Google Voice update for Android

Have you tried using Google Voice? You can make inexpensive international calls through it. The update for Android offers a new interface and a feature called asynchronous SMS. You can prepare your text message even if you're offline and have the phone send the message once you have reception (nice feature if you spend a lot of time on the plane writing messages).

I use Google Voice to transcribe my voicemails and to send SMS with my family (don't need to pay for text messages if you use an app like Google Voice).

I would highly recommend Google Voice for medical students and residents who: 1) have limited income; 2) need an effective way to stay in touch with friends and family; 3) want to read a transcript of their voice mail messages.

5 Ways Google Voice Improves My Efficiency When I'm On Call

Author: Ellen Kim, MD

I'm a family physician in private practice and I answer my own calls when I'm on call. Recently, I started using Google Voice on my Android smartphone. I use an HTC Incredible and the Google Voice app has helped save a tremendous amount of time.

Here are 5 ways Google Voice has improved my efficiency when I'm on call:

1. Transcriptions of each voice mail. When I use this feature, I can view the patient's name, phone number, and pertinent medical information. I delete each message after I receive it so that I'm not storing personal health information on my phone. Here's how Google describes this feature: Google Voice can automatically transcribe your new voicemail messages and send you the transcript to the email address and the SMS number you added in the 'Notifications' section above.

2. I can also read the transcribed voice mail message and filter through voice messages without excusing myself to listen to each message. This allows me to promptly reply to patients when I know that a patient has left me a message. The other day, my husband and I were watching a movie. I received a phone call from an unknown number and after the person left a message, I could glance at the transcribed voice mail to determine if the call was from a patient.

Google Voice mobile app gets updated

Yesterday, the folks over at the Google Voice Blog announced:

"At Google we are obsessed with speed. Our mantra is faster = better. This is true for our Google Voice mobile apps as well. When you want to make a call, your phone should connect you as quickly as possible, whether you’re calling via Google Voice or not.

Today we are launching an enhancement to the Google Voice mobile app on Android and Blackberry phones, which makes placing calls much faster. We call this feature “direct access numbers.” Here’s how it works:

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster.

The updated Android app is available from Android Market starting today. For Blackberry users, you can download the app by visiting http://m.google.com/voice from your mobile device. You will need a valid Google Voice account to use the app, and at this time, Google Voice is available in the US only.

Google Voice is a great feature/service and I'm looking forward to trying the enhanced app.

Faster Google Voice on Android

From the Google Voice Blog:

Using Google Voice for Android just got a whole lot faster. Until now, notifications of new messages appeared within 15 minutes of when they were sent. Today we are releasing a new feature called Inbox synchronization, which will notify your Android-powered device of new text messages or voicemails within seconds of receiving new messages in your Google Voice inbox.

To activate Inbox synchronization, open the Google Voice settings on your phone and touch Refresh and notification. Once you have selected the Synchronize Inbox option, you will start receiving faster notifications. Plus, Google Voice will automatically disable SMS forwarding to your mobile phone, so you won’t receive duplicate notifications.

Finally, we have made it much faster to interact with your contacts from the Google Voice app. Now you can click on any contact photo and get the option to quickly respond to voicemail by email or IM.

The updated app is available for download from Android Market today. You will need a valid Google Voice account to use the app, and at this time, Google Voice is available in the US only.

5 ways medical students can save money on smartphones

If you're a medical student or a resident, you probably don't have the luxury of a really expensive smartphone plan. I remember those days when we were trying to save every penny because our finances were so tight. Of course, many people also have the luxury of student loans, so they may not be so budget-focused. For those looking for a few tips on ways to save money on smartphone plans, here are a few suggestions:

1. Eliminate the data plan (if you have the option) and choose a very simple cell phone plan. Do you really need a data plan on your smartphone? Or, can you get by with Wi-Fi only? If you can avoid the $30-45/month that you're paying for a data plan, then consider buying an older used smartphone so that you don't need to pay for a data plan. Check with your wireless provider first to see if you'll still be required to pay for a data plan for specific smartphone models. On Verizon Wireless, there are several older smartphones that do not require data plans. You won't find them on the Verizon website, but you'll see them on eBay.
2. Leverage coupons and resellers. Buy a smartphone through a reseller that offers discounts and coupons.  Do some searching online and look for savings like Best Buy coupons.
3. Share minutes on a family plan. We all have family. Are they willing to put you on their family plan? Several wireless providers have recently expanded their family plans and now offer many options for families that even wish to have unlimited calling. Look for the cheapest cell phone plan that fits your needs and try to reduce your minutes each month.
4. Get rid of your landline and use your smartphone as your primary phone. Do you really need a landline phone? If you don't, then you can save $20-30/month by getting rid of that landline phone.
5. Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)or Google Voice instead of your smartphone minutes. I'm paying $2.95 per month to have unlimited domestic calling through Skype. I'll get into Google Voice on a different blog post.

So, are these tips practical? Well, it really depends on how much flexibility you have. If you're frequently in front of a computer and you constantly have Wi-Fi access, then you might be able to get by without signing up for a data plan.