Google Voice returns to the App Store, in native form

A native Google Voice app has finally reappeared in the App Store. Since the purging of GV-enabled apps last summer, the only jailbroken iPhones had access to native GV apps.

The app in question isn't the one we've been anticipating, however. Rather than GV Mobile +, which was one of the popular GV apps before the purge, it was GV Connect that was the first to return to the App Store since Apple published its App Store Approval Guidelines (and since Sean Kovacs, developer of GV Mobile +, discovered his app did not violate any of the requirements).

Here's how GV Connect is described. It costs $2.99, which is the same price that Kovacs said GV Mobile + will go for. If you can't wait for GV Mobile +, this app looks pretty complete, except for a lack of push notifications.

GV Connect is a native iPhone/iPod Touch application which allows you to interact with your existing "Google Voice" account much faster than using the web interface:

• Place calls using your Google Voice number rather than your mobile number - enter number directly, select a contact from your device's contacts, or call back any number in your history.
• Send and receive text messages (SMS) from your Google Voice number.
• Listen to voicemails and recorded conversations right on your device (allowing you to pause, rewind, or fast forward to any point within the message) - voicemails will also show the transcription of the message when available.
• Mark messages as starred, attach notes to conversations, block/unblock senders, or delete conversations.
• Easily search in your history by contact, message, or note.
• Messages are stored on your device for offline access.
• Composing notes and text messages can be done in landscape mode.
• Quickly change various Google Voice account settings (call forwarding, do-not-disturb, message notifications, …) directly from within the application.
• Automatic checking for new messages while the application is active.
• Direct access to your device's contacts without needing to synchronize them with Google
• All communication is done with the Google Voice website directly, no need to hand over your account information to a third-party.
• Full support for fast app switching in iOS4 and high-resolution graphics for retina displays.

GV Connect stores your account password securely in your device's keychain for faster login when launching the application - communication is done via secure connections (SSL) to the Google Voice servers and no contact information (other than the contact's phone number which is required to place a call or send a message) is sent to Google. All operations are fully synchronized with your Google Voice account.

Meanwhile, GV Mobile + is currently in review, according to Kovacs.