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A cheap way to text message Canada to UK?

I want to text someone abroad. I'm on Bell Canada she's on Virgin UK. Through the phone companies this proves to be very expensive. I have a data plan, she has 3,000 monthly texts. Is there a cheap or free way to accomplish this?

google voice

gwapako said:
Well you can communicate through the internet. Chatting or Skype voice call can be really much much cheaper than texting.
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Hm, we need to be able to text
sasha101 said:
google voice
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Niether of us are in the US so that wont work.

for sure the cheapest method will be to install skype / msn messenger or palringo to both your devices. then you will only be charged your data at local rate for your messages (messages use very little data so costs should be low)
as for actual text messge function you will be best to find a contract that includes alot of international texts in the allowance

I dunno if this app is available for HTC phones..but I downloaded this app on my nokia E71...called Global AQ lite, it gives 7 free credits daily, and you can send text messages to any country. Its really neat and it works! The replies are sent back to your phone, no charge =)

10pText.co.uk
O might have the solution for you.
There's a service in the UK called 10ptext.co.uk. It is quite a clever service, you purchase credits at 10p/text and then you used your data connection to send SMS text to international destinations. You can use it from any country, I have been around the world with it.

[Q] Will the Nexus S have wifi calling?

As we all know the the Nexus S has VoIP/SIP support and can be turned into a wifi hotspot, does this mean it will also support wifi calling?

What exactly do you think voip/sip are!?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

I've heard about it but I'm not really sure what it does exactly, that I'm here asking.

i'd be sold if this was able to do a uma-like wifi calling.

it'll probably do UMA/t-mobile wi-fi calling once someone ports the app over.

Yes, it will support Wifi calling. I have been running a beta GV with the sip stacks for about a month and works great.

VOIP and UMA are NOT the same thing. One might use Google voice which is VOIP but not UMA. I could care less about Voip but if the Nexus S can't do UMA it is a deal breaker and will just pick up the Mytouch 4G. Already sad that the Nexus isn't 4G and doesn't have external storage but with no UMA support I will just get the Mytouch and wait for gingerbread to make its way to that.

UMA would be nice, but i'm good without it, but i seriously think it'll get ported somehow.

i think what the original poster is getting at, will it be able to use the tmobile wifi calling app.
i have a nexus one with it now so i can make phone calls. i am interested in this as well because i really don't want to pay another provider to make calls on top of what i am currently paying tmobile.

I'm wondering the same thing and this is actually the only feature that has me wanting this phone if it does in fact allow wifi calling.
My Nexus one has a broken usb port and i've been forced to swap batteries the last few months while waiting for the first gingerbread phone to arrive. I was already hoping for so much more like 720p display, dual core, new ui, because it barely feels like it's an upgrade over my N1 as is.
When the official specs were announced I almost considered going to the iphone4 or Samsung Focus but I just can't do AT&T, lol.

Pretty sure G-Voice via VOIP would be better than the original wifi-calling app, anyway. I wasn't all that impressed with the wifi-calling app on N1, honestly.

How so? The T-Mobile app is free and uses your minutes from the calling plan. Gvoice requires payment ontop of your calling plan. I don't want to pay twice for the same service.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

emctwo said:
VOIP and UMA are NOT the same thing. One might use Google voice which is VOIP but not UMA. I could care less about Voip but if the Nexus S can't do UMA it is a deal breaker and will just pick up the Mytouch 4G. Already sad that the Nexus isn't 4G and doesn't have external storage but with no UMA support I will just get the Mytouch and wait for gingerbread to make its way to that.
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If you want uma you will have to get a blackberry, currently the android devices just have gan.
makelegs said:
Pretty sure G-Voice via VOIP would be better than the original wifi-calling app, anyway. I wasn't all that impressed with the wifi-calling app on N1, honestly.
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Wifi calling sucked on the n1, the only device that was usable was the mt4g

robot_agenda said:
How so? The T-Mobile app is free and uses your minutes from the calling plan. Gvoice requires payment ontop of your calling plan. I don't want to pay twice for the same service.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
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I've been using google voice for a year, and I've never paid a dime for anything. Unless you know something I don't know about some new service fee for g-voice when used in concert with VOIP, you may wanna re-assess g-voice altogether. It's flippin' AWESOME!.....
....AND FREE!!!
In all fairness, though.... call quality on the wifi app was poor for me. Volume was really low. Could be the fact that I was using an N1 hacked version, but I doubt it. If g-voice is only using the data you already paid for, then I don't see how it could cost anymore. Maybe I'm missing something though.

robot_agenda said:
How so? The T-Mobile app is free and uses your minutes from the calling plan. Gvoice requires payment ontop of your calling plan. I don't want to pay twice for the same service.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
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GVoice doesn't require any payments. Calls to USA & Canada are free. Any other country have their rates, however. We still don't know how exactly is the VoIP implemented on the Nexus S, so can't say how it'll work as of now.

greenstuffs said:
If you want uma you will have to get a blackberry, currently the android devices just have gan.
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UMA and GAN are the same thing...in 2005 UMA specs were incorporated into the 3GPP rel. 6 specs and were renamed "Generic Access Network" or GAN.
The current list of phones that are UMA/GAN can be found here at
www .umatoday.com/smartphones.php
Currently the Nexus S is not there but that could just be because it is not out yet. Just have to see if after the release date if they update the list

Superfrag said:
GVoice doesn't require any payments. Calls to USA & Canada are free. Any other country have their rates, however. We still don't know how exactly is the VoIP implemented on the Nexus S, so can't say how it'll work as of now.
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If I was able to figure out how to use Google Voice to make calls over wireless LAN with mobile number, that will be a good alternative to wifi calling.

Wifi calling works fine on Vibrant

Blackberry supports wifi to cell handoff, Android handsets don't. Not sure whether Android is technically UMA or not. Either way the key is being able to receive calls over wifi. If you're stuck in the bowels of some massive office building and you have zero signal, being able to receive text messages and calls fluidly would be awesome. Especially if they're able to call or text to your regular number.

mingkee said:
If I was able to figure out how to use Google Voice to make calls over wireless LAN with mobile number, that will be a good alternative to wifi calling.
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GVoice on Android isn't VoIP, it just routes through your GVoice number. You need a SIP account like Gizmo5 etc to set it up. GVoice in GMail on your desktop IS VoIP. Hopefully they bring something like that soon..
As for how SIP/VoIP calling will work on the Nexus S, we'll just have to wait a few more days to find out, with concrete details.

[Q] Data via. Wifi

Basically I'm wondering, if I could buy a WP7 phone (probably HD7) and use wifi for data and use apps for making calls and such over wifi. If not, I'm looking for WP7 on a prepaid service.
Thanks in advanced!

I can answer the first one but not the second one. I got both a samsung focus and a HTC inspire 4g.
For the first three weeks of ownership I keep the sim card in the HTC and used both wifi date and mifi data for the focus. now as for makeing calls on the focus using an app over wifi I haven't tried that yet. I do not know if there is an app for that nor have I looked for one. however, att's go phone now has a smart phone plan that you can also use. hope this helped

Thanks, but the GO Phone doesn't have any smart phones. It's OK, I'll look for some WP7 apps
EDIT: I think I'll just buy the full price HD7, and get skype. Thanks!

Before you go out wasted your money, you should know that currently there is no Skype for WP7. The API is not there yet to support any VoIP apps.

There's a google voice app...free version and paid are kinda the same. Main difference is a big one. Paid offers push notifications while the free version does not.

ms79723 said:
There's a google voice app...free version and paid are kinda the same. Main difference is a big one. Paid offers push notifications while the free version does not.
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Google Voice uses your phone's voice minutes to communicate/dial out. You can't use it just over wi-fi.

foxbat121 said:
Before you go out wasted your money, you should know that currently there is no Skype for WP7. The API is not there yet to support any VoIP apps.
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I know, but Microsoft bought Skype, so it's inevitable.
And is there Google Voice for WP7?

Google Voice is never designed to be VoIP, even on Android phones. Probably Google's way to not piss off carriers.
Mango will have socket API that is needed for VoIP apps. But with current schedule, you probably won't see such app until early next year.

[Q] Free Alternative to Google Voice and GrooveIP in Canada

I am with Mobilicity in Ontario which gives me unlimited local calling, text, and data when I am in one of their "unlimited zones" (major cities) but heading an hour or so out of the city I'm roaming. This doesn't pose to much of a problem for me as I live downtown and rarely leave Toronto, but I do have family and friends I visit from time to time that don't live within the "unlimited zone" which makes my phone useless to me.
From what I understand about GV and GrooveIP, it allows you to make free calls and text to anywhere in the US and Canada for free over 3G data and wifi, which is exactly what I need for when I'm not in the city. At first I thought I could use a US proxy to get a GV number then set up GrooveIP so when I am out of the unlimted zone I can still communicate over wifi using my GV number. The problem I realized is that no one I know in Canada is going to want to pay international call and text rates to reach me at a US GV number.
Is there some other free service available in Canada that allows me to send and receive texts and calls for free over wifi?

You can use grooveip in canada! I use it. Just get someone in states to make youan email and stuff. Then use it to login in canada. Ive been using it in canada for awhile now
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

jark99 said:
You can use grooveip in canada! I use it. Just get someone in states to make youan email and stuff. Then use it to login in canada. Ive been using it in canada for awhile now
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
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You're right! It does work. I can even make long distance calls for free now too. Are you able to receive calls through grooveip without a google voice number? When making a call do you know what your caller id looks like to the other person? I assumed that Grooveip also supported sms but I see now that it doesn't. Is there an app with the same functionality as grooveip but for sending and recieving texts over wifi

red_skittles said:
You're right! It does work. I can even make long distance calls for free now too. Are you able to receive calls through grooveip without a google voice number? When making a call do you know what your caller id looks like to the other person? I assumed that Grooveip also supported sms but I see now that it doesn't. Is there an app with the same functionality as grooveip but for sending and recieving texts over wifi
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When you call people it shows the US number i believe. Also i have never tried receiving calls because the ppl who would call you in canada would get charged for calling to the states as grooveip uses a US number.
For texting look up a few apps...i think textplus was one...but cant recall
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

so let me get this straight if i buy grooveip
i can use my gvoice in canada and not get charged long distance?
im not sure how grooveip works sorry

how do you even get a google voice number in canada anyways?

belovedson said:
so let me get this straight if i buy grooveip
i can use my gvoice in canada and not get charged long distance?
im not sure how grooveip works sorry
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You have to have someone in US register you an email in the states. Then use that email to use groove ip!
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Use Fongo, which was previously Dell Voice, can let you make free Canada and US calls over wifi! The quality is even better than google voice, imo.

Poll: What is your texting plan/service?

I want to switch to AT&T for the One X soon and am looking for ways to reduce my bill. I don't want to pay $20/mo for texting so using Google Voice is a good idea for that. I initially wanted to port my number to GV so that I wouldn't have to give people a new number, but after some testing I feel like the voice lag in calls through GV is a little too significant to use it for all my calls, so now I'm considering porting my number to AT&T like normal and using my separate GV number for texts.
I'd like to know what you guys do and how it works out for you.
Thanks.

Just keep in mind that GV texting doesn't support short codes, nor MMS (although Google said it is coming).

I'd switch to google voice full time if it had two features that it's currently missing. 1. Obviously mms. 2. Threaded group SMS (which I found out the One X doesnt support either)! I really miss group SMS coming from the iPhone as that's how I communicated with a bunch of my friends and colleagues.

Telling people to just email me is definitely worth the $20 savings...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Google plus messenger?

Cryosx said:
Google plus messenger?
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Not even sure what this means.

I am in the same boat and I had tried to use Google Voice. Does not work simply because the lack of a dedicated SMS agent.

I use text plus. Didn't want to pay 20 dollars
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

NextNexus said:
Not even sure what this means.
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Google+ messenger. The stand alone messaging client for Google+.
I've been debating getting a new number through Google Voice and switching to that. Cutting the unlimited texting from my plan would sure be nice. I don't make more than 10-20 minutes in calls most months, so the latency issue is not major for me. I suspect it's related to the inherent latency on the 3G/HSPA network. I think this is one of the areas where LTE is supposed to be a major improvement over HSPA+. Has anybody tried GV over 3G and wifi/LTE. If so, was it any better?

lilhyper said:
I am in the same boat and I had tried to use Google Voice. Does not work simply because the lack of a dedicated SMS agent.
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Can you explain what you mean by an "SMS agent"?

mesasone said:
Google+ messenger. The stand alone messaging client for Google+.
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Yea but isn't that like using Facebook messenger or whatsapp? It's not an SMS replacement unless everyone you text actually has it installed.

Pretty much. I'm not really sure how that works out as a replacement for a texting brand. Maybe they will elaborate.

I use Google Voice and save my money, not work the 20 bucks for MMS and short code. I fill in the blanks of those with twitter/facebook etc etc.

I have unlimited via a family unlimited plan.
EDIT: Can you use GV without a SIM? Like I have an account set up but I can't send SMS or Make calls on the One X at all. Am I doing something wrong or does it just not work that way?

I chose the unlimited text because that gives you unlimited mobile to mobile calls, any carrier.. That allowed me to drop down from unlimited minutes to 450 minutes with rollover. I'll never talk 450 minutes to a landline during peak i dont think. I dont know anybody with a landline, all mobile. That dropped the Minutes from $69 to $39. I', going to give it a try...We'll see

nugzo said:
I chose the unlimited text because that gives you unlimited mobile to mobile calls, any carrier.. That allowed me to drop down from unlimited minutes to 450 minutes with rollover. I'll never talk 450 minutes to a landline during peak i dont think. I dont know anybody with a landline, all mobile. That dropped the Minutes from $69 to $39. I', going to give it a try...We'll see
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Yeah, I'm used to having unlimited mobile to mobile on Sprint, but I think I can get by without it and still only 450 minutes. A lot of calls happen on nights and weekends, and then I can take advantage of the rollover (not sure how long those minutes last before expiring).
voluptuary said:
I have unlimited via a family unlimited plan.
EDIT: Can you use GV without a SIM? Like I have an account set up but I can't send SMS or Make calls on the One X at all. Am I doing something wrong or does it just not work that way?
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You should be able to SMS through GV by just being on WiFi I think, but you won't be able to make calls without the SIM since it goes over the cell network and uses minutes like normal. However, if you use something like GrooVe IP, you should be able to make calls with just WiFi.

Unlimited text family plan for $20 FTW!