Google adding official calling on there mobile version of Hangouts:
Crow550:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/google-hangouts-ios-phone-calls-online-status-google-voice/
So Hangouts on PC and Mobile (iOS now and Android when 4.4 releases) offers calling in and out. That means no more 3rd party apps will be needed.
So how will this change the way voip devices work? Will the Obi device be able to use the Hangouts API? Will this offer any new quality improvements or features?
SteveInWA:
So how will this change the way voip devices work?
It doesn't change anything at this time. It's only a feature added to Google's own Hangouts mobile application. It neither adds nor removes any capabilities for third-party VoIP hardware or software that are currently using XMPP to interact with Google Voice. General comments have been made in the past with regard to "sunsetting" XMPP support, but at this time, that has not happened, and there is no publicly-announced plan to do so. Google is more focused on expanding the user base for Hangouts at the moment, then it is on shutting down any other functions.
Will the Obi device be able to use the Hangouts API?
That's the important question, and there has been no public information shared on this, nor do I expect there will be, until (or unless) that feature is released to the public.
Will this offer any new quality improvements or features?
The features added are those that have been added to the Google Hangouts app itself. What's significant, is that the various third party apps, such as Talkatone, GrooVeIP, Mo+, Phone+, GV Phone, etc, will become unnecessary. What's interesting, is that the Hangouts software contains licensed or open support for a wide variety of audio and video CODECs, which may offer better call quality over WiFi than the current, G.711-only support via Google Chat. It's irrelevant to OBi at this time, since XMPP support is still unchanged and available.
Google remains publicly committed to Google Voice and Hangouts, and I expect that near-future development will focus on adding and integrating more functionality to Hangouts. Beyond that, Google doesn't comment on future plans.
ElForesto:
Apparently Google is getting ready to play hardball with third-party GV devs: http://www.androidcentral.com/google-voice-won-t-be-integrated-latest-hangouts-update-it-s-coming
Quote
Going further, Google Voice is going to get notably more secure with changes to the ways third-party apps have access to the service. Developers who currently violate the Google Voice Terms of Service are being notified of the upcoming changes, and have until May 14th, 2014 to remove the offending apps or transition users to a new system.
It sounds like they'll still allow third-party access, but possibly with more restrictions.
SteveInWA:
Quote from: ElForesto on October 31, 2013, 04:13:29 pm
Apparently Google is getting ready to play hardball with third-party GV devs: http://www.androidcentral.com/google-voice-won-t-be-integrated-latest-hangouts-update-it-s-coming
Quote
Going further, Google Voice is going to get notably more secure with changes to the ways third-party apps have access to the service. Developers who currently violate the Google Voice Terms of Service are being notified of the upcoming changes, and have until May 14th, 2014 to remove the offending apps or transition users to a new system.
It sounds like they'll still allow third-party access, but possibly with more restrictions.
I wouldn't make that assumption. Read Obihai's blog post today. The message is: direct GV support on OBi devices is going away. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.
FreeServiceForLife:
I wouldn't make that assumption. Read Obihai's blog post today. The message is: direct GV support on OBi devices is going away. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.
[/quote]
http://blog.obihai.com/
>:( Wow this really sucks.. I thought for sure that this was going to be a good thing as Google Hangouts does not require a gmail account to make calls. I set up my Google Voice with a different domain email address and was able to join Google Hangouts and make calls with this non-gmail address. I thought this fact would really open up the service rather than limit it. Oh well looks like Google Hangouts app will be my new best friend! ::)
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