Database Develop

!IDEA! Voicemail App

I woke up yesterday morning and had an idea for an app...
Now im not a coder so im not sure how easy it would be but im thinking alot of it should be pretty simple.
Now to the core of the app.
My thoughts are for an app that goes and retrieves your voicemail and saves it as a mp3 on your phone.
1. When a message is recieved from a certain number the app is triggered
2. The app starts recording the voice mail that is left.
3. (this is the tricky part) detect when the voicemail has finish and send the no. to delete the message. For my voicemail i press 3 to delete the messages.
4. Hang up the call and save the message to your phone.
Now there is a few reasons behind this.
It will save on money for some people, as i know here in Aus some companies charge to ring your voicemail no. So this app could download it and you could listen to it as much as possible.
If its important you could save it off to your computer or email to someone else to listen to.
As i said im not a coder but i thought this might be a good idea for someont o look into. Would have been good for the ADC2 but entries have finished for that now.
Anyway if any developers want to run with this go a head.

Great idea! But it has already been done. Check the market

seriously, lol
Whats the name of it
Thanks for the heads up

pf fusion voicemail, youmail I think, tmobile visual voicemail. I personally use pf fusion visual voicemail. It saves the messages to your sd card, has a nice user interface, and also backs them up to their server so you can retrieve them online.

lookout4theyeti said:
pf fusion voicemail, youmail I think, tmobile visual voicemail. I personally use pf fusion visual voicemail. It saves the messages to your sd card, has a nice user interface, and also backs them up to their server so you can retrieve them online.
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youmail does exactly the same thing. in addition to that, if you buy a youmail premium subscription (they have several levels depending on how many voicemails you regularly get) you can get the voicemails transcribed to text and displayed as well.
another one to add to the list is google voice. also does the above mentioned features.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone.
There is an issue with the suggestions though.
I live in Australia and all the options are for the US.
YouMail and PhoneFusion both need your voicmail to be diverted to them and GoogleVoice isnt here yet.
What I was thinking of is something that runs from your phone.
The App calls your pre defined Voicemail number and records the message and saves it to your phone.
Would work worldwide and you wouldnt need to change your voicemail details.
Anyway, just a thought

I understand what you're trying to say and from a developer standpoint, I can fill you in as to why it wouldnt work.
First, voicemail is like call forwarding. After your phone stops ringing, nothing is actually happening on your phone. The call is forwarded after a preset number of rings, or an action (like pressing the end key to ignore the call) to a voicemail server, which answers and records the message. At that point, your phone is completely out of the loop, so the idea of having it record to both the phone and the voicemail server is dead right there because it just cant be done. The way youmail, t-mobile vvm, google voice and phonefusion simulate this is by recording the message on their servers and then downloading it to your phone using your data connection.
Now, it would be possible to have your phone do the recording after a certain number of rings, like an answering machine, but it would be ridiculously process intensive because it would have to be running at all times. This would do two things:
1. slow down your phone considerably.
2. eat battery like you wouldnt believe.
And whats the point of having something like this if your phone is going to be dead all the time and unable to record messages anyway?
So yes, its possible, but not feasible. GV should be in australia soon, seeing as the wave development team is entirely based there. So keep your fingers crossed until then.

ok I wanted this app too, but you think too hard.
Disable provider voicemail.
After 10 rings, let phone pick up call and play message. Then a beep, and the phone starts recording.
No external voicemail server needed, just have an anwering machine application.

kusotare said:
Now, it would be possible to have your phone do the recording after a certain number of rings, like an answering machine, but it would be ridiculously process intensive because it would have to be running at all times. This would do two things:
1. slow down your phone considerably.
2. eat battery like you wouldnt believe.
And whats the point of having something like this if your phone is going to be dead all the time and unable to record messages anyway?
So yes, its possible, but not feasible.
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Why would slow your phone down so much? It could be service, not doing anything untill a call is recieved. If it rings too long it takes over.
It doesn't need to record all the time.

Try HulloMail

can't find HulloMail in the market
i also would like to have this "answering machine" app... and I also don't understand why this would slow down the phone, or eat up a lot of battery. as someone said already, it would run in the background (like "toggle settings" "missed call" and all the other services do) and just really start to work when a call comes in and it has to play a message and record the callers message.
the only downside (with which i can live) is certainly that the phone has to be switched on all the time, because off it couldn't record anything. for me that is no problem, i have a docking station at home and in the office, so when i am not running around, it is charged.
technically i see this as very feasible
i wonder whether devs shy away from this... because actually doing this is a major attack at the "revenue machine" of mobile operators, because - well - a local soft answering machine would take a huge amount of calling minutes away from the operators.

kusotare said:
First, voicemail is like call forwarding. After your phone stops ringing, nothing is actually happening on your phone. The call is forwarded after a preset number of rings, or an action (like pressing the end key to ignore the call) to a voicemail server, which answers and records the message. At that point, your phone is completely out of the loop, so the idea of having it record to both the phone and the voicemail server is dead right there because it just cant be done.
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Actually that's not exactly true. If you take a look in the Android Call Settings. Under GSM/CDMA Call Settings > Call Forwarding, you'll see that Call Forwarding when busy, unanswered and unreachable can all be disabled. It's possible one could write a program to catch the call after it rings X times, but I'm not sure if Android has that kind of hook in its API yet.
But as for it being impossible due to the forwarding, that's utterly false.

Quite simple.
Cancel the carrier answering service. (I hate the term "voicemail" -- everyone who uses it should be shot dead).
Have the program answer the phone after some defined number of rings and record it.
1) It would NOT slow down your phone.
2) It would NOT eat battery.
Don't know where that guy got the idea that it would... it WON'T.

Google voice.

Any one having trouble getting there Google voice to work on the captivate
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

No problems here, working great.

Mine works great, although it took me FOREVER to get it to work correctly and set up.
Also I notice the speaker volume when trying to play messages through speaker phone is horribly low.

Yeah I had problems at first. I got a phone number with my name in it, but it didn't have a location and no one could call me. I had to pay 10$ to switch my number to a local one but its all good now.
Also, doesn't make calls on my wifi b/c internet keeps dropping, but I don't blame it. My wifi sucks.

You have to go on the google voice website and activate it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

smeltn said:
Mine works great, although it took me FOREVER to get it to work correctly and set up.
Also I notice the speaker volume when trying to play messages through speaker phone is horribly low.
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Same here, the message volume is so low you really cant hear it. Other than that everything works for me.

Wrong person when hit voice mail...
I've posted this question in Google's Help area, but I almost never get replies on messages there. Trying here.
When someone forwards to voicemail (Google VM), the recorded name that plays is not mine. I have recorded my name again; played it back on the WEB, and it is me; but if I dial my phone and go to VM it is a different person that says the recorded name. To answer the first obvious question, I am sure we are using the right number
I did see in the Google help section that someone fixed that problem by disabling Google Voice on their phone and re-enabling it.
Interestingly, I do have the Voice Mail Carrier in my phone set to 'My Carrier', which would be AT&T. I"m not sure of the significance of changing that. My presumption is that if it rings long enough it may go to AT&T voice mail instead of Google Voice mail. But in the end, I don't believe that has anything to do with my problem.
But even though I don't think this is part of my problem, I did try to set in my phone to send voice mail to Google Voice. When it went to the network it comes back with message "Voicemail number change unsuccessful. Please contact yoru carrier if this problem persists."
I guess if I can come up wiht correct settings that will be helpful. Everything I find in the Google help for setup is about setting it up on the web, and not the phone.
Later I found that you can enable/disable Google Voice Mail on your phone from the Google Voice Mail web site by dialing numbers into your phone. I have tried that twice now, and it still is playing the wrong name . ( I am confused about the setting mentioned above on the phone).
So, any suggestions on clearing up this problem?

smeltn said:
Mine works great, although it took me FOREVER to get it to work correctly and set up.
Also I notice the speaker volume when trying to play messages through speaker phone is horribly low.
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Click to collapse
AGREED! I can't stand the volume of the voicemail!!!

On my post for my problem(above a couple posts), from Google Help Group, I had someone select it as "Answered", and pointed it to a long list of questions, but no answer. I think they must be trying to rack up "I answered it" points or something.
GV seems to be pretty buggy. I may abandon it.

Well, I find using Google Products can be very frustrating. Zero support from Google, and if it is something the community has no idea how to fix, you are SOL.
Not getting any answers on this anywhere.

I had the same problem when setting up my Aria, before I got my Captivate. It would not change the forwarding numbers. I had to change the forwarding number manually on the phone. Settings > Call Settings > Voice Calls > Call Forwarding. (When I got the Captivate I did not have to set up again, AT&T stores the forwarding settings) It also took me a while to get it straight between the difference of the number I forward to, and the number I call when I want to listen.
All in all I thought the Google Voice was a pain to set up, and not as easy to set up as I expected for a Google product. But it does offer features that the iPhone Visual Voicemail did not, like transcribing the message, etc.

I actually would like to use some of the features. But I am pretty frustrated with the bugs. Well, at least, this one bug that I can't get an answer on.
Another bug I experienced, assuming I understand correctly, is that if a 'known' contact calls, it won't ask for the name. But I found the same contact calling me during testing would experienced inconsistently that it would, or would not ask.
If I can just get the darned other person's name from being played when it goes to VM, I'll be able to experiment more.
Oh, one other thing that is happening. Today, I called my Google number, just to see if it had possibly corrected itself. Interestingly it also ran my home phone too, which I had turned off.
So, it just seems not ready for prime time.

google voice: either rings forever or fails

Hey guys,
I use Google Voice as my forwarding voicemail. I'm on Sprint. And I've been having a lot of problems with my voicemail for a long time. Thought I'd see if you guys have any idea how to fix.
When people call and I don't want to pick up, the phone will ring several times, stop, then ring another several times again. To the caller, it sounds like the phone is ringing 10+ times, and so most people just think I'm on the other line or my VM is broken and don't leave a message.
In the past, I've tried flashing a sense rom and that usually accomplishes a minor improvement: If people are willing to let the phone ring for 10+ times, Google Voice will kick in with my voicemail. But the issue of the phone ringing forever doesn't seem to be solved. I've called Sprint and they have no clue what to do with a "rooted" phone (I didn't say it was rooted, of course).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

I'm also on sprint and use GV as my voicemail provider. I've had the exact situation you described off-and-on for quite some time. Callers also occasionally get an error message from google saying my number has been disconnected. This is an EXTREMELY frustrating as I really like GV extra functionality yet hate these random problems. I've searched the all over and lots of people seem to have this same issues.
One possible solution that seems to help some (yet sadly not me) is to turn OFF 'Call Screening' via GV's web interface. Settings->Calls->Call Screening
It's supposed to go 'straight to voicemail' whenever your Sprint # forwards the call to the GV #. The GV# isn't supposed to ring at all. (Mine still seems to sometimes)

glad to know I'm not alone!
I do have that call screening setting turned off already, sadly. Doesn't seem to make a bit of difference.

seems i read someone post the set the do not disturb option on and it helped.

I had the same problem and I had to change my Google # to fix it.,. Ill try to find the link for instructions and post later
Sent from my HTC Hero CDMA using XDA App

I think enabling "Do Not Disturb" did the trick from the Google Voice app on the Hero.
just had my roommate call me and it went straight to voicemail!!! It still rang a few times (like it should) and then, instead of pausing and ringing again, it just went straight to google voice.
I'll update if something goes wrong but until then, thank you dpeeps!

dpeeps74 said:
seems i read someone post the set the do not disturb option on and it helped.
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Click to collapse
Thx man I've never heard that one before! I'll give it a shot.

Try youmail from the market

If you still haven't found a solution
My phone was ringing up to 12 times sometimes! This did the trick:
Well I guess I can't post links if I am new member until I have eight posts under my belt, so just google the article: "Techerator and How to Prevent Extra Rings using Google Voice as Voicemail"

*Solution*
^ this article does have the fix, and here it is:
1. Go to Google Voice in your web browser
2. Settings
3. Phones
4. The "Edit" button under your phone
5. Show Advanced Settings
6. Select the radio button "Go straight to voicemail" (instead of "Ring my other phones before going to voicemail").
7. Save. Problem should be solved.

Calling via Touchless Control

I've experienced a couple of problems recently and I'm not sure if it's a bug or something they changed with the last update. I'm on 4.4.2 with Sprint.
Previously, when I tried to call a business (i.e. "Call Pizza Hut"), it would find it via Google Now and make the call. Recently, I've noticed that if the business is not listed in my contacts, it will try to call one of my contacts.
Also, if there's a contact with more than one phone number, it used to give you a prompt to confirm whichever number you're trying to call. Now, it just calls the default number.
Has anyone else noticed this and do you know of a fix?

clankfu said:
I've experienced a couple of problems recently and I'm not sure if it's a bug or something they changed with the last update. I'm on 4.4.2 with Sprint.
Previously, when I tried to call a business (i.e. "Call Pizza Hut"), it would find it via Google Now and make the call. Recently, I've noticed that if the business is not listed in my contacts, it will try to call one of my contacts.
Also, if there's a contact with more than one phone number, it used to give you a prompt to confirm whichever number you're trying to call. Now, it just calls the default number.
Has anyone else noticed this and do you know of a fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I have the same exact issue on Republic Wireless (Sprint MVNO) 4.4.2 and haven't found a solution....
Strangely, the issue seems to come and go. Additionally, the voice recognition is WAYYY off....it will try to call a contact that doesn't even sound like who I'm trying to call.
My solution is to instead, turn the screen on, then hit the microphone icon (top right corner). From there if you say "Call Pizza Hut", it seems to work 100% of the time.
I agree that the issue is quite irritating. Hopefully a future update to Touchless Controls fixes this.
It will be interesting to see if those on later android versions also experience the same issue...

Are you also experiencing the 2nd problem?
Voice recognition doesn't seem to be an issue for me.

clankfu said:
Are you also experiencing the 2nd problem?
Voice recognition doesn't seem to be an issue for me.
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Nope, just confirmed -- tried to call a contact with 2 numbers in phonebook (cell & home) and the phone responded:
"I found two matches. Say the name after you hear the one you want to call. 'Person' home. 'Person' cell."

samwathegreat said:
Nope, just confirmed -- tried to call a contact with 2 numbers in phonebook (cell & home) and the phone responded:
"I found two matches. Say the name after you hear the one you want to call. 'Person' home. 'Person' cell."
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Click to collapse
Yea, that's what mine used to do. Now it just calls the top number.

Incoming Calls aren't going through

This is pretty weird. So, I normally use Google Voice for all of my texts and calls which has worked great up until the past few days. There are no problems with texting, but I've got some issues with calls.
My girlfriend has been pretty annoyed lately because she says I'm not answering my phone, but I haven't gotten any calls, or missed calls. My voicemails still show up and get transcribed however. When I use another phone to call my google voice number It just rings and rings, and then goes to voicemail.
I've done the standard checking of number forwarding etc, and I've made sure that in hangouts its set to ring hangouts when my google voice number is dialed.
So, I figured I would try to call my regular Verizon phone number, and this is what happens:
No ring
"Your call cannot be completed as dialed please hang up and try your call again... etc." "Announcement five switch two dash four five" followed by three beeps and the call ends.
This leads me to believe that it might not be a google voice issue, but could be either a verizon issue or a droid turbo issue.
What do you guys think?

DanielWEWO said:
This is pretty weird. So, I normally use Google Voice for all of my texts and calls which has worked great up until the past few days. There are no problems with texting, but I've got some issues with calls.
My girlfriend has been pretty annoyed lately because she says I'm not answering my phone, but I haven't gotten any calls, or missed calls. My voicemails still show up and get transcribed however. When I use another phone to call my google voice number It just rings and rings, and then goes to voicemail.
I've done the standard checking of number forwarding etc, and I've made sure that in hangouts its set to ring hangouts when my google voice number is dialed.
So, I figured I would try to call my regular Verizon phone number, and this is what happens:
No ring
"Your call cannot be completed as dialed please hang up and try your call again... etc." "Announcement five switch two dash four five" followed by three beeps and the call ends.
This leads me to believe that it might not be a google voice issue, but could be either a verizon issue or a droid turbo issue.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've brought up two issues. Something is wrong with your underlying Verizon number, something is wrong with Google Voice. Uncheck all options in Google Voice, then re-check mark the ones you want. Just to make sure.
1) if your Verizon number has been cancelled or is inactive for some reason, then Google Voice will not forward to that phone number. Do you have mobile data when you are out and about on the Verizon network?
2) However, if you have Google Hangouts checked as one of the forwarding locations, then when you are on Wi-Fi at least your phone should still ring or indicate a Google Voice call is incoming, if Hangouts was active? (At home, I hear notifications on my PC at home a few seconds before my cell phone starts ringing, because my Google Talk app on the PC starts beeping.)
3) Try a test. Try forwarding your Google number to some OTHER phone . A landline, a friend's phone. Then, call your Google voice number and see what happens.

I did step 1, no dice.
I have mobile data, it works great. I can also place calls via google voice and my regular cellular network.
I will try forwarding to my girlfriends phone when I get home.
My computer is also hooked up, and rings if it is signed in. I think this is an issue with Verizon. I'm going to call them today.
Edit: Forwarded google voice to my girlfriends phone and it worked fine. Definitely a Verizon problem. I'm on support with them right now.

My old man has this problem now and then too.

I've had issues as well with not getting calls n then I'll receive a notification for VM...not sure what's up, happens from time to time...if someone could shed some light it'd be greatly appreciated, thank you.
---------- Post added at 06:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 AM ----------
I use the regular phone btw...

perceptualdoor said:
I've had issues as well with not getting calls n then I'll receive a notification for VM...not sure what's up, happens from time to time...if someone could shed some light it'd be greatly appreciated, thank you.
---------- Post added at 06:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 AM ----------
I use the regular phone btw...
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Not sure about the OP who uses hangouts, but the missed incoming calls using the regular dialer is a known software issue. The solution is to turn on Advanced Calling.

riplayne said:
Not sure about the OP who uses hangouts, but the missed incoming calls using the regular dialer is a known software issue. The solution is to turn on Advanced Calling.
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Ya I've had it turned off pretty much since it was released cause it made calls have a lot of static and poor quality, because nobody I know has HD calling...

perceptualdoor said:
Ya I've had it turned off pretty much since it was released cause it made calls have a lot of static and poor quality, because nobody I know has HD calling...
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Yeah, it seems to be the only fix until lollipop (hopefully) solves the issue.
I work for Verizon and it's one of the top known issues for this phone.

riplayne said:
Yeah, it seems to be the only fix until lollipop (hopefully) solves the issue.
I work for Verizon and it's one of the top known issues for this phone.
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Ya hopefully a software update resolves this...I'm planning on switching to the N6 though, was kinda what I wanted, but it wasn't available at the time. And after testing it out it's perfect for me since I enjoy using custom Roms n being on a completely vanilla device. I was surprised how well I could still do everything one-handed. I experience a lot of texting issues with the turbo too...I don't receive some texts and ppl don't receive some texts I send...and often they send out of order...