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The big Google Voice update earlier this week was a pretty big deal for a number of reasons, but it’s not the end of updates for the app nor the platform. In fact, according to 9to5Google, Google is working on VoIP integration for Google Voice. The update was big news because Google Voice hadn’t been updated in about 5 years, and the service was largely forgotten – or so it seemed. Google did also confirm that they would be releasing new updates and features for the platform in the future.
A few years ago, Google Voice had gone all-in with integrating with Hangouts, this was when Google wanted Hangouts to be an all-in-one messaging app, and with the addition of Allo and Duo in 2016, it’s clear that is no longer their vision. The Google Voice team urges users to use the new Voice app that debuted this week, if they want to continue getting updates and new functionality. But that the functionality with Hangouts would continue to work. Meaning that when someone calls your Google Voice number, Hangouts will still ring on different devices. Showing that they are looking to get away from Hangouts, but haven’t killed off Hangouts functionality just yet, in regards to Google Voice.
While Google didn’t confirm to 9to5Google that they were getting rid of Hangouts integration with Google Voice, it does seem pretty imminent. With Google urging users to use the new Google Voice app, it’s likely only a matter of time. Additionally, Google has been transitioning Hangouts to being an Enterprise app, and that transition continues with moving Google Voice away from the platform. A tipster did inform 9to5Google that the company is looking at adding WiFi Calling no matter what device you are using – this currently exists, but through Hangouts and not Google Voice – and there will also be some pretty heavy encryption in Google Voice in the near future.
It’s great to see that Google Voice is getting some much needed attention now, but there’s still one feature that Google is missing that many want. And that is the ability to use Google Voice outside of the US. Those in other countries want to throw their number in Google Voice but are unable to because it only supports US numbers right now.