14 DAY TRIAL // Google has just announced that its Google Voice application for Android devices has been updated with new features, including a spam filter that will allow users to avoid unwanted calls.
Those who are not familiar with Google Voice for Android, the application allows users to make cheap international calls with their Google number, as well as send free text messages. In addition, users can listen to their voicemail and read transcripts.
The latest software update of the applications brings a spam filter that allows users to select certain phone numbers, which will be blocked and redirected to a spam folder.
Once an unwanted call is received, one can simply click on the “Report Spam” button in Google Voice to block it.
According to Google, the filtering process is automatic, which means that the unwanted calls are blocked before they can even reach the phone similar to the way emails are handled by Gmail spam filters.
Given the high amount of Google Voice users who mark calls as spam everyday, as well as Google's spam identification tools, the search giant was able to add the new feature that automatically redirects calls, texts, and voicemails from any of the numbers in Google's database directly into the spam folder.
Although Google Voice is currently only available in United States, those who wish to enable this new feature can do it from the Calls tab of Google Voice settings by checking the box next to Global SPAM filtering.
Furthermore, users who mislabeled a number as spam can correct this mistake by unblocking the phone number.
This can be easily done by selecting the message and clicking the “Not Spam” button in the spam folder.
Google Voice for Android is available as a free download for Android Market and is compatible with all devices running Android 1.6 or later.