To all Google Voice Gateway users and Google Voice Fax by E-mail customers:

Recently, Google representative Nikhyl Singhal posted “An update on Google Voice” on his Google+ page.  Here he mentions some changes to Google Voice that are likely to affect our Google Voice Gateway and Google Voice Fax by E-mail enhancement services.

Specifically, he writes about disconnecting third-party applications that use Google Voice to provide  calling services.

A blog posting at Obihai Technology provides further insight: Google will be ending support for Voice signaling over XMPP. This is the technology that Google Voice Gateway and Fax by E-mail use to connect to Google Voice.

The end date is set for May 15, 2014 — just over six months from today.

What does this mean to you?

Unless Google provides an alternate method for interconnection with Google Voice, such as through a Hangouts API, we will no longer be able to provide Google Voice gateway and fax services as of May 15, 2014. The wording of Mr. Singhal’s message seems to indicate that third parties will not be welcome to interconnect with Google Voice. Options may be limited to using Google’s provided software only.

On a positive note, if you are an Apple iOS user, the Google Hangouts app currently allows VoIP calling through Google Voice.

We suggest that Google Voice Gateway and Fax by E-mail users plan for the worst and begin to investigate other options. Simon Telephonics is looking into low-cost ways to provide SIP-based voice and fax services when Google Voice connectivity comes to an end. Further details about that will be posted here.

Thank you for your understanding.