WhatsApp uses your phone number as your identity, although aside from an SMS message during initial setup, no messages are actually sent via SMS. One of the only complaints I had with WhatsApp was I could not complete the setup using my Google Voice number, you know the only phone number I actually use or give out. This dramatically limited the usefulness of WhatsApp as no one could find me, and if I started a conversation I first had to identify myself.
I contacted WhatsApp support recently, and while they state that using a Google Voice number is not officially supported there is an easy way to make it work.
I successfully configured WhatsApp for Android to work with my Google Voice number, I suspect it should work the same on iOS and Blackberry.
Here are the steps
1. Install WhatsApp 2. When prompted for a phone number enter your Google Voice number 3. Allow the automatic confirmation process to fail (5 minutes on Android), while that is happening you will receive a text with a 3 digit code in your Google Voice account hang on to that 4. On the manual confirmation screen use the code received in your Google Voice account (if that does not work use the "call me" option to receive a call on your Google Voice number with a code.
That’s it, you should now have WhatsApp configured to use with your Google Voice number.
I don’t know if either of these are new, but I came across them this weekend, and thought they were pretty useful.
Jott is a website that you can use your phone and send a reminder, the reminder is then transcribed in to text and e-mailed. Â You can Jott to yourself, or set up an address book to Jott others. Â I don’t really see myself setting up and address book and sending reminders to other people, but this is pretty handy for those great ideas while driving, or other situations where I need to create a reminder to myself.
GrandCentral which was acquired by Google in a site that once registered provides you with a phone number which you can then use to direct calls between multiple phone numbers. Â I found this site a while ago, but it was in closed beta, I got an e-mail the other day letting me know it was my turn to get in to the beta. Â Once you set up your phones you can determine which calls should ring which phones, you can tailor by individual in your address book. Â I set it up to ring my cell phone and office phone, so if I am in my office I can answer, if not I can get the call if I choose on my cell. Â You can also hot transfer calls from one phone to another, and the person on the other end will never even notice. Â Since I am only in my office a couple of days a week, using this will let my phone follow me (when I want it to). Â I hope to build this type of infrastructure internally at work next year, but until then this will be a big help to me.
If anyone is interested, since I am in the beta I have some invites, drop me an e-mail if you want to try it.
I am a big fan of WhatsApp messenger , a BBM like messengers application, which works on Android, iPhone, Blackberry, and Nokia.