Some technologies just remain incomplete for a very long time it seems - and cross platform SMS is a very real example, sadly.
Such a simple looking, pure-text format as SMS is should be all around us - available across ALL platforms;
But it just ain't (unless one is willing to jump through very certain hoops just to have it).
So, I'm re-visiting this thread as I was reminded of it by the very generous info provided by Azrobert, here:
http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=9841.msg65311#msg65311Having read and re-read his posting, I get the impression from it that its idea is more dependent on my home IP/router/Obi box than what I really seek ultimately.
My goal is to have SMS and phone calls via Wifi-only from home as well as public Wifi when I may be out for a few days and all the home stuff is fully powered down.
(As I am a very happy Obi110 user who also uses Circlenet, it would be great if Sam & Co. offered SMS at the same amazing rates as their DIDs & minutes, but AFAIK that has not happened.)
So:
For me, this is an ongoing & very interesting quest, and I've kept looking for better & better answers every now & again which may meet my rather peculiar & singular desires as I've tried to explain them in this thread.
Regarding the repeatedly suggested 'Hangouts' idea:
I have thus far resisted approaching 'Hangouts' very fervently for 2 main reasons=>
1. I've seen where others have said that it was a one-way trip that somehow messed up their other GV uses;
2. I am seriously averse to 'social media' in all it's recent myriad forms.
That being said - I am also not a total bonehead so I've also re-read the article here, as suggested:
http://www.reviewtechnica.com/2014/11/google-hangouts-free-wifi-calls.htmlI am forced to admit it does not look too scary
-IF- it also does not irreversibly mess up any other GV uses, but I remain uncertain about this aspect of it, true or false ??
Aside of that concern, it does (sadly...) appear to be the single most direct way to use one's GV number freely & directly via a Wifi-only smartphone.
Another choice coming back up (hopefully VERY soon !!) may be TextPlus, as they've said it will be coming soon for the PC platform - which would likely be very much better for me than using the wee phone for SMS - and would also allow that as well as calls via Wifi only.
I've also begun using My Phone Explorer with the 2.3.6 phone and it allows SMS right from the PC very nicely.
Google Voice Full Integration works well with older versions of Android so together with MPE I can do almost everything from the desktop PC as I desire it to be with that older phone.
For the newer phone I will likely soon try Mobizen after I've landed upon an acceptable solution for calls & SMS for that one.
I also inherited a broken tablet (now fixed) with 4.x on it and I may also try to set it up the same way as the newer cheapie phone...it is a very cute toy.
Seriously cheap Android devices are a very good platform for casual experimentation without worry of failures.
There is an abundance of cheapie and freebie (orphaned) stuff easily found these days and using that to play on is what I'm doing that I highly recommend for anyone who likes learning fun stuff.