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What is the voice calling capability found in Gmail (on the desktop) called officially? I've been trying to search for solutions for this, but I don't even know what to call it- Google has SO many voice services now (chat, talk, voice, etc) that all sound like the same thing, yet aren't!
Here's what I'm looking to do:
I used the phone call function in Gmail to call abroad a few weeks ago via my laptop. I put about $10 into my balance there because it was cheaper per minute to call outside the US than Skype was. Worked perfectly.
Now, I'm trying to see if I can replace my netbook with a Tablet, so I'm trying to make those same calls from Android. I'll be honest, I'm wishing I had picked Skype to put the $10 credit on! Skype seems pretty straight forward- install it on the android device, make calls. But I've already spent the $10 on Google, so I'd like to find a way to make this work!
I tried going to Gmail from the browser and seeing if there was a link to install an app or something to make calls (like there is on the desktop side of things), but there is nothing there (ok, I didn't really expect it to work like that, but worth a try).
Is this part of a google chat application or something? Or is there no way to use that calling credit on an Android device??
I don't know for sure, but here are two options:
* Change the user agent in your Android browser to "Desktop" and use that interface. Though I am not sure if there will be issues with that.
* Use Google Voice. Which I am pretty sure is part of the same service they are using for Gmail calling. I use this for everything so I can read and send texts from my computer.
Tubes6al4v said:
I don't know for sure, but here are two options:
* Change the user agent in your Android browser to "Desktop" and use that interface. Though I am not sure if there will be issues with that.
* Use Google Voice. Which I am pretty sure is part of the same service they are using for Gmail calling. I use this for everything so I can read and send texts from my computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I tried the first one, but it requires a browser plugin to work (which is windows/mac only, so I can't get past that point).
Google Voice sounds like it could be it... but as far as I know, GV on Android doesn't actually let you place calls over IP yet, does it?
I thought it requires you to have a phone number it can call and then connect you via regular cellular minutes to the other party?
The device I'm using for this is a Tablet PC, so there isn't even a cellular radio or phone call system present. I'm trying to determine if I can replace a netbook for all the functions I use it for. This is something I know I can do on the netbook over wifi using the dialer in gmail, so I'd like to know I can do it on the Tablet as well. Does GVoice do that?
It's a paid app, but download GrooVe IP. It's the same thing that you did on your laptop, but with Android.
It is a third party app. But you get free, reliable calling anywhere in the US and get to use Google Voice's cheap international calling plans. [Edit: Over wifi, of course]
Dishe said:
So, I tried the first one, but it requires a browser plugin to work (which is windows/mac only, so I can't get past that point).
Google Voice sounds like it could be it... but as far as I know, GV on Android doesn't actually let you place calls over IP yet, does it?
I thought it requires you to have a phone number it can call and then connect you via regular cellular minutes to the other party?
The device I'm using for this is a Tablet PC, so there isn't even a cellular radio or phone call system present. I'm trying to determine if I can replace a netbook for all the functions I use it for. This is something I know I can do on the netbook over wifi using the dialer in gmail, so I'd like to know I can do it on the Tablet as well. Does GVoice do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the new google talk for android 2.3.4 allows for vid chat (so probably just voice as well), over wifi or 3g. there are ways to get it on 2.3.3 devices, for some devices, maybe not all, don't know. but, i chatted with my buddy from my phone to his pc, so it's definitely a voip service
im doing google voice from my gingerbread phone (EVO 4G) as my primary line... i dont pay a monthly cell phone service... i get picture mail, txt messages, internet, and unlimited cell service.
Pbxes+Google Voice= Unlimited
I have no delay on my phone, it sounds better than sprint when i had it...
the only catch is; u have to have Wifi around... basically everywhere i go its wifi avaliable....
jojo757 said:
im doing google voice from my gingerbread phone (EVO 4G) as my primary line... i dont pay a monthly cell phone service... i get picture mail, txt messages, internet, and unlimited cell service.
Pbxes+Google Voice= Unlimited
I have no delay on my phone, it sounds better than sprint when i had it...
the only catch is; u have to have Wifi around... basically everywhere i go its wifi avaliable....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this only Google Voice for Gingerbread that supports that? Or is this a new feature in GV in general? Last I checked they didn't support it...
+1 for GrooveIP. Its much easier than the alternatives imo.
WiredPirate said:
+1 for GrooveIP. Its much easier than the alternatives imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if Google Voice has a native app that does this for free, I'm totally game! Nice to know there are choices, tho!
Dishe said:
But if Google Voice has a native app that does this for free, I'm totally game! Nice to know there are choices, tho!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, Google Voice does not do what GrooveIP does. When you have no cell coverage or lose cell coverage GV will drop your call or not place it, defeating the point. Even though you are on wifi you cannot place a call with GV w/o cell coverage. With GrooveIP you dont have to have cell coverage, you dont even need a sim.
I'm trying out this Groove IP right now. I must say I'm impressed by the call quality and the seemless functionality of the program. Not a huge fan of the constant notification, but I can live with it. OP it sounds like you should use this program, it's 3.99 in the market but boy is it worth it!
jojo757 said:
im doing google voice from my gingerbread phone (EVO 4G) as my primary line... i dont pay a monthly cell phone service... i get picture mail, txt messages, internet, and unlimited cell service.
Pbxes+Google Voice= Unlimited
I have no delay on my phone, it sounds better than sprint when i had it...
the only catch is; u have to have Wifi around... basically everywhere i go its wifi avaliable....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I setup pbxes + google voice and it seems to work most of the time. I'm interested to know how you are getting picture mail though - I thought googlevoice only supported txt messages.
k4p741nkrunch said:
I'm trying out this Groove IP right now. I must say I'm impressed by the call quality and the seemless functionality of the program. Not a huge fan of the constant notification, but I can live with it. OP it sounds like you should use this program, it's 3.99 in the market but boy is it worth it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn off the notification in the settings :]
And OP, Android 2.3+ has built in support for SIP addresses. You register with a provider online, and they'll route your calls. It's a bit more complicated to set up, and typically costs (But sites like PBXes will give them out for free if you use them at least once a month). You typically get a US number and can set that up with Google Voice. Apps like csipsimple and sipdroid are alternatives for supporting SIP if you don't have Android 2.3+
I suggested GrooVe IP because it's a 1 step setup (Login with your Google account and you're done), and is identical quality to the calling through Gmail because there's no middleman. It's certainly possible to set it up for free using SIP instead, and there are some great guides on google.
I am getting picture mail because: I had a Google voice number before I got me Sprint number. Then I migrated my Sprint # to my Google voice acct.
Since then my Sprint service was disconnected because I recently lost my job, so I decided since I was out of contract anyway i'll say forget Sprint and use my Google voice acct. But back to how I got picture mail, when they disconnected my Sprint acct they didn't disconnect the Sprint number because it migrated over to my Google voice.
So when I call my Sprint number it forwards it to my GV number... But to get picture mail (keep in mind my Sprint acct has been disconnected for like a month) u have to have mobile network always on, and have wifi connected at the same time, if someone sends me a picture mail it'll come thru but I can't download the picture (not by Sprint network), but since I have wifi on it'll download the picture for me (Sprint can't officially cancel the number because u migrated over to GV, so now its your number for good. The only catch u can't respond to the picture mail and u can only respond thru the Google voice app.
Back in April sipdroid gave people a way to merge pbxes & Google voice... So since I upgraded to gingerbread, I no longer use sipdroid and I use the built-in internet call feature in gingerbread...
So I have service like everyone else with no problem, just no 3g or 4G service, all wifi on my phone.... Plus I can use my Bluetooth with my phone with no problem...
Hopefully talk understood that, if not PM me and i'll try to break it down...
Sent From Evo
The google voice app has never worked on my phone, always giving me some message about it being for US only.
But today i tried it from my phone and it actually allowed me to set up an account. It stopped at the screen where i was setting up my voicemail pin and said "We have a problem. Your phone number could not be verified. Please try again.". So far i havent been able to get past that screen.
I was able to make google voice calls on my laptop today so it seems like they are allowing use in Canada finally. Does anyone know if its possible to use google voice on mobilicity or wind?
I am curious because mobilicity has a new plan with unlimited calls texts and data for 25 a month, but no voicemail. If i can use google voice as my voicemail then obviously that wont be a problem.
don't know if you checked this out already, but read the post below...I think it should explain what you're looking for....
http://community.windmobile.ca/windmobile/topics/using_google_voice_on_your_phone?from_gsfn=true
Thanks, its too bad that the workarounds discussed in that post still dont offer a solution for voicemail, but that will probably be useful information for future reference.
I did find a solution to this problem without using google voice if anyone is interested. I may as well share it.
To those who are interested in this plan but wont sign up without voicemail:
- You can get a free phone number and a customizable answering machine from http://www.freephoneline.ca/ (if you cant get a toronto number you can use thornhill, richmond hill, etc to avoid forwarding to a long distance number)
- Then set your phone to forward your unanswered, busy, and unavailable incoming calls to your freephoneline number.
- Then set your voicemail access number to the corresponding number on this list http://www.freephoneline.ca/vmAccessNumbers
- Also make sure to set your freephoneline to only ring once before going to voicemail, you can do this by logging into your account on their website and going to your settings
- You now have $25 BTS + Voicemail! When people call your regular phone number and you dont answer, it will forward them to your voicemail on your freephoneline number, and you can check your voicemail from your cell phone the same way you always would.
I believe they also provide the option to automatically transcribe your voicemails and email them to you in text form.
EDIT: Apparantly call forwarding is $5 more, if thats true this wouldnt work. Another option would be using Dell Voice on the android market.
Its an app gives you a canadian number with the area code of your choice and can be used to make and receive calls anywhere in canada and US for free, and customizable voicemail. It uses your carrier data to do this, but since this plan has unlimited data that shouldnt be a problem. The only problem is you would have to get used to making and receiving all your calls through an app, and using your dell voice number as your primary number.
Might be worth the extra $5 to get call features and add the freephoneline voicemail via the method above, the $5 call features addon on the mobilicity website includes Call Waiting, Call Forwarding and 3-Way Calling, (plus voicemail via fpl). Thats basically $30 for the $29 plan i currently have with wind except that it doesnt expire in a year and go up to $45 =/
Greetings fellow G-tabbers,
I appreciate everyone's input here and am hoping to be a long-term member of this community.
I would love to keep this tablet but am thinking it's going to have to be returned before my 14 day window with T-Mobile is up.
My questions: Is it possible to set up some kind of workaround to be able to receive CONDITIONALLY FORWARDED calls via the G-Tab/T-Mobile phone number to my other T-Mobile phone (basically, set up conditional call forwarding)? According to T-Mobile they can't because the tablet plan has a code in the system blocking calls.
Or if that's not possible, is there some other way, perhaps spoofing my own cell phone number as my outbound text number instead of using the assigned tablet phone number?
I realize that there are 3rd party apps out there but I'd much rather use the native text messaging application and not a 3rd party app such as Google Voice, Line 2, etc.
Here's the background:
I am a headhunter for a Federal DoD contractor and as such, I review resumes on various job boards (i.e. Monster.com, etc). As a way to connecting with candidates (I know who they are but they do not know me yet), I send them a text message, email and then voicemail. When setting up my Data Plan, I learned T-Mobile scripted within the system "call block" or "voice barred" feature, Tier 3 tech support at Tmo is unable to set up conditional call forwarding.
As a result of this, should a candidate decide to call my text number they'll get a dead number message saying something to the effect that this phone line cannot take incoming calls.
So what happens is that the candidate things I am unreachable or worse yet that the text message was spam (unless they fully read their text and check their email account).
Thanks so much in advance for your help and consideration.
Im assuming you have a GT-P6200 since tmobiles GTab+ doesnt have phone abilities.
Tell them you dont want/need a tablet plan becuase YOU DONT HAVE A TABLET!
tell them it IS a smartphone, have them try to put you on a smartphone plan, thats
how most of ATT guys sneak by.
at least try to find a smartphone SIM with data/voice to see if it works without issues. It should.
last resort: "bribe" a young tmobile rep to spoof an IMEI to put you on smartphone plan.
Thanks Chris! I'll try that! I am using 2 other phones (work + personal), I wonder if I set up call forwarding prior to swapping SIM cards if it'll work.
Your thoughts?
Yes i think the call forwarding should stickt
chrisrotolo said:
Yes i think the call forwarding should stickt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great!
I just realized that my mini Sims won't work. Have to buy an adaptor to try/test out.
Quick question... Only because I am new to Tmo and sim cards (just fired Sprint) . What is involved with spoofing an IMEI?
Thank you again for your help!
P.S. how do you use your tab? Do you have it rooted?
V/r.
I think other people here use smartphone sims with unlimited data on tmobile. Its do-able. Next time, a good rule is to always avoid telling your carrier how you will use your device because you know they think they know what is best.
Anyways spoofing an IMEI, means.. they need a smartphone IMEI in their "system", so a friendly helpful tmobile rep who doesnt care much about getting in trouble or knows his way around takes an IMEI from a never used phone like a demo model, you run an application that reports your IMEI the demo, etc. Its actually probably more involved than this. And Ive heard it may well be illegal, Class C felony. What you might want to ask them is if there is a way to just enter your device as a smartphone and not a tablet, but it is probably generated by IMEI.
PROTIP: if you do have 6200, it's good idea to make 2 backups of your /efs folder (if rooted).
MrJinx said:
Greetings fellow G-tabbers,
I realize that there are 3rd party apps out there but I'd much rather use the native text messaging application and not a 3rd party app such as Google Voice, Line 2, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Voice is not a 3rd party app, it will completely and natively integrate with your Android stock dialer. If you were on an iOS device it would be terribly clumsy, but not on Android.
iso1600 said:
Google Voice is not a 3rd party app, it will completely and natively integrate with your Android stock dialer. If you were on an iOS device it would be terribly clumsy, but not on Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no stock android dialer in Honeycomb as it was meant only for tablets and not phones. I thought I saw a thread somewhere in here of people using Google Voice with a third party app to make calls. I think you could also use the Goolge Voice number for texting as there were threads on how to do this in my phones forum when Google Voice first came out. I think Skype will also assign you a static phone number to use if you pay for the service. I would also search the other tabs forums to see if anyone in those has a mod for it to work as a phone off a sim card from a carrier. Personally I would trade it in for the Galaxy Note if I wanted to use it as a phone and tablet.
or check out GrooveIP in play store one of the more popular VOIP/SIP applications, has option for 3G, cant guarantee quality will be the same as regular voice, but Im sure its one of the top 3 out there.
After doing some Googleing and reading up on some GTab 10.1 threads it appears that Honeycomb 3.2 on a GSM tablet should be able to make calls if the carrier supports it. Which TMO doesn't. You could try getting a pre-paid sim card and dropping it in to see if it will work, maybe something like Virgin Mobile. There maybe something in the OS from TMO that may block other sims so not sure how that would work.
After thinking about it the tablet is more than likely locked to TMo and it has to be moded to use anohter carrier, like boost mobile. For phones its a complicated hack getting it on another network. I still think your better off getting the Galaxy Note but then you would have to pay for a second phone line and data plan to use both the tablet and your phone at the same time and then conditionally forward your calls as you suggested.
Hi,
I'm not interested in using my tab to make calls; only to send texts via the native in-built messaging app. I don't want to use other Android apps, just the stock messaging. I am able to do this to great success on Sprint. Sprint is able to go into the backend system and apply conditional call forwarding. Not the case with Tmo.
My main purpose is to NOT miss calls from people who may decide to call via reply to text as that's what appears as my callback number when it's not.
Thanks so much to everyone for your input.
MrJinx said:
Hi,
I'm not interested in using my tab to make calls; only to send texts via the native in-built messaging app. I don't want to use other Android apps, just the stock messaging. I am able to do this to great success on Sprint. Sprint is able to go into the backend system and apply conditional call forwarding. Not the case with Tmo.
My main purpose is to NOT miss calls from people who may decide to call via reply to text as that's what appears as my callback number when it's not.
Thanks so much to everyone for your input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
Sorry to say, but TMO won't support this. They have silly notion that you should buy a separate phone from them if you want to make calls.
still not sure what device you have. this may be worth a shot, although I understand tmobile says its not possible, etc.
http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/T-Mobile_Conditional_Call_Forwarding
what is wrong with other messaging apps?, there are usually many on the market which have many more options than stock. just asking.
Fairy Princess said:
.
Sorry to say, but TMO won't support this. They have silly notion that you should buy a separate phone from them if you want to make calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Don't want/need to make calls. I only need for texting, however, if one of my candidate prospects (I am unknown to them at this point) attempts to call me via the link on their phone because of my text from the tablet, it'll ring to a dead number, the tablet number.
I ONLY want the calls to be conditionally call forwarded to my other Tmo cell phone which already has unlimited phone minutes.
chrisrotolo said:
still not sure what device you have. this may be worth a shot, although I understand tmobile says its not possible, etc.
http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/T-Mobile_Conditional_Call_Forwarding
what is wrong with other messaging apps?, there are usually many on the market which have many more options than stock. just asking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Chris,
The reason I don't want to use other apps is if/when we move to ICS some of those apps may not be compatible for some time until they upgrade. I was burned using a VOIP app (Line 2) which worked very well and suited my needs on my older Gingerbread Tab (HTC EVO View) and when I upgraded to HoneyComb I learned that Line2 won't and never will support HC and I now know that the EVO View tab will not be upgraded to ICS.
I don't want to go there anymore, it severely impacts my ability to get my work done. I'd much rather use the native messaging app. Also because it doesn't use any data to use the native app, if I use an app from the Play Market, I'm likely going to have to use up my data plan and then I am prone to crashing, etc. Unless I am missing something are there any other alternatives?
V/r.
Two options:
(1) Sign up for GoogleVoice and port your number to that. This is very easy and will give you full control over where that phone call routes.
(2) Go get a straighttalk SIM ($15) and service ($45, for unlimited) and tell TMO they've lost your business.
Or, do both.
This has been a work in progress over on the N4 forums, with little progress. I have zero cell reception in certain parts of my home with T-Mobile USA. What can I use as an alternative? Without using a different phone number (i.e Google Voice). Does Hangouts send SMS over Wifi or Cellular? What are you guys using?
Have you ever called tmobile about this. They have given people cell boosters for similar problems
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
I'm having the same issue with T-Mobile. I have full LTE signal all around my city but the second I walk into my apartment I have absolutely no service. It's quite frustrating and I'm trying to find an alternative. I tried calling T-Mobile about it but they said their cell boosters are "only for stand alone homes and won't work in an apartment complex", which seems ridiculous but whatever.
I'd be willing to switch to Google Voice but I haven't been able to confirm whether or not Google Voice makes/receives calls and texts via Wifi, or if I'll need a separate app to make it work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The typical method these days is Google Voice (since that's not specifically an SIP/VoIP thing itself) + either GrooveIP or Talkatone (which ARE those things) and you can then do SIP/VoIP calling from the Google Voice number, but as noted in the T-Mobile $30 plan thread multiple times (and other places as well) Google is removing the ability for third party apps to interact with GV at the end of April 2014 so that's when we (people that GV + third-party apps) will be forced to find other solutions to make SIP/VoIP calls).
And the other thing is that T-Mobile Wi-Fi calling setup uses minutes from your service plan - most people don't know this and it's not a big hassle on a 1500 minute or unlimited calling plan, but for those of us with the $30 plan it's basically pointless to use it when other alternatives (such as those I just described, at least for another 5 months or so) exist.
Skype is another option but you could be looking at some money involved based on what/who/where you're calling, and then there's stuff like Vonage if you use that service but that's an expenditure as well.
Google Voice for the Home via ObiTalk
sn0warmy said:
I'm having the same issue with T-Mobile. I have full LTE signal all around my city but the second I walk into my apartment I have absolutely no service. It's quite frustrating and I'm trying to find an alternative. I tried calling T-Mobile about it but they said their cell boosters are "only for stand alone homes and won't work in an apartment complex", which seems ridiculous but whatever.
I'd be willing to switch to Google Voice but I haven't been able to confirm whether or not Google Voice makes/receives calls and texts via Wifi, or if I'll need a separate app to make it work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just FYI; I told AT&T to go fly a kite about 8 months ago for my home phone and have been using Google Voice on my home line as well as my cell phone for FREE. Yes; that's FREE incoming and outgoing calls.
I am using a small VoIP phone adapter found on Amazon called OBi202 from ObiTalk.com
Costs about $80 bucks and there is even a wifi adapter for $25 if you can't plug it in via Cat5 to your internet connection at home.
Anyway; you configure the phone adapter to use Google Voice and voila! You can connect 2 separate lines. I have mine and my wife's hooked up to cordless phones so I now have free home phone service.
Down side? The caller ID is a numer and not a name. I read about services available for a subscription that will give you the Name on Caller ID but if this is so important to you I guess you are OK with paying $60+ for phone service. (Yea right)
When you get a call it will ring simultaneously on your home phone and your mobile.
Free service; I LIKE THAT. And if you get bad reception at home from your mobile the nice part is that this could solve your issue because you give out your Google Voice number out and the phone will automatically start be ringing on your cordless when you are home.
Hope this helps you!!:good:
---------- Post added at 08:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------
sn0warmy said:
I'm having the same issue with T-Mobile. I have full LTE signal all around my city but the second I walk into my apartment I have absolutely no service. It's quite frustrating and I'm trying to find an alternative. I tried calling T-Mobile about it but they said their cell boosters are "only for stand alone homes and won't work in an apartment complex", which seems ridiculous but whatever.
I'd be willing to switch to Google Voice but I haven't been able to confirm whether or not Google Voice makes/receives calls and texts via Wifi, or if I'll need a separate app to make it work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh; to answer your question I sent myself and back texts using Google Voice over Wifi only and it worked. I have called with it via Wifi also when traveling.
So it does.
You can use MagicJack. They also have a android app. I heard it pretty good, however to use the android app, you need to register your phone. Once you register your phone, you can't unregister it. This is info I pulled about a year ago. Look into it though.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Port your number to Google Voice.
Get a VoIP account at a provider that has good latency for your location (I use voip.ms, costs $0.014/min outgoing, ~$0.01/min incoming).
Set up CSIPSimple on your phone (use g729a for good quality on slower connections, PCMU on faster connections; be prepared to fiddle with settings to get it down right)
Make calls using CSIPSimple from your voip.ms account
Set up Google Voice to ring both your voip.ms number when you receive calls, as well as your T-Mobile number (in case you don't have WiFi or data when the call comes through).
I've got a 4G/LTE Note 8.0 N2150. Since getting this I resolved getting a one year unlimited Skype Out call subscription unlimited for my country. This is sold by Microsoft/Skype as a replacement for your phone, except for emergency calls, quote "Make internet calls for free and cheap online calls to phones and mobiles with Skype. Sign up today and discover a whole new world of staying in touch."
What Microsoft won't tell you is the dial pad doesn't work to make selections for extentions on switchboards under Android. This means all your calls to companies, institutions, government etc are defunct and requires paying extra for by using your usual cell phone SIM. Unless they have manned switchboards.
There's no information on this at all when signing up. Since the dial pad works for dialling a phone number, and the marketing is "make cheap online calls to phones" you only have two weeks to discover this and cancel your subscription.
In a one hour "support" call, where they do not up front ask for OS, device, version of Skype, etc, suggesting immature support, I was finally told that "oh, the dial pad doesn't work in Android. Never has." In the call it was blamed on Skype just recently having been acquired by Microsoft. Er, that was three years ago.
Some further investigation shows that this problem went unattended on Windows7 for a whole year 2011-2012, although Microsoft Skype now claims it's been addressed both for Windows and on Macs.
No official plans exist to address this, nor are there any replies by Skype on the forum.
So, Skype is ripe for picking unless Julie Larson-Green takes action.