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!
Related
I'm going to college next year, and I'll be stuck paying my own phone bill for the first time, and I'm wondering if it's even an option to have no mobile service. A plan with no calling or texting, just data.
If I could only pay $30 per month for my phone bill, that would be huge, considering minutes and texting. I could buy minutes from Skype or Google voice and make calls with those applications, and text through AIM or another free texting app.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/messagingplans.jsp
That's probably what you're looking for but not sure if it's available for 4G devices and it says documentation required for smartphones.
I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.
That could work, but is it required to either get texting or minutes? I really just want to be $30 for the unlimited data, and text through a texting app or AIM. I could easily make calls through skype or google voice.
The off-contract phone could work too, especially with a phone like the tbolt, but isn't a bit inconvenient to not be able to call or text while you're out? Also, does anyone know what a typical internet speed is for a college dorm?
U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only.
I'd just use wifi if I was on campus, I'm sure its faster than 3g.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using XDA App
booda3000 said:
U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only
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Check out the link in post 2, unlimited data and messages and no voice minutes
The link in post 2 says that documentation is required though... think that means you need proof that you are deaf or hard of hearing... so unless you have this they probably won't even give you that..
necosino said:
I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.
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How do you do this as when you try to use google voice it wants the number associated with the phone right?
don't have a clue about the plan, I've never heard of such being offered though. Speeds will depend on what college you're at. Most major universities have at least a T1 line in my experience. YMMV
your best bet is to just visit your local verizon store and see if you get a tech who is nice enough to activate the service listed in post #2
I had the unlimited text/data activated over the phone with the corporate #. 800-922-0204. They didn't ask questions.
i like the $50 loyalty plan better. Its cheaper, u get 50 emergency minutes a month and u can text unlimited with google voice.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App
..
Ok, I have a question. My daughter has an iPhone and I was helping her set up her email on it when she got a phone call during the process. I did not answer it, but when they left a message I was very impressed by the way the iPhone displayed the message on the phone. there was actually a list of all of her v-mails and it listed who they were from and what not.
I am sure we do and I just don't know it, but do we have anything like this?
There are a few apps out there, but many will probably recommend using google voice and activating the voicemail transcribe feature.
Isn't that Visual Voicemail? If so AT&T charges extra for it.
Truckerglenn said:
Isn't that Visual Voicemail? If so AT&T charges extra for it.
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Yeah I think your right.
"I wish I had more than 1 Infuse."
--X--
joeclark said:
Ok, I have a question. My daughter has an iPhone and I was helping her set up her email on it when she got a phone call during the process. I did not answer it, but when they left a message I was very impressed by the way the iPhone displayed the message on the phone. there was actually a list of all of her v-mails and it listed who they were from and what not.
I am sure we do and I just don't know it, but do we have anything like this?
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That is called Visual Voicemail. AT&T had this set up exclusively for iPhone since iPhone's inception into AT&T, and to make data mandatory. They haven't expanded to other phones, yet.
Google voice can do something like this, and it doesn't set the popup in the middle of the screen, it shows up in the dropdown bar.
I'll post a pic shortly.
What you are looking for?
Google voice is free for voicemail. I use it. AT&T does have a visual voicemail option that you can add to your plan, but why do that when GVoice is free. (Note: I am using CM7, so idk what difference it'll make if you are on a stock ROM)
there is visual voicemail on the newest phones as far as what I've heard. Google voice is free and att doesn't surcharge for forwarded calls. att isn't so bad. for the money you get coverage and little perks like this. try Google voice on sprint see what the phone bill comes out to be with all the forwarded calls.
Thank you all! That is pretty much what I am looking for.
sent from a phone using an app
Dani897 said:
there is visual voicemail on the newest phones as far as what I've heard. Google voice is free and att doesn't surcharge for forwarded calls. att isn't so bad. for the money you get coverage and little perks like this. try Google voice on sprint see what the phone bill comes out to be with all the forwarded calls.
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Funny thing is that we have Sprint Voicemail. It's an app that downloads the voicemails to your phone and uses the data of your phone. but rememember, I have unlimited data so it works perfect. It's included in the unlimited data. plus, forwarding is including in most of the plans. So, if you're on Sprint, there's no need for GVoice.
I just got a Lumia 900. I only do about 100-200 texts a month, so I am disappointed by AT&T's only texting option of $20 (as opposed to $5 on VZW)
Are there any apps that I can use to text using data instead?
I know that Text+ has come out for WP, but it looks like you can't keep your existing phone number. I dont want people to have to keep two mobile numbers for me, and I dont want to have to pay $20 a month for something I dont use that much. Any suggestions/alternatives?
ballanda123 said:
I just got a Lumia 900. I only do about 100-200 texts a month, so I am disappointed by AT&T's only texting option of $20 (as opposed to $5 on VZW)
Are there any apps that I can use to text using data instead?
I know that Text+ has come out for WP, but it looks like you can't keep your existing phone number. I dont want people to have to keep two mobile numbers for me, and I dont want to have to pay $20 a month for something I dont use that much. Any suggestions/alternatives?
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Whatsapp dude!! it's the best
ballanda123 said:
I just got a Lumia 900. I only do about 100-200 texts a month, so I am disappointed by AT&T's only texting option of $20 (as opposed to $5 on VZW)
Are there any apps that I can use to text using data instead?
I know that Text+ has come out for WP, but it looks like you can't keep your existing phone number. I dont want people to have to keep two mobile numbers for me, and I dont want to have to pay $20 a month for something I dont use that much. Any suggestions/alternatives?
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There's whatsapp, viber and heytell.
I have tried the first two, very low data usage and work very well. Honestly can't believe you haven't heard of whatsapp.
I need too....
Want it too..
Would love to have it .. i live in india so i would prefer to have my country specific app for sending SMS .. there is already such apps for Androids over here .. didnt find any thing for WP7 .
Whatsapp requires that the people you are texting also have the app.
It's not a data-sms to text-sms app.
If you live in US, you can use Google Voice service for your texting needs. There is an app called GoVoice, which uses data, but lets you communicate to others via texting through your Google Voice number.
That means that if you are comfortable giving everyone an alternate number for texting, then this should do the job for you. Unlimited texting (till the end of 2012, i think) for free.
Hi,
Using Google Voice and Groove IP, I am able to place ourgoing calls with no problem.
Is there a way or a setting that I don't see that would allow incoming phone calls as well. When I dial the google # from a standard cell phone, it goes right to VM.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Access Google voice with a browser. login and under settings add Google chat as another forwarding line. Then edit your forwarded mobile phone number and under advanced settings have Google voice ring your other lines if it can't reach your mobile phone. Now when someone calls your mobile number and u don't pick up, it will ring your tablet.
Should have gotten an international voice+3g tab, much better than going through all these steps. just saying.....
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
I realize most everyone on here tries to find a work around from having to pay for anything.. but in this case why not just make it easy on yourself and use Skype? I have been paying VZW 100.00 per month, 1200.00 per year! for my smart phone for about 6yrs but recently suspended it in favor of trying something different.
I got the idea when I had my Xoom and and it worked so well that I sold that and recently purchased the much lighter, pocketable, portable Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
I still pay VZW 30.00 for a 2GB data plan per month but Id have to pay that with my smart phone anyway.. I then use (free) google voice for all my text and pay a subscription to Skype of 2.99per month or 30.00 for the whole year for unlimited calls.. I also purchased a number from them which is another 30.00 per year so people can call me. So it comes out to under 70.00 for the whole year! rather than 1200.00
I know that may not work for everyone.. it's not ideal having to use two different numbers and if your data strength is so so it may not work so well.. I also know there are probably many many other ways to do this.. but for me I don't think 70.00 per year is a lot to pay plus the convenience of not having to set much up totally works for me..
@bioshock22, you can achieve what you just described using what OP is using... And you don't pay the $70/yr. GrooveIP/Google voice gives you a free phone number of your choice and free unlimited incoming / outgoing calls to any US/Canadian number. OP has a single phone number for texting and calls all for free. He just pays verizon for the data plan.
@aximtreo, I don't have a forwarding number enabled for Google voice. I just have Google chat checked for forwarding so I can receive calls on the tablet.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent ICS Blue Tapatalk 2
As I said in my post I am sure there are many many ways to do this but for me it is all about convenience.. I have no desire to spend a whole day looking through hundreds of these forum posts reading what app this guy recommends only to have another guy say this one is better or this one is better or this one is better.. THEN have to figure out how to forward from google voice, google talk, google this, google that etc. etc.
Like Denzel say's in the movie Philadelphia.. "Explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old"
Rarely does anyone ever do that on here.. everyone assumes you already have an idea what to do so if you don't you better free up a whole day because you'll be spending that time digging through post, after post, after post..
interesting thread. been thinking about this for weeks.
what I wonder is whether anyone is making use of their bluetooth headsets? can calls from either skype or gvoice/grooveip be initiated and answered this way? if yes, I'm almost sure to give up my cellphone entirely! otherwise, I don't think I'd like holding up a 7.7 inch tab up to my noggin like I would my smartphone.
ZenNook said:
interesting thread. been thinking about this for weeks.
what I wonder is whether anyone is making use of their bluetooth headsets? can calls from either skype or gvoice/grooveip be initiated and answered this way? if yes, I'm almost sure to give up my cellphone entirely! otherwise, I don't think I'd like holding up a 7.7 inch tab up to my noggin like I would my smartphone.
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I'm using an international version though, but skype works through bluetooth dunno if you can initiate it though.
ok, so im getting the 100 minute, unlimited data 30$ tmobile plan on my sprint nexus 5 cause sprint totally sucks.
i have a google voice number and i was just wondering, now that hangouts has calling integrated, can i just use google voice number to make and receive calls over data?
im reading conflicting things, like some people want call forwarding from tmobile (im thinking they want their cell number forwarded to google voice) which 1)isnt an option and 2) not really needed since people will be calling my seperate google voice number
also reading that tmobile blocks google voice on their prepaid plans for some folks
is anyone using the 30 month 100 minute unlimited tmobile data plan and making and receiving calls using a seperate google voice number?
Yes VoIP in Hangouts works just fine with the T-Mobile $30 plan. You can't forward from T-Mobile to GV but that doesn't matter if you use your GV number to take incoming calls.
dwreck420 said:
ok, so im getting the 100 minute, unlimited data 30$ tmobile plan on my sprint nexus 5 cause sprint totally sucks.
i have a google voice number and i was just wondering, now that hangouts has calling integrated, can i just use google voice number to make and receive calls over data?
im reading conflicting things, like some people want call forwarding from tmobile (im thinking they want their cell number forwarded to google voice) which 1)isnt an option and 2) not really needed since people will be calling my seperate google voice number
also reading that tmobile blocks google voice on their prepaid plans for some folks
is anyone using the 30 month 100 minute unlimited tmobile data plan and making and receiving calls using a seperate google voice number?
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Yes, I just set up a GV number and I'm going to begin providing it to my family members and close friends to use as the number to reach me. Everyone else can leave a message for me to pick up in visual VM, and then I'll call them back if needed. The only negative is that T-Mobile's coverage really stinks outside of a few areas where it's screaming fast. Inside my house in Metro Detroit, my wife can get 30 Mbps on her Verizon GS4 while I get 5-8 on my LG G3. And it can be really spotty as you travel between cities & towns, so missing a few calls & texts when driving is going to be a real probability. But for $30/mo, I can probably live with it.
zhamilton05 said:
Yes, I just set up a GV number and I'm going to begin providing it to my family members and close friends to use as the number to reach me. Everyone else can leave a message for me to pick up in visual VM, and then I'll call them back if needed. The only negative is that T-Mobile's coverage really stinks outside of a few areas where it's screaming fast. Inside my house in Metro Detroit, my wife can get 30 Mbps on her Verizon GS4 while I get 5-8 on my LG G3. And it can be really spotty as you travel between cities & towns, so missing a few calls & texts when driving is going to be a real probability. But for $30/mo, I can probably live with it.
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The coverage is what killed it for me. I'd been waiting for Hangouts and voice to merge but switched to straight talk last month. Happy to finally get coverage in the locations I'm in the most.
First, you sure can just use Google Voice number to make and receive calls over data. In fact, Hangouts only use data, not voice/talk minute at all.
Second, prepaid mobile phone plans do not have conditional forwarding which is required to forward incoming calls to mobile DID (Direct Inward Dialing -- telephone number) to Google Voice DID. Therefore, you are correct. It is not an option. Moreover, you are also correct as to there is no such need to forward calls from mobile DID to Google Voice DID due to people will be using separate Google Voice DID. I would suggest you port Sprint mobile DID to Ring.to and have Ring.to forward all incoming calls and texts to your Google Voice DID. Consequently, people have been using your current Sprint mobile DID will continue be able to contact you without changing your DID. You just get a new DID from T-Mobile when you sign up for $30 prepaid plan for 100 minutes talk, unlimited text and data with first 5 GB up to LTE speeds.
Third, I am using $30 prepaid plan for 100 minutes talk, unlimited text and data with first 5 GB up to LTE speeds and using Hangouts for outgoing calls. It just work flawlessly! I use Voxox for incoming calls and do not use mobile DID came with T-Mobile $30 plan at all.