[Q] How to use Google Voice to make calls? - General Questions and Answers

i installed Google Voice earlier today on my Thunderbolt as i've heard that you can use it to make calls. after installation, there did not seem to be an option anywhere to actually make a call.
i noticed in 'settings', there's a sub category called "making calls" and has 3 options:
Only use Google Voice for international calls
Do not use Google Voice to make any calls
Ask every time I make an international call
there ofcourse does not seem to be any option for domestic calls so i just left it at "Ask every time..." but still, i get nothing.
Can anyone actually explain step by step on what needs to be done & how to actually make calls with this thing?
i've tried doing google searches & browsing google's help page but it didn't help.
thanks

voxigenboy said:
i installed Google Voice earlier today on my Thunderbolt as i've heard that you can use it to make calls. after installation, there did not seem to be an option anywhere to actually make a call.
i noticed in 'settings', there's a sub category called "making calls" and has 3 options:
Only use Google Voice for international calls
Do not use Google Voice to make any calls
Ask every time I make an international call
there ofcourse does not seem to be any option for domestic calls so i just left it at "Ask every time..." but still, i get nothing.
Can anyone actually explain step by step on what needs to be done & how to actually make calls with this thing?
i've tried doing google searches & browsing google's help page but it didn't help.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that service only available in US ,i think

qw_haoyun said:
that service only available in US ,i think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what it says yes. and i am in the US.

Related

[GUIDE] Google Voice for Noobs

I was helping someone get started with Google Voice in a thread, and thought a little tutorial might help people out, so I wrote one. I'd like input if you guys think I got something wrong, or left something out. I hope this can help someone.
The pdf has been updated as of 2/16/2010 with more info:
http://i0v.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Google-Voice-for-Noobs.pdf
But I figured some people might like plain text, so I'll paste it too.
I probably won't update the plain text here because it will just be getting longer and longer
(that is, unless someone requests it)
Google Voice for Noobs
Transitioning to Google Voice, on a Sprint HTC Hero
First Revision 2/14/10
What Is Google Voice?
First off, I think it helps to think of Google Voice like a switch box of some sort. You can feed telephone calls in and feed them back out, in whatever direction you’d like. The original intended functionality of GV was to allow you give people one number (your GV number) and then it would ring all of your phones when someone calls that number.
Now this might be helpful for some people, but I know the majority of people here probably don’t have more than one phone. But this setup can still be useful for people who want to use their Google Voice number as the number they give out to people. This setup is really the easiest, because once you’ve entered your cell phone in Google Voice under Settings > Phones, you’re pretty much done. The other advantage to this route is that you can have GV ask callers for their name before it rings your phone (call screening), and some other cool features. If you still want to use your Sprint phone number and just use GV for voicemail, see the next section.
Note: Now when you now first set up Google Voice, it asks if you want to set it up as strictly voicemail and then steps you through steps similar to the following section. It then gives you a more limited feature set for just the options that apply to when you’re using it as voicemail. If that’s all you want to do, then that might be the route to go. If at some point, you want to use a scenario similar to the one above Go to Settings >’Phones’ tab > Get a Google number (thanks to Jon at Hebb Networks for clarifying this)
Google Voice as Voicemail
(This is basically an explanation of what Google walks you through when you go to Settings > “Activate Google voicemail for this phone” on the GV website)
Note that sometime around November 2009, Sprint decided to make CONDITIONAL call forwarding free, so we’re going to configure it like this:
In this situation what you’ll do is dial *285555555555 (replace the 5’s with your GV number) and then press talk. You should hear some beeps to let you know everything is working alright. Then you can hang up. (To undo this feature dial *38)
Next, you want to let GV know that these calls that are being forwarded should go to voicemail. You can do this by going into your settings page in Google Voice on your computer, and clicking “Activate Google voicemail for this phone”
Another thing to note, is that there is a big difference between CONDITIONAL and UNCONDITIONAL call forwarding. CONDITIONAL forwards a call after some (you guessed it) conditions are met - i.e. Busy, or no answer. You can read more about CONDITIONAL call forwarding here: http://bit.ly/9KvT2L
On the other hand, UNCONDITIONAL call forwarding takes all calls to your sprint number, and forwards them ALL to a different number without ever ringing your cell phone. This is not typically an option that anyone would want to use, and Sprint still charges 20 cents/minute for every call that uses this. Read more here: http://bit.ly/apyfAs
Accessing Google Voice from your Hero
Now on your CDMA Hero, you’re definitely going to want to download the Google Voice app from the Market. This will currently do two functions.
1. Allow you to see and play all of your voicemail.
2. Route your outgoing calls back through Google Voice, if you want to. (This makes more sense, I think, if you’re giving out your Google Voice number to people, because then your calls will be all forwarded through GV, both incoming and outgoing. I don’t give out my GV number, so I have mine set to only make outgoing calls through GV for international calls.)
Another option is to call Google Voice from your cell phone, just like the old days with Sprint Voicemail. Be sure to go Settings > Call Settings > Voicemail and then type in your GV number. Then when you hold 1 from the dial pad, you’ll call GV and be able to access it that way too.
Yet another option is to just visit the Google Voice Mobile Page in the browser.
Notification Options
With a fresh setup of Google Voice Voicemail, you’ll probably quickly notice that you’ll bombarded with email and SMS notifications about a new message. You can turn these off, and if you’re using the Android app, you’ll probably want to. On the Google Voice site, visit Settings > Voicemail & SMS > Voicemail Notifications to turn these on or off.
I have one question about using GV. I have free mobile to mobile calling. When someone calls my GV number, which is then forwarded to my cell phone, is this still a mobile to mobile call, or will I be charged?
wjtrawick said:
I have one question about using GV. I have free mobile to mobile calling. When someone calls my GV number, which is then forwarded to my cell phone, is this still a mobile to mobile call, or will I be charged?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did a reverse telephone lookup, and it lists my google voice number type as a landline. So, no, I don't believe it counts as a mobile number.
Edit: Just checked my Sprint bill. I've got Any Mobile, Anytime. It is charged as a land line.
(On a side note, we just switched to the free mobile to mobile a few months ago, damn I love it: "Your account used 9,346 minutes of Any Mobile, Anytime(sm) calling last month.")
According to GV surport forum. If somebody(cellphone) calls ur GV number and transfer to ur sprint number. It should be counted as Mobile to Mobile. However, if you called somebody else through ur GV number, it will be conted as you call a landline.
link is here.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=75630cc990ea5c98&hl=en
laufine said:
According to GV surport forum. If somebody(cellphone) calls ur GV number and transfer to ur sprint number. It should be counted as Mobile to Mobile. However, if you called somebody else through ur GV number, it will be conted as you call a landline.
link is here.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=75630cc990ea5c98&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yupp, thats how it is, I have the bills to prove it. Also, for the person calling you it counts as a landline call for them, so if they are on Sprint it is not using mobile2mobile.
If there was a way to convince google to have gvoice lines as mobile lines it would be set....to bad...
Interestingly, the Voice app for Android doesn't do push notifications of new VMs. I get my email notifications long before the Voice app picks the VMs up. (I think it's set to check every 5 minutes?)
Any ideas on that one?
Is_907 said:
Interestingly, the Voice app for Android doesn't do push notifications of new VMs. I get my email notifications long before the Voice app picks the VMs up. (I think it's set to check every 5 minutes?)
Any ideas on that one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I go to settings > refresh and notification > refresh inbox,, and there are options there for refresh rate. 5 minutes is the lowest setting. I heard somewhere that there is a 3rd party app that checks more frequently, but I haven't tried it. I wouldn't want to drain my battery with an interval shorter than 5 minutes. Maybe you'd be better off making a gmail label to sort the notifications if the delay is a problem.
I've just been setting GV to send me SMS notifications, and then when I have a VM, I just hit refresh, and look at it. I don't want it constantly refreshing because I hardly get VM's.
Is_907 said:
Interestingly, the Voice app for Android doesn't do push notifications of new VMs. I get my email notifications long before the Voice app picks the VMs up. (I think it's set to check every 5 minutes?)
Any ideas on that one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the one thing that keeps me from becoming a heavy Google Voice user. I read on the Google support forums that they're working on push notifications but they said it was difficult and didn't have an ETA.
I don't know how it would be more difficult than Gmail.
Hey, thanks a lot for this guide! I've had "setting up google voicemail" on my to-do list for a while now, and your easy to understand guide motivated me to get it set up. Thanks a lot!
Just wanted to add a little something (feel free to put it in your guide if you want, to avoid questions in the forum later) for people who are on Cricket Wireless...
If you try to set this up for Cricket, the code you dial to activate Google Voicemail is slightly different.
For Cricket, dial *74xxxxxxx.
If you get an error after dialing it, something like "Cricket does not currently offer this service", then the problem isn't that Cricket doesn't offer it, but that your account does not have Call Forwarding enabled.
So, if you use Cricket and you get an error after dialing the code, go to your My Account on the Cricket Website and double check/add the Call Forwarding feature to your account. Once you do this, the code will work and GVoicemail can be activated.
Thanks again!
raynda said:
Hey, thanks a lot for this guide! I've had "setting up google voicemail" on my to-do list for a while now, and your easy to understand guide motivated me to get it set up. Thanks a lot!
Just wanted to add a little something (feel free to put it in your guide if you want, to avoid questions in the forum later) for people who are on Cricket Wireless...
If you try to set this up for Cricket, the code you dial to activate Google Voicemail is slightly different.
For Cricket, dial *74xxxxxxx.
If you get an error after dialing it, something like "Cricket does not currently offer this service", then the problem isn't that Cricket doesn't offer it, but that your account does not have Call Forwarding enabled.
So, if you use Cricket and you get an error after dialing the code, go to your My Account on the Cricket Website and double check/add the Call Forwarding feature to your account. Once you do this, the code will work and GVoicemail can be activated.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent, and thanks; I'm glad this is being helpful to some people. I will definitely add that to at least the PDF guide today after I finish some school work. I look at this guide as a work in progress, and I'd like to eventually make it a fairly comprehensive users-guide to GV.
My one comment is:
*28 on Sprint forwards BOTH busy line, and no answer. From reading the cricket site, it seems that you'd both need to do *73 and *74 codes, so that when you're busy, it also sends calls to GV. On sprint you can do this too, as it would be the same as doing *28. Actually when I first activated mine, I had to do it that way because the exchange I was using was having some problems with the *28. Basically *28 is just a shortcut (on sprint, not cricket) for forwarding both.
So I'll add this explanation to the guide too. (along with undo codes) I totally forgot I had that problem. But I'm pretty sure you want to also do *73.
--------------------
To the people with billing comments:
So basicially everyone is saying:
1) All GV calls out are charged as calls to a land line. (which I have experienced too)
2) All GV incoming calls are charged as if you were receiving the call directly. (i.e. [Mobile call -> GV -> your phone] is charged as mobile... OR ... [landline call -> GV -> your phone] is charged as landline]
Am I right here? If so, I'll add this in today, too.
what am i missing?
* I have google voice setup correctly
* I have the application from the market installed
* I am receiving notifications in the form of text, and through the notification bar in android.
What I cannot figure out is how to opened the darn program when i want to get back into google voice to look at the messages in the inbox. i can get in when a message icon is in the tray (i just click on it and google voice comes up), but later on when i think "what was that message again?" and I go to go back to the program I cannot find a way to get in.
* There is no program in the "all programs" page (accessed by the arrow)
* There is no widget (other than the one to change how i want google voice to make calls for me)
What am I missing? I cannot figure out how to get into the program.
I could go to the mobile site, but that just seems silly when i know that the program is on my phone. I just can't find an icon to access it.
Please tell me I'm blind, and missing something obvious.
-AndyS-
realmrealm said:
* I have google voice setup correctly
* I have the application from the market installed
* I am receiving notifications in the form of text, and through the notification bar in android.
What I cannot figure out is how to opened the darn program when i want to get back into google voice to look at the messages in the inbox. i can get in when a message icon is in the tray (i just click on it and google voice comes up), but later on when i think "what was that message again?" and I go to go back to the program I cannot find a way to get in.
* There is no program in the "all programs" page (accessed by the arrow)
* There is no widget (other than the one to change how i want google voice to make calls for me)
What am I missing? I cannot figure out how to get into the program.
I could go to the mobile site, but that just seems silly when i know that the program is on my phone. I just can't find an icon to access it.
Please tell me I'm blind, and missing something obvious.
-AndyS-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only guess that you're looking for an icon that says "Google Voice" when actually the icon just says "Voice"
yikes!
@thematrixkid17 - see, I asked for something obvious and you gave it to me
I'm really pretty embarrassed considering the time that I was trying to figure this out, and that it was in front of me the whole time.
Thanks for the quick reply.
-AndyS-
laufine said:
According to GV surport forum. If somebody(cellphone) calls ur GV number and transfer to ur sprint number. It should be counted as Mobile to Mobile. However, if you called somebody else through ur GV number, it will be conted as you call a landline.
link is here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint has a feature called "Sprint to Home" for $5 /month. If you add that to your plan ALL calls going to and from google voice are free. I use my phone ALL the time and only manage to rack up a 20-30 minutes a month .
realmrealm said:
@thematrixkid17 - see, I asked for something obvious and you gave it to me
I'm really pretty embarrassed considering the time that I was trying to figure this out, and that it was in front of me the whole time.
Thanks for the quick reply.
-AndyS-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I knew that was probably your problem, because I had to do a double-take the first time I installed it too. Voice sounds really generic and has a pretty generic looking icon, so its not hard to overlook. I should add a picture of the icon to my guide
biggoan said:
Sprint has a feature called "Sprint to Home" for $5 /month. If you add that to your plan ALL calls going to and from google voice are free. I use my phone ALL the time and only manage to rack up a 20-30 minutes a month .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard about that. So you use google voice to dial to everybody? Cause I have 300 mins/month(Family plan,1500mins, 5ppl), if next month I use more than 300 mins, I'll call sprint to add this service.
anyone happen to happen an invite
[email protected]
so could i use this as my primary voicemail with my sprint number or would i have use the gv one? which i would see no point in if you don't use the gv number? thanks to whoever can clear this up for me
ko0pa11 said:
anyone happen to happen an invite
[email protected]
so could i use this as my primary voicemail with my sprint number or would i have use the gv one? which i would see no point in if you don't use the gv number? thanks to whoever can clear this up for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can use it as primary voicemail, while still using your Sprint number. That's how I primarily use mine, since I'm on a 1500 minute 5 line family plan with free mobile to mobile any network, and we barely use 200 anytime minutes COMBINED. So it doesn't make sense for me to use GV for calls, when everyone already has my Sprint number. just follow the section in the guide "google voice as voicemail" or the setup instructions on GV.
What is nice about GV for voicemail is that you get visual voicemail via the GV android app, access to voicemail on your pc, its easy to archive messages, custom greetings for different groups of callers, and a bunch of other stuff. Voicemail transcription isn't great yet, but makes it nice to get an idea of what callers are saying if you can't listen (class, meeting, etc)
Invites are pretty sparse. I only ever got three, which I've used for my close friends, or i'd hand them out.
Again, i'll be updating the guide semi-daily based on questions in this thread
laufine said:
I've heard about that. So you use google voice to dial to everybody? Cause I have 300 mins/month(Family plan,1500mins, 5ppl), if next month I use more than 300 mins, I'll call sprint to add this service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of the family plans now have the free mobile to mobile any network, so if you mainly make mobile calls, you might take a look at that as an option too. (sorry if I keep bringing this up, but it did really do a killing on my plan; my sister used almost 9000 free minutes last month because of this)

[Request][App] Did they call Google Voice?

I need a way to know if someone called my google voice number or my cell number. Is there something out there that does this. If not, is it possible?
joeyweaver said:
I need a way to know if someone called my google voice number or my cell number. Is there something out there that does this. If not, is it possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For past calls, go to http://google.com/voice and find out if they called there.
Or, just make it so you have to push 1 to answer google voice calls.
If you want to know BEFORE you answer the phone, I can't help you, because i don't know that answer.
how did you set up google as a TelNet client? It doesnt give me the option to make a google voice number just for voicemail... Im in America btw..
joeyweaver said:
I need a way to know if someone called my google voice number or my cell number. Is there something out there that does this. If not, is it possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open Google Voice app, hit Menu > Lables > Received
Shows you log of what you received.. If the call came in through Google Voice, it will display there, including the time of the call and how long.
Devastatin said:
For past calls, go to http://google.com/voice and find out if they called there.
Or, just make it so you have to push 1 to answer google voice calls.
If you want to know BEFORE you answer the phone, I can't help you, because i don't know that answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I make it so I have to push 1 for google voice calls?
settings in google voice (web). have it confirm if you want to answer or not after hearing the name/number
Or you could check the "show my GV number when people call me" option (through the web interface). It will show your GV number on the caller ID. I use that in conjunction with the "press 1 to answer option" to screen my work calls.
Billy

[Q] android google voice

Quick question after searching the web and the forum... i might be dumb and not been able to search right if its been posted.
But can you use google voice for local calls using any carrier?
I've noticed my friend's tmo is has call feature but my new sprint phone only has call international as an option.
what would be the problem?
sixk said:
Quick question after searching the web and the forum... i might be dumb and not been able to search right if its been posted.
But can you use google voice for local calls using any carrier?
I've noticed my friend's tmo is has call feature but my new sprint phone only has call international as an option.
what would be the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use google voice for local calls/text i use it all the time. Its almost as if i have 2 separate numbers on one phone. Then you do the initial setup it asks' you if you want to use it for local calls or international and it also has an option of you want the app to ask for each call. Try going to the google voice app and hit settings then you'll see an option that says "making calls"; from there you should be able to choose.
I didnt get any options for local call. it only had international or texting...

[Q] Suddently unable use GV for voicemails

My phone is setup to use Google Voice for voicemails, but as of a couple days ago VMs are no longer going to GV and instead goes to the standard verizon voicemail.
Now when someone leaves me a voice mail, I get a notification in the notification bar, but I get the standard VM notification, not the GV one and nothing ever shows up in GV. Ive set my phones "voicemail service" setting to "my carrier" and deactivated GV (by dialing *73) and then able to access the Verizon VM via *86. I then tried reactivating GV by dialing *7 then my GV number and uninstalled/reinstalled GV app on my phone, but people are still directed to the verizon VM and not GV.
The only thing Ive changed in the last couple days is Ive applied the wifi prompt hack from here and the Wifi Toggle mod from here (which Ive since run the "return to stock" package).
Im running rooted stock ICS and below is a screenshot of the notification.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
In call settings, is Google voice an option?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
There is and it's currently selected.
I have the same problem - callers hear "this voicemail has not been setup" even though my GV greeting is set.
edit - to OP, make sure you've activated your phone number for GV voicemail in the google voice website.
Are the phone and correct number listed in Google Voice settings (online) as having been activated for Google voicemail?
You mentioned using *7GoogleVoiceNumber - isn't it supposed to be *71GoogleVoiceNumber ?
- ooofest
I have had this happen once or twice, each time I would have to dial *71<then your google voice number> and hit the send call button. This basically tells Verizon to forward missed calls to your GV voicemail.
You can also call Verizon and ask them what your call forwarding is set to, and they can fix it there as well.
For what it is worth though, I have been able to use the setup Voicemail feature within Google Voice, it would always come back with some kind of carrier issue.
Try the following 3:
*71 GV #
*90 GV #
*92 GV #
Ive verified Google Voice is configured for voice mails via the web site (which you can see in the 1st screenshot below). Ive also verified my voicemail carrier is set to Google Voice and that it matches my actual google voice number (seen in screenshots 2 and 3).
Ive also dialed the 3 numbers in the previous post (*71, *90, *92 + GV#) and verified voicemails are still being left on verizon. Ill call them tomorrow to verify my phone is in fact fowarding as it should be though.
Finally, just to make sure GV was actually working I also verified that calling my actual google voice number and leaving a voicemail does show the notification on my phone in the GV app.
Really not sure how in the heck this happened, like I said, Ive been using this without issue for months, and it wasnt until a day or two ago that this started happening. Is it possible that either of those hacks/mods applied caused this? I didnt realize until after I applied them that some mods require a deodexed ROM, so wasnt sure if that was the culprit.
Hoping to figure this out rather then revert to an old nandroid backup.
Thanks again all, really appreciate the responses so far.
timofcourse said:
Ive verified Google Voice is configured for voice mails via the web site (which you can see in the 1st screenshot below). Ive also verified my voicemail carrier is set to Google Voice and that it matches my actual google voice number (seen in screenshots 2 and 3).
Ive also dialed the 3 numbers in the previous post (*71, *90, *92 + GV#) and verified voicemails are still being left on verizon. Ill call them tomorrow to verify my phone is in fact fowarding as it should be though.
Finally, just to make sure GV was actually working I also verified that calling my actual google voice number and leaving a voicemail does show the notification on my phone in the GV app.
Really not sure how in the heck this happened, like I said, Ive been using this without issue for months, and it wasnt until a day or two ago that this started happening. Is it possible that either of those hacks/mods applied caused this? I didnt realize until after I applied them that some mods require a deodexed ROM, so wasnt sure if that was the culprit.
Hoping to figure this out rather then revert to an old nandroid backup.
Thanks again all, really appreciate the responses so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem too... On my Galaxy Nexus I could just play back my voice mails right through my main phone applications phone log but now with this phone I had to uncheck the box in google voice (on your phone) that says "Voicemail Display" allowing you to view and playback your voicemails from your call log. Soooo, I get all of my notifications now but they are through the google voice app instead of my phone app... Does this make any sense to you cause I am really tired but I tried everything and this was the best option... So uncheck the box for "Voicemail display" in google voice settings on your phone and you should be good to go if that is what you are looking for?? Also you can go right to your account online and make sure it is setup to forward to your gv number... Just go to "My Verizon and then My plans and services and then you will see a image at the top right of the screen saying "I want to" and hit the plus sign and you will see the options for forwarding your number.... Again, hope this helps a little but I don't know how your setup was before so I am just basing it on what my setup is...
shojus said:
I had this problem too... On my Galaxy Nexus I could just play back my voice mails right through my main phone applications phone log but now with this phone I had to uncheck the box in google voice (on your phone) that says "Voicemail Display" allowing you to view and playback your voicemails from your call log. Soooo, I get all of my notifications now but they are through the google voice app instead of my phone app... Does this make any sense to you cause I am really tired but I tried everything and this was the best option... So uncheck the box for "Voicemail display" in google voice settings on your phone and you should be good to go if that is what you are looking for?? Also you can go right to your account online and make sure it is setup to forward to your gv number... Just go to "My Verizon and then My plans and services and then you will see a image at the top right of the screen saying "I want to" and hit the plus sign and you will see the options for forwarding your number.... Again, hope this helps a little but I don't know how your setup was before so I am just basing it on what my setup is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I didnt really follow the first part of your post, I did try changing forwarding via My Verizon as you mentioned and sure enough, that did the trick! For whatever reason the * commands must not have been working, but all works as it should now.
Thanks!
Yesterday 1 call went to my Verizon voicemail. All the rest went to Google Voice. It was late in the evening (around 6pm est). Working fine this morning. Someone must have pulled the wrong switch again at the mothership.
timofcourse said:
While I didnt really follow the first part of your post, I did try changing forwarding via My Verizon as you mentioned and sure enough, that did the trick! For whatever reason the * commands must not have been working, but all works as it should now.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GREAT! Glad I could help somewhat...
JawaH8r said:
Yesterday 1 call went to my Verizon voicemail. All the rest went to Google Voice. It was late in the evening (around 6pm est). Working fine this morning. Someone must have pulled the wrong switch again at the mothership.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I first configured my Verizon line and Android phone for Google Voice (with my Droid Incredible), it turned out that I had to call Verizon to have them properly enable forwarding because the * codes were not working. They said there was a configuration problem with my account, which took a couple levels of Support to eventually fix. So, I guess that means they could accidentally screw up anyone's account after-the-fact, too.
- ooofest

[Q] Google Voice, Obi, Samsung Galaxy II, and TMobile

A while back, we got an Obi 201 device and got rid of our ridiculous $65/month basic landline (we live in the sticks). I signed up for a Google Voice number and got everything working. The Obi works great with the same phones we used for our landline, just wireless Panasonic things.
I also set up the Samsung Galaxy II thinking it would be great to have that phone ring with the same number.
We're supposed to be able to use the Obi app for Android to call home when we're away, or to allow the kids to call us. While the kids can call us no problem, we can almost never get the Obi app working where we can call from the cell to home. It's really inconvenient at times.
So I decided to just go back to using the regular Tmobile number on the cell phone.
First, I changed the google voice app so that it wasn't responsible for making outgoing calls. This didn't work. I still heard the little google voice chime whenever I made a call.
Next, I uninstalled the google voice app entirely. Still no dice, weirdly it still chimes the google voice noise when I make an outgoing call. And trying to call home using the google voice number just takes me to my voice messaging system. I can't ring the Panasonic phones.
I go into Google Voice on my desktop and uncheck the cell phone number so it won't forward the calls. I restart my phone and try to call the google voice number, which should now ONLY be forwarding to the Obi machine - but I'm *still* getting the google voice chime and it takes me to voice mail rather than the home phones.
The only other thing I can think of is that in the Obitalk website the cellphone is entered, but it doesn't give me any way to delete it, and the status is 'red' suggesting it's not working.
What in the world do I need to do to this dang phone to get it to simply use the Tmobile number? It's rooted.
I searched everywhere and couldn't find anyone with this same problem. I hope I'm being super dense and missing something obvious, because this is a bit nuts.
Thanks!
You may need to reinstall the Google Voice app and go through the settings. Disabling mobile data should successfully force the phone to use old-fashioned cellular for calls. If so, then something's telling your phone to make VOIP calls over mobile data.
Also, check the settings within the phone app.
post-mortem said:
You may need to reinstall the Google Voice app and go through the settings. Disabling mobile data should successfully force the phone to use old-fashioned cellular for calls. If so, then something's telling your phone to make VOIP calls over mobile data.
Also, check the settings within the phone app.
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Click to collapse
I have done all of that. Uninstalling the app completely - to the point where I can no longer find any reference to it in the phone settings, STILL calls out with that blasted google chime.
I reinstalled the app, and set it to never make calls with google voice, and it still calls out with the google chime, resulting in a total inability to call home - it goes straight to voice mail, thinking I'm calling myself.
I tried to delete my mobile number from google voice's website, but it says the account *has* to forward somewhere, even though my husband's google number does not forward anywhere.
If I un-check the mobile number to stop forwarding calls in the google voice website, calls stop coming to my OBI device, resulting in no home calls ringing, and the cell STILL calls out with that number.
I'm ready to throw this phone in the street and run over it a few times with the car. AUGH.
Should I just do a factory reset? I don't have any data that needs saving. I just want this stupid phone to be able to call my house when I'm out.
If that's the case, then go ahead and do that.
post-mortem said:
If that's the case, then go ahead and do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, but it didn't help. I begged for help on the Obitalk forums and finally found the setting I needed to change. For anyone else having this issue:
1. Add your t-mobile (or cell number) to Google Voice as a contact. Then, edit the google voice settings in the contact and make sure only 'ring google voice' is checked.
2. Then, go to the phones tab in the settings, and at the bottom click the 'edit' button. It's gray and hard to see. From there, click "advanced settings" and under voicemail check "no."
This will allow the cell phone to ring the Obi / google voice home number. Hooray.

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