and reply to that text message using your regular mobile text messaging app. Replying will show your Google Voice number to the recipient rather than your mobile number. So essentially, Google Voice cannot directly receive texts but you can set it up to forward texts to your mobile device.
Workarounds
Even though Google Voice doesn’t natively support receiving SMS texts, there are a couple workarounds that allow you to get SMS texts on your Google Voice number:
Using another app to forward texts to GV – Apps like Pushbullet and AirDroid can forward SMS texts from your mobile phone to your Google Voice account. This allows you to view and respond to SMS conversations in the Google Voice app.
Porting your mobile number to GV – By porting your existing mobile number to Google Voice, you can receive texts directly to your Google Voice account. This gives your Google Voice number full SMS capabilities. Just be aware that it will replace your previous mobile carrier number.
These workarounds allow Google Voice users to get SMS text functionality despite Google Voice’s limitations. With the help of third-party apps or porting your number, you can receive SMS on Google Voice.
Pros of Receiving Texts on Google Voice
One major pro of receiving texts on Google Voice is the transcribed voicemails that Google Voice provides. When someone leaves a voicemail on a Google Voice number, Google Voice uses automatic speech recognition to transcribe the voicemail into text. This makes reviewing and searching through voicemails much easier compared to listening to audio recordings [1]. The transcriptions allow users to quickly skim voicemails to get the key information.
Another benefit is the unified messaging that Google Voice offers. With Google Voice, users can get voicemails, texts, and faxes all in one unified inbox. This makes it easy to manage all incoming communications in one place rather than having to check multiple apps. Users can easily switch between handling voice, SMS, and fax communications seamlessly [2].
Cons of Receiving Texts on Google Voice
One of the main cons of receiving texts on Google Voice is that you need a separate app or ported phone number to use it. Google Voice itself does not have native SMS capabilities – it relies on linking to your existing mobile number in order to receive texts. So to get texts in Google Voice, you either need to download the Google Voice app and keep it running in the background, or port your phone number to Google Voice entirely. This can be an extra hassle compared to services with built-in SMS.
In addition, some users report delivery delays with Google Voice texts versus regular SMS. This is because texts to your Google Voice number first need to be redirected by Google’s servers before they reach your phone. The extra hop can sometimes cause a lag of a few minutes between when the text is sent and when you receive it. This delay probably won’t be noticeable in most casual conversations, but can be an annoyance for time-sensitive messages. Overall, the need for a separate app and potential message delays are two of the biggest drawbacks of relying on Google Voice for texting capabilities.
Alternatives to Google Voice
There are a few alternatives to Google Voice worth considering, especially if you need capabilities beyond what Google Voice provides.
For a full-featured virtual phone system, top options include RingCentral, Dialpad, 8×8, Nextiva, and Ooma Office. These services provide calling, voicemail, SMS messaging, auto-attendants, call routing, and other advanced features. They can fully replace a traditional business phone system. However, they come at a cost – typically a monthly fee per user.
If you primarily want an alternative for SMS texting, standalone apps like TextNow, TextPlus, and Sideline can provide you with a free secondary phone number to use for texting. These don’t include calling capabilities like Google Voice.
For other calling features without SMS, apps like Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger allow free VoIP calls. Overall though, Google Voice remains one of the most full-featured free virtual phone services available.
The Future of Google Voice and SMS
The future of native SMS support in Google Voice is uncertain. Google has not announced any official plans to add the ability to directly receive SMS texts within the Google Voice app. However, some speculate that Google may eventually enable this feature based on the company’s continued development of Google Voice over the years.
According to a recent 2021 article on ComputerWorld, “Google Voice may be doomed to be a second-class messaging system” without the ability to natively support SMS texts (ComputerWorld). The article argues that the lack of SMS capabilities puts Google Voice at a disadvantage compared to other messaging apps. However, the article does note that Google continues to invest in improving Google Voice, leaving the door open for potential SMS support down the road.
Overall, the future remains cloudy when it comes to Google Voice officially supporting direct SMS text receiving. But some hopeful Google Voice users speculate that Google may finally add this long-requested feature at some point, especially if the company wants to remain competitive in the messaging app landscape.
Conclusion
To recap, Google Voice currently does not natively support receiving SMS texts. While you can’t directly get texts in the Google Voice app, there are some workarounds like forwarding texts from your carrier number to your Google Voice number. You can also use third-party apps like PushBullet to sync texts from your regular number to your Google Voice account.
The main workarounds are forwarding texts through your carrier, using Google Voice on multiple devices, and third-party syncing apps. Each has its own pros and cons to consider. Forwarding texts can get complicated with 2FA texts, using Google Voice across devices doesn’t consolidate your messages, and third-party apps require giving access to your texts.
In closing, Google Voice provides many useful features for managing phone calls and voicemail transcription. Native SMS text support would make it an even more powerful unified communication tool. While Google hasn’t announced plans to add this feature, the Google Voice platform continues evolving, so SMS text integration remains a possibility for the future.