Sean Kovacs

Amazon rain forest? That’s awesome, I hope that went well!

I emailed Phil, I hope more people do and I hope it hits the App store again.

What is the methodology for the new Google Voice login? Is it documented anywhere?

HE LIVES!

I think we all understand what must be your frustration and utter lack of interest after having the rug pulled out from under you.

Have you thought about charging on Cydia? I think most of us would love to support you and the great work you do.

Agreed. I bought it once when it was in the App Store, I’d happily do it again now that it’s on Cydia, especially since 100% of it would go to Sean.

Re: emailing Schiller, do you really think it’d make a difference, and would you really want it back in the App Store? While allowing it to be installed on non-jailbroken devices, and enabling the possibility of push notifications, you also have to jump through all these hoops just to get it approved (and I assume, you need to get each update approved like this, too.)

Just my $0.02.

Phil,
It seems that everyone is pinning this on you, but can you please see that this app gets approved. As a police officer I have eliminated all other devices except for my iPhone. This app was very useful in communicating to the “bad guys” as I did not have to risk giving out my personal number and google did a great job in tracking calls to and fro…. We currently use 3 24″ iMac’s at our agency and am looking into getting Apple into the police mobile computer platform at our agency as well. Please help!!!

http://www.seankovacs.com/index.php/2009/10/im-still-alive/

-Bob Wood

Robert N. Wood, Jr.
Patrolman #16
MCSAP Inspector # M9430
Douglass Township Police Department
Berks County
1068 Douglass Drive
Boyertown, PA 19512-7621
Non-Emergency Dispatch (610) 655-4911
Toll-Free Dispatch (800) 372-9111
Office (610) 367-9474
Fax (610) 367-9762
Voicemail (484) 334-2702
wood@berkscountypolice.com

I can completely understand about not having the drive for version 2 without donations to push you along…

Please maybe consider making GV Mobile V2.0 a paid cydia app. I know hands down I would pay for it as would many others. Might make it a bit more exciting to work on it if you know once it was a paid app in cydia that you could sell 1000+ copies… who knows, I cant think anyone who has jailbroken and has google voice wouldnt pay for the app.

The current version could stay free for people who just want to use the basic features…

hope you had an amazing time in the jungle!

Why not just release the source for GV Mobile, and open it for community development? This is hands down the best way to get a lot of improvement into the app with minimal effort on your part.

It’d be a better solution than making it a pay app, because it makes the app better and still keeps it free for users. And honestly, the app is not currently in a state where I would pay for it. A lack of landscape mode and funky SMS behavior would make me pirate it. (And you know there’d be no stopping pirating anyways)

I understand the desire to protect your code, I feel the same way and personally don’t release everything that often. But if you’re unable to keep your stuff as updated as you’d like, open sourcing is the responsible choice for your users.

Don’t scoff at what T3h Ub3r K1tten has said. If you don’t get improvements going, someone else will, and you will lose all your hard work. Making it open source would be the best possible option if you are not going to provide the necessary updates.

I paid for it on app store, I donated after it was removed, I would pay again if it came up on Cydia as a pay app. I know one person is not enough to dedicate resources to it but I believe the interest is there. Either way it works out I appreciate the work you have put into it so far.

Sean, I would suggest making 2.0 a paid release. Make it $5, $8, $3, just price it according to your expectations. I would gladly put the money down for it. I bought it on the App store and I have donated to your project since re-downloading it on Cydia.

If you decide you don’t want to really go that route, open it up. I know this is not the best option to pad your pocket but in the end you don’t want your baby to die a slow death. After all, you have an entire movement behind you.

I just dropped you another $10. How about getting that Twitter Feed up and going again.

I have to agree with the other posters, your app rocks but i suggest either selling it on cydia, i’ve paid for other apps through cydia that are only 1% as useful as yours, or open up the source code.

Don’t let apple win by letting your app die because you can’t afford to update it for free.

@sean how about letting us know what to expect on 2.0. I wrote Phil a nice letter reiterating that now I am hesitant to make purchases from the app store because of this mess.

Mr Schiller,

I am writing to you today to request that Apple help make the iPhone a truly innovative platform by allowing Google Voice to be used on the iPhone. The iPhone has taken the mobile phone platform to a whole new level. While there existed mobile phone platforms before the iPhone none has had the success that the iPhone has had. However, actions such as removing all Google Voice applications from the app store and denying Google’s official Google Voice app are hurting the iPhone platform and Apple’s reputation. Please do the right thing and help make the iPhone a great platform again. If you don’t others will swoop in to fill the void and Apple will be left scrambling in the dust.

How much money would it take to get 2.0 up and running? Perhaps we could have a whip round.

Hey Sean – Just want to let you and the readers know that in my travel over the last few months, I have found something that has me very confused – GV Mobile works in about 50-60% of the places I travel (though of course it doesn’t work in San Diego). Why would I get invalid credentials in some states yet in others, the app works fine over cell or wifi? This leads me to believe that AT&T has something to do with this inconsistency. Any thoughts on this?

I thought mine quit working but I had changed my google password. (DUH!) The App Store version still works fine for me as of today.

I love the App Sean, and if paying for it again is what it takes to get 2.0 I probably would… However I’ve paid for the official App didn’t ask for a refund when it got pulled because I knew it would be coming out of your pocket. It’s kind of a hard place to be put in, if you charge for the App you’ll be charging some people a second (and it seems for those that donated third) time.

I’d love it if Apple would let your App back on the App store, but let’s face it… If they do, they’ll also let the Google App on, which will be free (and official, meaning it wont randomly break) so Apple Pulling your App has probably kept it alive.

How much would it take? I’d like to see your app mixed in with the native phone.app. We can help get this done. Just let us know what you need.

@KraKsX
That’s exactly what Apple didn’t want to happen hahah.

Pleasing your wife Sean? Oh your a dirty man.

I would pay to have v2 if it has push notifications and possible quickreply<<<<<<<<<<<that would be amazing!
Nontheless you have out done yourself Mr. Kovacs :]
I applaud your accomplishments in your hobby.

have you checked out kickstarter.com? with all this support it could be a great way to fund GV Mobile. apprciate your efforts regardless, thanks!

@sean
OK, someone is going to come up with an open source one…

@sean
OK, you did pretty good work here. But someone is going to come up with an open source one if you don’t…

@sean
OK, you did pretty good work here. But someone is going to come up with an open source one if you don’t…

@sean
if you went open-source, you could just lay down some base rules that ensured your name is on the front as “Original Developer” and that there is an easy link to Donate to you. This would both stimulate huge growth in the app and as well possibly make you much more than you’ve made off the app as it is. If the app is widely distributed and extremely good, your name’s still on it and people will definitely want to donate. Just a suggestion from an economics point of view.

Open source clowns. Grand Central has been available for almost as long as the iPhone has been out. Someone would have surely made themselves an open source version by now. Hence why sean scoffed

The app works fine, you can make calls to the US and Canada for free. FREE! I mean damn, everything else costs money, and not even the Geico Gecko can give me some shit for free.

I am still wondering whether or not you are going to charge for the app once either app store approves it or you release it on Cydia. If you are going to charge for it, it is not right to ask for donations. If it is going to be free, I will donate, but will not do so until you confirm. Also, giving some information on the progress and features of 2.0 might get you some more donations.

Also, @Quash
You apparently don’t know how the service works or the actual name of it. Google Voice does not make free calls. It uses your existing telephone number (which you have to pay for).

Um, yes you are half correct. If you have a certain cell phone carrier, the calls are free. If you looked at the actual terms of google voice you would see that Calls made to the US and canada cost 0 cents (free) Calls made to other countries, cost a few cents.

Here is a link to the rates, just in case you didnt know.

http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=141925

The version on Cydia (1.22.1) is the temporary version with no autologin. It says that an updated version will fix that “tomorrow”, but its said that for some time.

Is a fix coming?

Just sent an email off to Mr. Schiller, as what I would die to have is push for GV and also I’m stuck without the ability to jb because my iPod is new and on 3.1.2 :p

really, one of the main reasons why I got an ipt is so I could have GV, so. o/

Ziyane 3.1.2 is jailbroken now

Just sent this off…

—————————–

Dear Mr. Schiller,

I am writing to express my displeasure with Apple’s decision months back to not only pull the GVmobile app I purchased from the app store, but also that Apple still has yet to resolve the Google Voice app issue to date.

My main concern is that I purchased my iPhone (replacing my iPod Touch) a few months ago for one reason: the ability to fully carry my life in my pocket. My life, be it personal of professional, has taken a very organized and managable turn due to the iPhone and it’s many apps and uses. Unfortunately, one of my biggest uses was Google Voice, which I use to help me run my business. Apple has taken that away from me, with no explaination or alternatives.

Since Google updated their login coding (I’m told for security reasons), I have been unable to use this app because your company won’t post the developers update with the new patch. How dare Apple play with their loyal customers like this. Your company now forces people like me go choose whether or not they want to attempt hacking the device with third-party projects just so they can get the functions they originally had back to a working condition. What is the point? All your doing is getting the honest people (or non-technologically inclined) frustrated with a product they spent a lot of money on. I wouldn’t complain so much, had it not be for the shotty service of AT&T in the NY/NJ metro area, where my dropped call rate is going up every day, and my ability to make and remain on calls slowly declines.

Please, even if you don’t get back to me at all, I urge you and the individuals involved to take a step back and look at your customers. Though, this may seem silly, simple or unimportant for someone such as yourself…this app, and apps like it, help give individuals with small businesses (like myself) an edge (as little as it may be) in helping us keep connected and, in my case, one-up my competitors by making it easy for my customers to reach me and visa-versa. Please do what you can to see that there is a resolution to this issue if possible. It would be greatly appreciated.

Steve Feuss
Cell: (201) XXX-XXXX

Anybody else selling their iPhone and buying an telus htc hero? Android 2.0 looks promising!

Not me… the iPhone is my one true love, even if Apple did pull GV Mobile off

I would so pay Sean! Open source is fine and all, but the master is master! However I am so about to go Android. Me no like to be imprisoned by a tech device I own. : ( thus – Jailbreak. but seriously… Apple. I know you have been this way always and forever. But loosen up. Go on dancing with the stars or something. Don’t prevent progress because you didn’t think of it first, or because you can’t make money off of it. Or your afraid “users will be confused” Give us some credit. : ( Some of us can be pretty smart! Sean Love your app. Wish I could upload your awesomeness to my own brain.

Hell, if I had the same type of know how sean has, I would already have a working version of 2.0. Let us know what is going on Sean. Will we have to pay for the app or is it going to be free? What features and upgrades can we expect with your new version? If you are waiting for the app to be released on the app store, you might as well abandon the project now, because if they approve your app Google will get it’s app approved. And guess what, Google’s will be free. Better get a paid version out on Cydia before you lose anymore revenue.

Thanks for a great app Sean! I hadn’t bothered to jailbreak my phone for a few OS versions now but I did when I found that your app was available again.

If I may, I’d like to throw my vote in for support for Prowl (or more generally, for push notifications). I got hit with an absurd charge for SMS overages this month and would be more thrilled to pay you and the Prowl guys for your good ideas instead of AT&T for being jerks. If I could launch GVMobile in response to a push notification, I’d be 1/2 way there.

@matt@typidee

Get T-mobile, the service is way cheaper, granted no 3g support, but for $50 or more savings I deal.

@I want GV Mobile 2.0 – I was under the impression that TMobile didn’t support push notification for jailbroken phones?

you can get push with Tmobile, you just need to activate your phone with an unused ATT sim card.

I am with Tmobile, push, unlimited minutes, unlimited text/MMS, unlimited data for 80 bucks a month, no contract. True about Tmobiles 3G network not compatible with the iphone, but my town doesn’t have 3g for ATT either so no lose.

@A Nigerian Scammer
It’s tethered isn’t it? I’d rather not have to deal with that. :p

As far as Push goes – I am pretty sure you need to be an official App Store app to support it. I don’t know of any Cydia apps that support Push. So that’s out of reach for GV Mobile 2.0, as long as it stays a Cydia app.

However.. you really don’t need GV Mobile to support get Google Voice SMS messages pushed to your iPhones. Just redirect your Google Voice SMS notifications to Prowl in Google preferences, and you’re done. Google “mail2prowl.de” if you don’t know what I am talking about.

Can we make a donation?

Hey Sean I have GV Mobile from Cydia and it’s not working, I can’t send SMS or make or recieve phone calls through the app, when i attempt to make a call it says “Google is refusing to make the call.” Any idea what could be causing this? And when I send messages it says sending then sent but they never show up on my page as sent, both on my phone and on the web.