Google Voice SMS commands

Avast Mobile Security Avast Mobile Security for Android
1

I use google voice to manage my texts on my phone. SMS commands don’t seem to have any effect. Is this normal? If so could support be added for google voice? If not, how can I make SMS commands work?

Thanks,
Skobe

2

What does it mean they don’t have any effect? You see the commands as common SMS messages?

Filip

3

I send the sms to the phone. The google voice app registers the message (I can see the message) but the avast command isn’t activated (i.e. nothing happens except that I receive the message). I should mention two things about my test:

1: I only tested SIREN ON and the phone may have been on silent (I can’t remember).
2: I sent it to myself by using the google voice web interface to send the text to myself.

4

Google Voice sent SMS commands work for me. Did you check the Enable anti-theft box on the basic settings screen?

5

Ok I just tried it again and it didn’t work. I’ll detail my process.

I enabled anti-theft.
I unchecked Only allow friend commands (in case this was the problem although I have listed myself as a friend).
I logged into voice.google.com
I sent a text to my own number: “12345 SIREN ON”
The text immediately appeared on my phone in the Google Voice app.
No Siren was activated.
Sound is on on my phone.

Is the problem that I am sending it to myself? The text is both sent from and received by the same number.

6

No, SMS command is not recognize “yourself”, it works even you are sending from number to itself, in your case it should work, if you wil send SMS command to yourself from your´s device. We never tested it with such a service like Google Voice, so I have to do some research. From my point of view this behavior is caused by Google Voice.

7

Haha, alright glad I found a new test case for you. It would be really helpful to be able to use that service because then I can send a text to my phone myself without depending on having someone else’s phone.

In the meantime, I can use other people’s phones.

Thanks,
Skobe

8

Well, thanks ;D But as I mentioned, it takes some time, so please be patient. Thank you very much.

9

I am having the same issue, please let me know if I can be of any help. I’m a fair developer and a good QA Tester.

10

Avast needs to implement google C2DM. then it won’t matter if you use google voice, or don’t even have SMS.

11

As said in the other thread, if you change the SIM, C2DM stops working.

Filip

12

I think the issue is that the OP doesn’t have GV set up to forward sms’s to their handset and is just using the app to view GV sms’s. The GV app only gives you access to your GV inbox, etc. via your net connection, just like the browser or the gmail app. Web based apps don’t use your carriers sms servers therefore Avast anti-theft has no way of viewing any sms messages received through the GV app. In order for Avast to respond to sms’s they need to be received via your carriers network not the web (3g, 4g, wifi).

To set up sms forwarding to your handset, log onto your GV account via a browser, click your GV phone # on the left hand side of the screen, you’ll be taken to your phone management page, find your handset of choice and check the box next to " Receive text messages on this phone", you’re settings will be saved automagically and you’ll be good to go.

test your new set up by sending a text to yourself via GV. You can either txt your handset number or your GV number and avast will respond as long as your GV phone # is set up under the remote control settings as a “friend” number.