Another Google Service Closes: Texts with Voicemail Transcripts (cnet.com) 30
Long-time Slashdot reader freelunch reports that Google Voice "has announced via email that they are ending one of their most popular features -- sending transcripts of voice mails via text message. The cited reason is carrier message blocking."
From Google's email: It has come to our attention that certain carriers are blocking the delivery of these messages because they are automated and, at times, contain transcripts that resulted from unsolicited robocalls.
We can no longer ensure these messages will be delivered, so unfortunately we are turning down the feature. We have been slowly rolling out these changes and expect them to be fully deployed by 9 August 2019. No action is needed on your part.
However, the Get voicemail via email continues to be supported. As an alternative, the Google Voice iOS, Android and web apps can always be used to check voicemail and view transcripts.
From Google's email: It has come to our attention that certain carriers are blocking the delivery of these messages because they are automated and, at times, contain transcripts that resulted from unsolicited robocalls.
We can no longer ensure these messages will be delivered, so unfortunately we are turning down the feature. We have been slowly rolling out these changes and expect them to be fully deployed by 9 August 2019. No action is needed on your part.
However, the Get voicemail via email continues to be supported. As an alternative, the Google Voice iOS, Android and web apps can always be used to check voicemail and view transcripts.
cnet scumbags (Score:2)
i wish cnet would get rid of popup videos. creeps
Re: (Score:2)
Slashdot for eliminating anonymous posts
Well, good luck to you! I wish/hope to be true , but I cannot find any reference. I’m sick of all this nazi/trump/republican/democrat/supremacy AC crap posts that started a couple of years ago.
Re: (Score:2)
You don't need a reference. Just logout and try submitting a reply:
"Sorry, anonymous posting has been turned off. Please register and log in."
If you login but click the Post Anonymously box, it just says "You can't post to this page."
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I was going to say, but you get the message "You can't post to this page." when you try. AC does tend to spam lots but he has been the source of a whole load of important stuff on Slashdot. I'm not convinced this is the right way (as opposed to, for example adding a feature auto-demoting to -2 and requiring a signed in user to up-mod before it becomes visible).
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Every fucking article people talking about not being able to post anonymously. Although I do like the idea about AC posting at negative. But so far I see a lot less bullshit even after accidentally leaving my filter at negative one after modding for a bit.
I don't need to see the fake bullshit conspiracy defamation racist ranting posts of the Russian troll farms. I'm not the type to buy in and start clicking the links. Yes yes mud people and jews and how they want to take over the world I get it already
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On the bright side... (Score:1, Insightful)
this will likely be one less monopoly/service Google will lose the ability to take or make money on by spying on your messages while they translate them for you.
On the not so bright side...
Of course this also helps ensure that your carrier gets to bypass this block since they control it and will be the only one able to offer you a voice to text translation service... for a fee of course. They will also probably sell that data just like google would have as well.
The future is looking pretty dim with all the
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Re:On the bright side... (Score:5, Informative)
They are just ending the service that does it for you.
Actually, don't let the click-bait fool you, it will still work for you, just not via SMS.
The transcription service will still work, but it will be sent by email instead of SMS. And I assume it will still work over the web interface and over the Google Voice app as well.
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I get my voicemail and SMS delivered via Hangouts, and I think it has stopped for me. Yet there's no possibility of blocking since they own both ends. I get that Hangouts is on the way out, but the replacement isn't ready yet.
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LOL, that is a pretty good point ha ha!
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They're just ending the service that sends it by text.
The translations and emails will still happen.
Re:On the bright side... (Score:5, Informative)
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They're only getting rid of VM transcriptions via SMS. They will continue to provide VM transcriptions via E-Mail.
Yep. And if you really wanted, you could set up a mail-to-SMS gateway. (As far as I know all the major carriers already offer this, but you might benefit from some intelligent filtering.)
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Was it really popular though? This is teh first I'm hearing of it.
Sounds pretty useless to be honest. Voicemail is a honeypot to waste recruiters time and filter out the ones who can't read the bit where I wrote "don't call me at work".
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I don't know how popular Google voice to text service was. I have never used Googles that I recall, I just use what my phone comes with. I do rely on it a lot. Especially for numbers I do not have a contact for or recognize.
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I use Voice like this.
- Phone voicemail redirects to voice because I use the services and the transcripts. Yes I know "muh data" the service is worth it to me.
- I very rarely have the occasion to answer a call. If it's someone in my list, my girlfriend, my employer, or a contracting contact, I answer (provided it's safe to do so). EVERYTHING ELSE gets declined or ignored.
- if I decline/ignore or block a call it goes directly there.
- if it's a spammer I block them on voice and they get a lovely message with
Re: On the bright side... (Score:3)
They havenâ(TM)t eliminated the email transcriptions ... just text. So, they will continue reading your mail.
What a surprise (Score:2)
One of their most popular features... (Score:1)
I think someone is emotionally attached and not thinking straight. Google has yet to shutdown something that is actually popular. Sure Google Voice's text transcripts is popular among the subset of users who chose the service for its text transcript but unfortunately just like people attached to Reader, it's a niche feature for a small minority.
I hate... (Score:2)
GoogleDeadProjects += 1;
Certain carriers (Score:3)
Are most likely offering a competing service and are doing their best to obstruct Google's service. T-Mobiles Visual Voicemail service for example.
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This is the real answer. Sprint, for example, has been doing its level best to stop its users from using Google Voicemail at all.
Was this even a good idea? (Score:2)
It seems like the majority of people have their phones set to have incoming text messages pop up on their screen by default. I don't think I'd want my voicemail messages to pop up on the screen like that - they're often from doctors' offices, businesses, etc. where I probably don't want the information shared with anyone who might happen to glance over at my phone.
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Text messages are just as private. You have privacy settings for your notifications you can already use.
Well, this sucks (Score:2)
I have come to rely on these text messages when getting calls from recruiters. I give out my google voice number on the job boards. And, when they leave a message, I can decide whether to return the call ( usually not...most are offshore recruiters) or, more likely, to laugh because the transcripts are hysterical.
Googleâ(TM)s habit of cancelling services on a whim is a good reason why I canâ(TM)t and won't rely on them for anything business critical.
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I have come to rely on these text messages when getting calls from recruiters
So, rely on the email transcript instead. Or use the Google Voice app. Either of which can be configured to give you notifications if that's what you want.
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Presumably, you might even be able to set up a mail forwarding rule to send that email to an SMS gateway (to your carrier number).
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So, rely on the email transcript instead. Or use the Google Voice app. Either of which can be configured to give you notifications if that's what you want.
True and a viable solution. But, given Google's history of killing popular services, I wonder how long before they kill the voice transcriptions (to users, anyway)?