XDA Developers has done it again. You’re probably familiar with Google Voice and what it does for you. One of the features that Google Voice offers is free SMS messaging. The problem is that it is a pain to create a message from within Windows Mobile. This is where those fine folks at XDA come along.

In his first post ever, msullivan offers “Google Voice Easy SMS”; which despite the unimpressive moniker, gives Google Voice users access to functionality that was previously inaccessible while mobile. This software uses your data connection and Google Voice account to send SMS messages without counting against your monthly allotment.

Easy SMS does require .NET Compact Framework 2.0 (3.5 is also available), a data plan, and obviously a Google Voice account. The software interfaces with your contacts and allows you to send to multiple recipients at once. For those of you who routinely see black helicopters (and we’re not saying that they’re not there) Easy SMS connects directly to Google’s servers using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).

Google Voice Easy SMS is free, and msullivan states that his software will be released as open source once he gets a chance to comment his code and get it cleaned up so that the rest of us can make sense out of it.

[via TiltMobility]

Good news, Sprint peeps. Gone are the days of the 20-cents per minute charge for forwarding your calls to a service such as Google Voice.

Our Sprint-loving pals at Precentral spell it out:

Conditional call forwarding uses the *28xxxxxxxxxx code, where the xxxxxxxxxx is your phone number. Note that your original number still rings before forwarding happens and you'll need to futz with your Google Voice settings if you want to send calls directly to voicemail before ringing your Google Voice number. There's plenty more information in this forum thread. Dial *38 to turn it off. Direct *72 call forwarding still costs you $.20 per minute.

That's it, folks. We'd still like to see Sprint drop the fee for direct call forwarding, however. But we all know how carriers feel about us messing with their voicemail.

Just how popular is Google Voice, you ask? In its reply to federal regulators over the Apple-AT&T-Google Voice flap, Google stated it has 1.419 million Google Voice users, and about 570,000 of them are using it full-time, seven days a week.

As an interesting side note, BusinessWeek apparently gleaned the number of Google Voice users from a PDF that was impropertly formatted, desipte the number of users appearing to be redacted. Oops. (So not to be confused, we're talking the number of users, not users' numbers.)

Also noted is that Google Voice may eventually go global (it's still only available in the U.S.).

BusinessWeek via Cnet

One of the biggest features (and we'll consider this a feature) that's been missing from Google Voice has been number porting. You've had to get a new number, and share it with family, contacts and friends.

No more, sort of. Number porting's still not ready, but now you can use an existing number with Google Voice, though you do miss out on a few features, including call screening and recording, SMS via e-mail, call blocking and conference calling. (See a chart of the differences after the break.)

If you don't want to go that route, another option (and this is what I've been doing for some time now) is to switch your voicemail over to Google Voice. Go to your Google Voice account>Settings>Phones and hit the "Activate Google voicemail for this phone" link. (Update: Our pals at Pre Central remind us that Sprint is still charging 20 cents a call to forward to another voicemail system, though that supposedly is changing.)

But, wait, there's more! It's a bit of a pain leaving the Google Voice Web page open all day. jkontherun points us to nifty little Adobe Air app that handles the bulk of the work. It's not perfect, but for most part it gets the job done.

Now, Google, can we get a proper Windows Mobile app already?

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We’ve all experienced phone calls that we didn’t enjoy. Whether it’s a telemarketer, a boss on a weekend, a buddy during an important business meeting, or someone else that you just really didn’t want to talk to; unwanted phone calls can be cause for major frustration. Fortunately, there is a way to filter out some of these unwanted calls (and even text messages) to minimize frustration and time wasted trying to get off the phone.

MagiCall by Mobiion Software allows you to specify what calls you do or do not want to take. MagiCall can be thought of as a Spam filter for your phone. Complex, intricate rules can be applied to fine-tune the configuration to your specific needs.

If you have a problem with unwanted callers, or if you just need the ability to micro-manage the way your calls are handled; jump on through.

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We're still working on our review, but the makers of Google Voice app OneDialer took to our forums to announce the latest version of the app. Currently for Windows Mobile 6 Professional (touchscreen devices) only, here's what you get:

• SSL encrypted communications.
• It's fast!
• SMS and voicemail notifications.
• Native dialer interception.
• Use your own contacts for dialing and SMS. NOW VERY FAST!
• Threaded SMS conversations.
• Visual Voicemail with transcripts.
• Audio voicemail streamed directly from Google.
• Voicemail and SMS management: Archive, delete, mark as read, reply, and callback from the client.
• Option for silent notifications.
• Highly configurable.

OneDialer runs $7 for a single license, but there's a 15-day trial so you can get your bearings. Give it a shot at OneDialer.com.

It started with Google, Apple and AT&T. Rejection of the official Google Voice app from the App Store drew attention from the Federal Communications Commission, and now the feds are going to take a look at the entire wireless industry.

An open meeting has been announced for 10 a.m. EDT next Thursday in Washington, D.C. Here's what's on tap:

• The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry to seek and understand better the factors that encourage innovation and investment in wireless and to identify concrete steps the Commission can take to support and enourage further innovation and investment in this area.
• The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry soliciting information for the next annual report to Congress on the status of competition in the mobile wireless market, including commercial mobile services.
• The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that seeks comment on whether there are opportunities to protect and empower American consumers by ensuring sufficient access to relevant information about communications services.

In other words, they want to know what the frak is going on out there. Better late than never. We'll keep you posted.

FCC (pdf) via ZDNet

Now that Google Voice invites are going out (click link for demo video), the question of how to make calls on your Windows phone via your GV account arises.

See, the issue is this: you hand out your GV number to everyone, but you then call from your cell phone and your cell number shows up, not your GV number.  For some, it doesn't matter. But for others, they may want to protect their private numbers.

To get around this, you can call Google Voice from one of your designated phones, follow the prompts, enter your passcode then the number you want to dial.  No doubt a hassle when on the go.

The solution?  Since Google has no official WinMo solution (yet), third party companies and individual developers have taken a shot at it and there are at least two very good ones we can recommend here: GVDialer and iDialer by Supware.

Curious as to how they work and brief review of both?  Read on ...

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We're prepping a piece on a couple of third-party Google Voice apps for Windows Mobile, but isn't it time Google puts out one of its own? And so we join with our smartphone brethren in calling for for one. Click the pic above to hit up Google's suggestion page, then suggest an official Windows Mobile app.

And while we're in a PSA/Rage Against the Machine sort of mood, check out David Pogue's "Take Back the Beep" campaign.

Because knowing is half the battle.

It's been a few weeks now since Google Voice opened up its beta program and started sending out invites. And as they've said before (and again above – that's first in, first out), the list is long.

So while we're waiting, here's an app you should look into once you get your invite. GVDialer fills one of the larger holes of Google Voice in that if you just dial straight from your phone, like always, your normal phone number and not your Google Voice number shows up on the other end.

GVDialer takes care of that. Your mobile number remains private, and your GV number is displayed on Caller ID. It also works straight from your contacts of dialer and is customizable in many of the same ways as Google Voice. Use it on some calls. Don't use it on others. It also hooks into your Google Voice web account and voicemail.

GVDialer currently is $9.99, and there's a free 30-day trial available. It's also available for BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia and Android. More info at gvdialer.com, and there's a quick video after the break.

If you're one of the lucky ones with a GV account and have used GVDialer, let us know in the comments how it's worked for you.

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