Google to clean up Google Voice service, will block unauthorized apps

On November 1, Beijing time, according to foreign media reports, Google will start to rectify and standardize the use of the "Google Voice" service. By May next year, Google will close all unauthorized third-party applications using "Google Voice".

"Google Voice" is a telephone service launched by Google. It provides users with a free phone number or a user-paid designated number to manage all the user's mobile phone numbers, phone numbers, voice mail, SMS, etc. Users can make free calls to all phones in the United States and Canada and send text messages for free.

However, Google product manager Nikhyl Singhal reminded users in a post that the latest Hangouts chat app could only use the "Google Voice" number on phones supporting the Sprint network. Google will close all unauthorized third-party applications using "Google Voice." In addition, Google will consider extending this service beyond the US mainland in the future and support MMS services.

Earlier this week, Google executive Vic Gundotra said that the update of the Hangouts app would be released this week. This app will integrate SMS and MMS services, but it will be limited to Sprint users using the Google Voice service.

Gundotra stated that starting from May 5th next year, Google will rectify its ecosystem and close third-party applications that use Google Voice without authorization to provide users with phone call and SMS services. Currently, the "Google Voice" service can only be used in the United States and only supports SMS sending. Singhal admitted that Google has listened to user feedback and will consider launching this service in other regions. However, all these need to be done in cooperation with operators in advance, and Google currently does not have a clear plan for this.