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Google Voice and AT&T (little off topic)

Hi,
Since with Android you have a choice for your calls to go thru Google Voice (totally - only international or not at all) I was wondering how it works with AT&T.
If you call another AT&T cell phone it doesn't count in your minutes plan but what if you go trhu Google Voice? Is that consider like a landline to a cell phone? Or AT&T "sees" that you are using a AT&T cell and count the time has cell to cell ?
I hope I was clear in my explanation

I honestly don't know.
This has been discussed before on AT&T's forums.
The question on those forums were posed as: " If I use Google Voice and add that phone number to my "A-List" could I technically get unlimited calls to anyone?"
I'm pretty sure the answer was no. And therefore, I don't think AT&T sees the Google Voice number as anything but a forwarded call.
So if the calls are forwarded, you pay according to where it is forwarded.
Example: All of these go THROUGH Google Voice:
I call another AT&T cell from my AT&T cell. Same network = FREE M2M
I call a landline from my AT&T cell, no M2M, pay for call
This is also equal for when someone dials your Google Voice number.
It does leave questions on how international call are worked out. But I think that is on Google's end, not AT&T's

mymansionisabox said:
I honestly don't know.
This has been discussed before on AT&T's forums.
The question on those forums were posed as: " If I use Google Voice and add that phone number to my "A-List" could I technically get unlimited calls to anyone?"
I'm pretty sure the answer was no. And therefore, I don't think AT&T sees the Google Voice number as anything but a forwarded call.
So if the calls are forwarded, you pay according to where it is forwarded.
Example: All of these go THROUGH Google Voice:
I call another AT&T cell from my AT&T cell. Same network = FREE M2M
I call a landline from my AT&T cell, no M2M, pay for call
This is also equal for when someone dials your Google Voice number.
It does leave questions on how international call are worked out. But I think that is on Google's end, not AT&T's
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I am not sure that is correct, because when you place a google voice call, gv is actually calling you and then calling the other party and joining the calls. So for international you have a incoming local call and you get to pay GV low rates. I have a PBX at home that uses free incoming minutes and therefore with GV free unlimited calling.
Since we have android the callback is in the background, unless you have the update that allows you to call a GV number with a access code assigned to each contact so you don't have to wait for the callback and have a much faster connection.

just checked my usage... bad news...
making calls through GV counts against your minutes... each of my GV calls is going to a GV number and then going to the party i called (even though they're on AT&T as well)...
so, if you're calling an AT&T subscriber, just use your normal dialer... if you're calling any other carrier subscribers (or landlines) use either, depending on what number you want shown on potential caller ID's

just place the call through the GV web app then.

The way to get the free unlimited calls is to go into GV settings and have all calls from GV display on your phone as the GV number. You then give out the GV number as your main number, all incoming calls hit your phone and the number they came from is GV.
Also, when you make out outbound calls, you use GV to set up the call - it rings your cell and comes from your GV number, then connects to whoever you call.
If the GV number is one in your circle, or faves, or whatever ATT calls it, then all are free - but of course you lose caller id on incoming calls.

I have a Sprint data card that I use Skype with. A one and a half hour call through Skype only uses 25MB. Sprint is not able to "see" that I am using VoIP because Skype encrypts the data. This way I make somewhat free calls and its real cheap considering the data from my alloted 5gb. I am anxiously waiting for Skype to start working on ATT Smartphones. I did wonder how GV would work but I'd prefer Skype and use my Skypeout number.

alphadog00 said:
The way to get the free unlimited calls is to go into GV settings and have all calls from GV display on your phone as the GV number. You then give out the GV number as your main number, all incoming calls hit your phone and the number they came from is GV.
Also, when you make out outbound calls, you use GV to set up the call - it rings your cell and comes from your GV number, then connects to whoever you call.
If the GV number is one in your circle, or faves, or whatever ATT calls it, then all are free - but of course you lose caller id on incoming calls.
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Exactly, this also give you the option to press "4" during the call and record the call at GV!

kyphur said:
Exactly, this also give you the option to press "4" during the call and record the call at GV!
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the press 4 trick.. i had no idea.

alphadog00 said:
The way to get the free unlimited calls is to go into GV settings and have all calls from GV display on your phone as the GV number. You then give out the GV number as your main number, all incoming calls hit your phone and the number they came from is GV.
Also, when you make out outbound calls, you use GV to set up the call - it rings your cell and comes from your GV number, then connects to whoever you call.
If the GV number is one in your circle, or faves, or whatever ATT calls it, then all are free - but of course you lose caller id on incoming calls.
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Click to collapse
Yeah that is the best way to do it if you want to do a regular voice call. I didn't know ATT had the fav option!
Also what I do is use freepbx at home in a VM with a GV setup so I can make free VOIP calls to anyone in the US. I have voip phone at home and voip software on my phone. I still use GV for voicemail.
In this case i use SIPDROID.

AT&T added a fav option for higher dollar plans. I am not sure what they call it, but they did it keep up with VZW and TMo

at&t's version is called A-List. IIRC, you need to be on a $60 monthly or higher plan. You get to list 10 numbers on your account (not per line) and all in/out calls to those 10 numbers are treated as m2m...

[Q] Google voice and the Use Message App option

So, I have been a frequent user of the google voice app, I was toying around with the settings and noticed that there is an option to use the messaging app.
By using the messaging app does it count against the messaging plan?
I am not having voice send me SMS notifications (The option available on the website).

Google Voice messages do not count against the phone's AT&T SMS messaging count.
Google Voice introduces a whole new number with unlimited voice calling minutes (with no long-distance charges) from anywhere in the US to anywhere in the US or Canada, (plus unlimited text messages to/from both those places, as well); along with its own voicemail (which you may or may not want to actually use if you prefer to have all voicemail land in one place... specifically the phone's AT&T voicemail; or you could use it instead of AT&T-provided voicemail; or both... your call).
Google Voice is true VoIP, so any phone calls, SMS messages, etc., all happen using the phone's AT&T data (3G/4G) plan, not the phone's normal AT&T telephony (voice calls, text messaging) plan. Regarding texts, though -- and this is partly why I think some people with certain Samsung phones get confused -- you can set things on the phone so that incoming texts to the Google Voice number either make their own noise on the phone, and may be seen/replied-to only in the Google Voice app, or you can have them integrate with your normal text messages as far as how they appear on the phone. In neither case do they count against the phone's AT&T messaging limit.
Parenthetically, if text messages -- and by that, I mean the normal SMS/MMS to your AT&T phone number, and not Google Voice SMS -- is a concern, I've found that the AT&T unlimited texts with combination unlimited voice calls to cell phones (regardless of provider) is pretty useful. I forget what it costs for individuals, but on a family plan it's only $30 for all phones on the plan; and the first thing I noticed after three phone bills is that our number of regular voice calling minutes, through the AT&T (not the Google Voice) phone number, is seriously reduced because my wife, at least, pretty much mostly only calls other cell phones. I make a lot of business calls to business landline numbers, so I still use a lot of minutes; but with her minutes so seriously reduced because she calls (and receives calls from) so many cell phones, and because we've got the unlimited voice call minutes to other cells with combination unlimited texts plan, I'm toying with reducing the number of regular calling minutes on the family plan. But I want to have a few more months of bills to see if we ever get close to our current voice minutes before I do that. Still, the unlimited-texts-with-unlimited-voice-minutes-to-other-cells-(regardless-of-carrier) plan is way cool... for whatever that's worth.
The bottom line, though, regarding your question, is that nothing you do on Google Voice counts against either AT&T voice calling minutes, or AT&T text (SMS or MMS) messaging; however, both voice calling and texting via Google Voice uses the AT&T 3G/4G data plan. Fortunately, voice calls via Google Voice are fairly low bandwidth; and text messages, at a maximum of only 140 bytes per message, barely use any of your data plan at all, to speak of. Just, if you use Google Voice for voice calls, pay attention to how much bandwidth a typical 10 minute call makes, and then adjust your overall use accordingly. The 64-thousand-dollar-question has always been whether a typical month's worth of voice calls via Google Voice would actually be cheaper, in real dollars paid to AT&T for 3G/4G data, than would that same month's worth of calls had they been made via regular AT&T Wireless voice calling.
Another FYI: Google Voice, for most users, is SMS-only (no MMS); though, that said, it appears that Google's slowly rolling MMS out to all Google Voice users.
SEE: http : // bit . ly / x9BH3m (remove spaces to make the link work)
Hope that helps!
___________________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
Napa, California USA
gregg at greggdeselms dot com

DesElms said:
SEE: http : // bit . ly / x9BH3m (remove spaces to make the link work)
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Thanks for that bit of info! I somehow missed that in my various news feeds.
FlyingIsFun1217

[Q] Google Voice on Mobilicity or Wind Mobile? (Canada)

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 =/

Metro Pcs and Google Voice

Some that use Google Voice know of this. When you send a text via the browser or GV app, and have the receive text messages on this phone checked, you get a notification from the GV app, as well as the stock android App as well.
Since I text a friend in canada using my GV number, I get the incoming texts in GV and my android stock app. Is the one coming in on the Stock App still considered free, as its coming in via my GV number.
When you receive texts on your android app, it has some randomized number, with the persons name/real number in the message.
Metro PCS dont know anything, nor how to answer it. I know its free to call and text canada with GV. But how i get 2 texts at same time, im not sure if metro will try to charge me for international texting.
Reason i keep it this way, is i have bad data in my area, so when i get a text on my GV number, i dont get it in my GV app but in the stock android one. Its odd how it works but i cant uncheck the box on google voice settings or else i miss many texts due to shotty service in areas without wifi;

[Q] tmobile and google voice?

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?

It's working for me. Just make sure you check the option in hangouts settings to receive calls on the device, as well. Now trying to forward phone calls made to my T-Mobile number to my GV Voice Mail doesn't work since it's prepaid. At least, last time I tried it didn't.

As long as you have good service it works fine. Tried it over edge and kept falling to place calls. Where as edge works fine to place calls over normal cell network not using data.

Google confirmed calls to and from your Google voice number that you answer through the hangouts app are 100% data usage.

For any of you who have merged hangouts with Google Voice, is sending SMS *incredibly* slow?
Even when the keyboard doesn't freeze, a fast text message takes about 5-10 seconds to send.
App loading and navigation is also laggy. I wonder if it has to do with the mmssms database merged and having to load it.

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.