Native Google Voice App in the Works?

Posted By: Tim Carroll Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:16:30 PM

palm google voice Google Voice: rarely has a utility used by so few caused such consternation. The still-in-private-beta service has been making waves in the tech press of late, specifically in regards to Apple's rejection of a native app from their jealously-guarded App Store. Apple's blunder is another company's opportunity, though: the high-profile spat between them and the FCC has led to other platforms that feature such apps (namely, Android and Blackberry) receiving a wave of free publicity. So naturally, one would expect that Palm are looking to hop on this bandwagon too. Right?

TechCrunch's Michael Arrington is reporting (via anonymous sources) today that Palm is indeed planning to "roll out an official app some time in the next month or so". The problem is that since Google Voice currently lacks a public API, deep integration with the service - which relies on a seperate, Google-provided phone number - is impossible. Palm Infocenter turned to the friendly experts on all things webOS & Mojo-related at Pivotal Labs to get their take on what's required. Their VP of Business Development, Christian Sepulveda, was happy to share. Hit the jump for his thoughts.

From some screenshots I've seen while reading about the current "mess", it seems to provide it's own dialer and SMS. I don't think there is an official Google Voice API, but there are numerous posts that show reverse engineer the web client and notes the REST API semantics it seems to use.

So, for the Palm Pre, I think you could build a Google Voice client, with a few caveats:
-Palm is protective of user's knowing what is going on, so you can't directly send email, sms or place calls without the user knowing
-you can initiate a call, sms, or email, but the user has to tap the call/send button

For example, for calls, a Google Voice app would initiate a new call with wait characters, to connect to Google Voice and then connect to target number. (http://developer.palm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1624 for API docs on this)

Palm webOS would then start the phone app/load a call card. The user would have to tap call. From there, Google Voice would do the connecting and things should work.

For SMS, I think GV Mobile would post the SMS via the Google Voice API, and Google Voice would then actually send the SMS over the gateway. There are feeds for your SMS, voicemail, etc.

Overall I think you could build the app, but it won't be fully integrated with the existing voicemail or SMS on the Palm Pre. I think this matches the iPhone version, so not too big a deal, but the SMS app on the Palm Pre is nicely integrated with IM, and you would lose that, in this case. (or more specifically, not be taking advantage of that)

I have no idea of Palm would welcome/reject a Google Voice app though.

For what it's worth, we also tried to contact Sprint & Google for comment on this. Sprint never responded to our email, and a Google spokesperson could only say this:

We have built Google Voice mobile applications for the Android and Blackberry platforms. We hope to support other platforms in the future, but we have nothing to announce at this time.

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Where's Vetdoctor?

vetdoctor @ 8/27/2009 3:55:13 AM # M Q
Cool! Now when I can use my Gvoice on my Pre both Palm and Google can track my every move.
RE: Where's Vetdoctor?
SeldomVisitor @ 8/27/2009 3:57:54 AM # Q
Then you could post it to Facebook, too!

And, even better, tweet it!

I always wanted to know where X is, for all X.

RE: Where's Vetdoctor?
freakout @ 8/27/2009 4:33:55 PM # Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k3zvI2tyPM
RE: Where's Vetdoctor?
CFreymarc @ 8/27/2009 4:45:43 PM # Q
Wow!
Reply to this comment

Misinformation

jca666us @ 8/27/2009 4:42:45 AM # Q
Freak,

There is a difference between rejecting an app and refusing to approve it.

Apple never rejected Google Voice.

RE: Misinformation
freakout @ 8/27/2009 5:25:38 AM # Q
ROFLCOPTER!

Only in your world, troll-bot. How's that Apple-Palm lawsuit going?

RE: Misinformation
twrock @ 8/27/2009 5:26:06 AM # Q
jca666us wrote:
Apple never rejected Google Voice.

"...and that's the gosh honest truth, because that's what Steve told us all to say when someone asked us."

Hey Palm! Where's my PDA with Wifi and phone capabilities?

RE: Misinformation
jca666us @ 8/27/2009 5:28:19 AM # M Q
Freak, do you know how the app store approval process works?

Didn't think so - read up on it before you spout ignorant comments - until then STFU.

RE: Misinformation
freakout @ 8/27/2009 5:43:30 AM # Q
Wow. You seem angry. Palm must have called some surprise witnesses.
RE: Misinformation
jca666us @ 8/27/2009 5:58:30 AM # M Q
Not angry at all...

Just correcting an idiot!

RE: Misinformation
freakout @ 8/27/2009 6:04:21 AM # Q
You haven't corrected your own post. What in Jupiter's ghost are you on about?
RE: Misinformation
jca666us @ 8/27/2009 8:27:40 AM # M Q
freak,

apple never rejected google voice.

RE: Misinformation
cstamper @ 8/27/2009 9:00:11 AM # Q
LOL

Apple never accepted GoogleVoice. I can't have GV on my iPod touch. Because of Apple's stupid attitude (or maybe ATT's).

That make you happy?

RE: Misinformation
jca666us @ 8/27/2009 10:55:05 AM # M Q
cstamper - that's better :)

however apple has their reasons for not accepting google voice.

it would be great if apple accepted everything, however they don't (their platform - their rules).

RE: Misinformation
twrock @ 8/27/2009 12:16:53 PM # Q
Spoken like a true fanboy. :-)

Of course Apple has their reasons, and we can all trust that those reasons are completely valid and have the good of the consumer in mind. Apple are the good guys in all of this. So there is absolutely no good reason why anyone would ever want/need to jailbreak their iPhone.

Hey Palm! Where's my PDA with Wifi and phone capabilities?

RE: Misinformation
jca666us @ 8/27/2009 1:38:53 PM # M Q
hey twrock,

I never stated Apples reasons were for the good of anyone.

However it's apples platform, apples rules.

Nowhere in the iphone SDK does it say, "anyone can develop and distribute anything"

There are restrictions - you develop for the iPhone, you know the rules.

It's hardly a free for all - that's why jailbreaking exists.

RE: Misinformation
cstamper @ 8/27/2009 2:34:23 PM # Q
But there are no rules against GV on the iPhone. That's why they won't admit that they rejected. That's why people are upset.

And it could even be illegal for them to do this. That's why FCC was looking into it.

Ok?

So they never accepted it, and there are no rules dis-allowing it. In the US, a company can't really say "It's my product - I'll do what I want." There are laws designed to regulate certain anti-competitive behavior.

SO if you blindly accept such behavior, you are a retarded apple zombie.

(Like my logic? ;-)

RE: Misinformation
twrock @ 8/28/2009 3:37:36 AM # Q
And jailbreaking breaks Apple's rules. Apparently some people who talk as if Apple has done it best, still find it "better" to have broken Apple's rules by jailbreaking their iPhone so they can install apps that aren't "approved" by Apple. Yeah, that makes so much sense........

Umm, maybe not.

Hey Palm! Where's my PDA with Wifi and phone capabilities?

Reply to this comment

Some Background

freakout @ 8/27/2009 5:40:26 AM # Q
I feel compelled to note that Chris's email about developing a Google Voice app on webOS was actually sent to me a few weeks ago, in a different context.

At the time I was planning to write a post on whether or not it would be possible for a third-party to develop a Google Voice app with the Mojo SDK. The day after I started asking questions, though, homebrew GV apps started appearing on Precentral - which answered them pretty thoroughly.

Then the TechCrunch piece came along, and I realised this would fit very nicely, so here it is. (I'm posting this info 'cause there's a bit of a logical disconnect between the language in the leading post and the quoted email.)

That is all! No soup for you!
-Tim

Reply to this comment

Dieter publishes a better analysis than mine

freakout @ 8/27/2009 4:40:29 PM # Q
But he's not as handsome.

http://www.precentral.net/if-palm-working-google-voice-app-it-can-measure

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