Rumors that Google Voice will be killed soon.

[Astroprojector]

Hello,

Just came across this article. I wonder how this will affect the OBitalk users.

Why Google Killing Google Voice Would Be Fantastic

http://gizmodo.com/its-time-to-kill-google-voice-508956713/1546292736/+ericlimer

[drgeoff]

1.  It will not affect OBiTALK users in the slightest.  OBiTALK works between Obihai devices and softphones entirely independently of Google Voice.

2. Whether Google Voice will be killed soon is somewhat moot for Obihai device users.  It is already known that the XMPP protocol which Obihai devices currently use to interface to GV will be inoperative after 14 May 2014.  Obihai has made it clear that they will not be providing an alternative means for their devices to access GV. http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html

[mo832]

I would like to see comments from others on this "rumor". GV being canceled would affect many people around here, even those using outside voip providers, since many have GV as a main number and use the call management features. In addition, many of us are using the web callback feature.

If this goes away, or many classic features don't get moved to Hangouts, many of us will be impacted.

Part of the article in the link is from several months ago, and old news at this point, but there is one NEW item that implies that the day for pulling the plug on GV itself is coming soon.  And this has nothing to do with the XMPP integration.

[dircom]

yes the sky is falling
re: the article on Gizmodo
the guy who wrote it looks like he might be 19 years old
it's just his opinion
it's not like you read it in the Wall Street Journal
ps (no one, with the exception of Google) really knows long term what is going to happen
in the mean time, It works, it's free, and it will change over time like most things

[simpleAnswers]

Hello,

Just came across this article. I wonder how this will affect the OBitalk users.

Why Google Killing Google Voice Would Be Fantastic

http://gizmodo.com/its-time-to-kill-google-voice-508956713/1546292736/+ericlimer

LOL, please read all relate articles before you start crying and spreading rumours.
This is all about Google killing the GV App on android phones.

For those who don't know, Android has slowly been pulling everything into one app. Hangouts.

GoogleTalk app has already been removed and is now in Hangouts. Now they have slowly started to move the SMS app into Hangouts too, and also want to remove the Google Voice app and put it all into Hangouts.
This is not an article about killing the Google Voice service, if anything it goes in the other direction. With Google wanting to get users to use Hangouts for all telephony including SMS, Chat and even calls, while dropping your carrier voice plans entirely.

The way I see it, they will eventually merge it all into Google+ and you will be forced to use Google+ to text, phone, chat, hail a cab, order dinner, do your laundry,  etc

[SteveInWA]

yes the sky is falling
re: the article on Gizmodo
the guy who wrote it looks like he might be 19 years old
it's just his opinion
it's not like you read it in the Wall Street Journal
ps (no one, with the exception of Google) really knows long term what is going to happen
in the mean time, It works, it's free, and it will change over time like most things

Dircom:  Right on.   I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the lazy, ignorant bloggers, who recursively quote OTHER bloggers, while failing to do any true, original journalism.  It's just click-bait for their websites' ads.  And, then we have "bimbo eruptions" like this thread, which stir up the chicken-little cries.

Come on.  This has already been beaten into the ground over and over.  That article is almost a year old.  It's completely useless.  About the only thing it discusses that is actually true, is that Google Voice functions will be migrated over to Hangouts, NOT "killed".

Fact:  Google Hangouts already supports making and receiving VoIP telephone calls on the web browser (laptop/desktop Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Chrome OS), and on Apple iOS devices.

Fact:  Google Hangouts for Android will also be getting telephone calling capability soon.

Fact:  Google already stated that their plan is to migrate and integrate Google Voice functions into Hangouts.

Fact:  Google VOICE is a distinct set of services from the VoIP calling capability that was formerly provided by Google Chat/Talk, and now by Hangouts.  The Google Hangouts platform will simply become more of an integrated front end for these services.  This in no way means the end of Google Voice.  It simply means that the UI for Google Voice will migrate to some sort of bigger, better Hangouts experience.