Google Voice adds MMS support for Sprint subscribers

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) continues to expand its Google Voice calling and messaging service, enabling users to receive pictures and other multimedia messages from Sprint (NYSE:S) subscribers. Writing on the Google Voice Blog, Google senior software engineer Ilya Frank states attachments will display on users' mobile forwarding phone and in their email inbox when they enable text to email forwarding in their Google Voice settings. Frank adds Google is at work on displaying attachments in the Google Voice inbox as well--the company is also collaborating with other mobile operators to expand MMS support across all mobile phones.

The Internet-based Google Voice promises free domestic calls, cheap rates for international calls, free text messaging to U.S. numbers and voicemail transcription--the solution also includes push notifications to alert users of new voicemail or text messages. In March 2011, Sprint introduced an integrated Google Voice experience enabling subscribers to set their existing mobile number as their Google Voice number. Consumers can also read, send and search text messages. In addition, Sprint's Nexus S 4G Android smartphone ships with the Google Voice app preloaded.

In related news, Google has temporarily removed Google Voice from Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store, citing a software bug related to the release of Apple's new iOS 5 mobile operating system. Multiple users report Google Voice crashing immediately upon opening. Google Voice product manager Vincent Paquet states Google has identified the issue and is testing a patch--the updated release is expected to roll out in the near future.

For more:
- read this Google Voice Blog entry

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