GV Mobile+ for iPhone made its first appearance in the app store a while back before it got quickly pulled, along with any other Google Voice type app.  Google cried foul, the FCC got involved, and we saw no type of Google voice app for quite a while.  Since Apple revised their App Store approval process, GV Mobile+ has made it's second debut in the App Store.

[iTunes Link]

GV Mobile+ is one app you can use to connect to Google Voice.  For those of you not familiar with the service, it basically allows you to choose a Google Voice phone number (free) with which you can use to forward calls to any number.  The Google Voice service used to be under the name Grand Central.  I think the Grand Central name was a little less confusing.  Keep in mind, Google Voice is not a VoIP service, so you'll still use your plan minutes.  The main idea behind it is you can give everyone one number and it'll forward all your calls to whatever number you choose.

One perk Google Voice does offer is free SMS.  GV Mobile+ has an extremely nice layout which integrates your current address book and you'll be able to text anyone from your Google Voice number the same way you'd send a regular text via the Messages app.  For a lot of people, this could be an excellent way to get rid of texting completely.  I wouldn't recommend it just yet though.  One big feature GV Mobile+ is lacking is push notifications.  It's rather annoying to have to keep checking the app to see if you've received new messages.  Push is supposed to be coming in an update.  I'm not quite sure why it wasn't there upon launch.  If you're really looking to ditch texting quickly, there are always workarounds.  I currently use Notifo [iTunes Link] to send me push notifications for Google Voice.  You can set it up online and it'll only take about 5 minutes of your time.  Growl apps and other push services will also work just fine until GV Mobile+ is updated to support push.

The app is dead simple to use and even allows you to create a separate favorites list than the one in your current address book.  The app gives you all the main features of Google voice in one neat package.  Along the bottom you've got your dial pad (phone book), SMS, History, Voicemail, and Settings.  When you place a call, your phone will ring (from yourself) and you'll simply answer and it'll connect the call.  It's dead simple to use.  SMS works just as you'd expect it, and voicemail sends down not only the audio but the translations as well.

Push is still a huge factor that keeps this app from being awesome.  Once push is added, I think it'll be amazing.  I've tested having someone leave a voicemail or texting my GV numher while I'm in the app and I'll get it pretty much instantly.  If push will be that quick, I can see several people using this app as their main communication app.  I know I would.  Let's cross our fingers it comes quick!

As a side note, in my video I wasn't sure what call presentation did. As a helpful YouTube user pointed out, call presentation is the feature that asks unknown callers to state their name before it connects to you. You can then hear their name and choose to either accept or deny the call. Neat!

Pros

• Slick interface

• Easy to set up

• Extremely responsive (no crashes or failed calls as of yet)

Cons

• No push (yet)

GV Mobile + is now in the App Store and offering a full range of Google Voice features to US iPhone users. This marks an interesting transition for the App Store, as GV Mobile was originally approved, the yanked following the Google Voice debacle, and now returns following Apple's change in terms and publication of their app approval guidelines. Along with GV Connect, also just approved, Google Voice is really back on the iPhone. Could a Google-branded app be next?

In any event, the new version of GV Mobile + packs even more Google Voice goodness into the app than ever, including:

• Dial numbers via Contacts or Favorites
• Send, receive, and delete SMS
• Get and delete recent call history
• Playback and delete voice mail
• take calls from phones other than iPhone
• Add, delete, enable, and disable phones

Google Voice is still only available in the US, though GV Mobile is available internationally. So, make sure you have a Google Voice account before buying it. If you do have and do buy, let us know how it works for you!

[GV Mobile + on iPhone - $2.99]

GV Mobile developer, Sean Kovacs, had some good news to share on Twitter saying that his unofficial Google Voice application GV Mobile should now be allowed into the App Store. Since GV Mobile does not violate any of the new rules regarding the app review guidelines that Apple has laid out for developers, Kovacs figured why not resubmit his application and try to finally get it back where it belongs.

GV Mobile made it's first appearance into the App Store back in July of 2009 and was later yanked by Apple due to allegedly duplicating the iPhone’s calling and text messaging features. Later it was rumored that Apple laid blame on AT&T was for the removal of the application.

[9to5 Mac]

We saw the preview, but now it's for real -- GV Mobile + (2.0) for Jailbreak is available via Cydia via the ModMyI repo. Originally an App Store app before the Great Google Voice Rejection of '09, GV Mobile has thrived on Cydia, and the latest release shows no sign of slowing down. What's new?

First, it costs money. The developer has worked long and hard on GV Mobile + and since he can't rely on the App Store for income, he has to get the Jailbreak community to support him. If you like GV Mobile +, please do.

Second, it has a ton of updates:

• Favorites
• New tab system for Contacts, Favorites, Keypad
• Landscape SMS
• Call & Add Contact from SMS main view
• International support for SMS (until Google blocks it)
• Call, Text, & Add Contact from History
• Voicemail transcriptions, new voicemail screen layout
• Call, Text, & Add Contact from Voicemail
• Local archiving of voicemail (doesn’t download every time)
• Offline dialing (via dialing GV #)
• Default Area code (for those that don’t need to dial the area code in you area)
• More data sync options (Interval, Startup, Startup on demand, manual)
• Multiple Accounts
• User selectable tab to open to
• More Google Settings : Do Not Disturb, Call Screening, Call Presentation
• The core of the updates reside in the back end programming of the app - completely rebuilt from ground up.

[Thanks to @fvc625 and @feedseratonin for the tips!]

Boy Genius scored a sneak peak of a Google Voice client, GV Mobile 2.0, which will be available in the near future on Cydia to anyone with a jailbroken iPhone. GV Mobile is an application which allows your iPhone to use all of the features that comes with Google Voice and was actually in the App Store for a short period before Apple decided to yank it along with rejecting Google's very own application. After being pulled, the developer introduced GV Mobile to Cydia and offered up his hard work to anyone with a jailbroken iPhone.

We've used GV Mobile since it's release and while it worked fairly well, it seemed clunky and buggy at times. Boy Genius is reporting that 2.0 is much more refined and polished than the previous version.

"We’re really excited to tell you about it, too. It has been polished and refined — it had an injection of features — and we love using it, even in its non-final and beta form. For starters, dialed calls connect almost instantly, your iPhone contacts and favorites are accessible right within the app, there’s voicemail transcription viewing, and even multiple Google Voice account support. Advanced features like call forwarding phones, do not disturb settings as well automatic syncing, and even Growl support are on the to-do list."

We can only hope that Apple rethinks their decision and allow this application along with Google's very of Google Voice application into the App Store. Until then, jailbreak away...

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they're fair game.

So who's on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad's Pick: Resident Evil 4

This week it has to be Resident Evil 4 Mobile. The controls are much better than the previous Resident Evil game and the character models are better too. This version plays as little bit-size chunks of storyline. You still get your weapons, attaché case and more. They even included mercinary mode! If you like Resident Evil games, then go out and grab this latest version! [$7.99 - iTunes link]

Chris' Pick: Harbor Master

This game is similar to the wildly popular Flight Control game, except you are dealing with ships instead of planes. The idea is the same - guide the ships to the port, allow them to unload their cargo, and then guide them away. It gets a little more complicated with larger ships (that move more slowly) as well as the fact you have to unload cargo (and larger ships carry more cargo). With multiple "ports" as well as dangers (whirlpools, pirates, etc) thrown in, the game has been taking up far too much of my time! (PS - look for a review of it coming soon!) [$0.99 - iTunes link]

James' Pick: TuneWiki

As the owner of 1000 iPods, I clearly like my music. And whether or not other people like it, I love to sing along. Enter TuneWiki. This free application takes advantages of using newly released API in the 3.0 firmware to call an instance if the iPod player. The app then displays the lyrics if the song you are listening to. TuneWiki also allows you to see the real-time top 50 charts of other countries and 'blip technilogy' so you van share what you are listening to with your friends in social networks. [Free - iTunes link]

Justin's Pick: Nike+

I decided that I was going to run the Miami half marathon in January. Since I'm rocking a iPhone 3GS I thought this would be the perfect excuse for me to plunk down some money on Nike+ shoes and the $19 sensor. My first attempt using Nike+ failed due an issue with 3.1 beta 2, but beta 3 fixed the issue and I've gone on a couple runs now. I was surprised to see how accurate it was tracking my mileage and pace. The best part of Nike+ is syncing your run to the new Nike+ beta site after a run to track your progress over time. If you are an avid runner or even just starting out like me, it makes running a lot more fun...especially if you love stats! [Built in]

Leanna's Pick: Cookiecombo

This is based off the card game Set. Each cookie has 4 properties: flavor, decoration, filling, and number of decorations. The objective of Cookiecombo is to find a match of 3 where for each property, every cookie is the same or they're all different. I'm not exactly good at Cookiecombo, but it's fun and great for my brain! [$1.99 - iTunes link]

Matt's Pick: SimplyTweet

SimplyTweet is easily one of the best Twitter applications for the iPhone. Recently I have been crazy busy and not on Twitter as much. Since SimplyTweet utilities push notifications for @replies & DMs, this app has helped me quickly keep in touch with people during my busy schedule. Simply is simply one of the the best Twitter applications. [$4.99 - iTunes link]

Rene's Pick: GV Mobile for Jailbreak

Fight the power.

Your Pick?

You're part of team TiPb too, so what's your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us -- and everyone -- know in the comments!

Today TiPb brings you round four of the Top 5 Must-Have Jailbreak Apps series, this one focused on what still makes Jailbreak compelling in a post-iPhone 3.0 world.

Now, all of the Jailbreak experts out there will (or should!) know about all these apps already. The purpose of this article is to give our readers who may not be familiar with the jailbreak community just a little taste of what is out there. So, if you’re still debating whether or not to jailbreak your iPhone, after reading this we are guessing that you will make up your mind one way or another...

All of the following applications can be downloaded via Cydia on your Jailbroken iPhone.

Read on after the jump!

GV Mobile

Is it really a shock that the first application in this article happens to be the latest and greatest app to be removed from the App Store by Apple? Right after the app's removal, developer Sean Kovacs tossed it directly into the hands of the jailbreak community. With GV Mobile and a Google Voice phone number you can do the following:

• Dial numbers via the iPhone address book or typing on the keypad
• Full SMS support (view historic, reply, send new)
• Retrieve and delete recent call history
• Playback and delete voicemails
• Take calls from different phones other than your iPhone
• Enable or disable the phones that Google Voice forwards calls to
• Add or delete phones that Google Voice forwards call to

Backgrounder

Backgrounder allows you to multitask App Store apps on your iPhone in the background. Yes, you heard me correctly, you can now listen to Pandora while you are in your favorite App Store app! This is your perfect opportunity to show Palm Pre owners how it's done.

Just press and hold the home key while running any application. After a few seconds, the "Backgrounding Enabled" pop-up appears. Release the home button, Backgrounder automatically returns you to SpringBoard. After that feel free to open any of application you see fit. To quit the background application, re-launch it from SpringBoard, then press and hold Home until the Backgrounding Disabled pop-up appears. It's as simple as that.

qTweeter

Do you find yourself on one of the million iPhone App Store Twitter clients most of the day? If you answered yes to that question you may just find this app worth a good look. qTweeter is status update application that lets you tweet messages and update your Facebook status. You launch qTweeter by sliding your finger down from the status area and can start tweeting right away. Then you simply press the update button to update your Facebook status, send your Tweet, or both.

Some features of qTweeter are as follows:

• Update Facebook and Twitter at once
• Update your status on top of any app
• TwitPic support
• TwitVid support
• Shortened URL
• Music Tweets, YouTube Tweets, Safari Tweets
• Long Tweet and TweetShrink support
• Fast shortcut to your other Twitter app

Winterboard

For those of you who really want to apply a different look to your iPhone user interface, Winterboard. is the app for you. Using Winterboard you can apply complete skins to your device or just specific parts of it. Some of the things you can customize include app icons, wallpaper, statusbar, dock, etc... You can spend hours tweaking your UI ways that will make you wonder why Apple didn't think of this.

SBSettings 3.0.2

The last app for today, SBSettings, addresses a common complaint that we hear a lot about the iPhone. Do you want a way to turn Wi-Fi on and off without going through all the settings? SBSettings can help you out. How about adjusting your screen brightness? How about the ability to toggle Bluetooth on and off with a single button on your home screen? Edge and 3G? I'm sure you get where I am going with this.

Conclusion

The jailbreak community seems to have a bright future with the way Apple has been keeping the App Store on lockdown lately. Whether you decide to jailbreak your iPhone - please remember TiPb and any and all staff and writers take no responsibility for any mishaps, mistakes, wrong doings, etc, that may occur during the jailbreak process.

For more on Jailbreaking and Jailbreak apps, see the TiPb forums!

As Jeremy posted earlier, Apple wiped the iTunes App Store clean of all traces of Google Voice, both the official Google version and third party clients like GV Voice. (Rumor has it at the behest of AT&T)

GV Voice, however, didn't take their removal lying down. Nope, they (meaning developer Sean Kovacs) picked themselves right up, marched over to Cydia, and promptly made themselves available for Jailbreak.

And, weirdly, it's getting to the point that we're wondering if this isn't "the plan" all along.

Apple provides a closed appliance with strict and nebulously enforced rules for its App Store, placating carriers, and making a device so simple it's become the first true consumer smartphone success. At the same time, Jailbreak provides a de facto "expert" or "pro" version of the iPhone for those willing (and able) to do the work, at no training or support cost to Apple, and with complete deniability in terms of carrier and media agreements.

Whether we think Apple and/or AT&T are evil, Google is competitive, or whatever, with GV Mobile, Qik, and all the other apps available via Jailbreak, are iPhone users actually getting the best of both worlds...?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Again with the Google! This time it's GV Mobile (short for Google Voice, the re-branded Grand Central service) and the above video comes courtesy of Sean Kovacs.

If it's a correct reflection of what we'll see when/if GV Mobile hits the App Store, then it seems to be focused primarily on using Google Voice to make almost Skype-like calls. Google Voice is, of course, far more than a simple calling service, so you also get SMS sending (receiving is handled via the built-in, default iPhone SMS/Messages app), as well as voicemail.

So, is this the Google Voice goodness you've been waiting for?