I use Google Voice extensively for about 50% of my contacts. Because of this, I set google voice to ask me every time if I want to use Google Voice to dial or use the native method.
What would be great is if I can specify that preference on the contact level so I don't have to go through the menu selection for every single one of my calls.
Thoughts?
I think you can do this by dialing the 406 number assigned to your contacts by Google. The caller ID they receive will be from GV, which I presume means the call is actually routed through GV. I did not experiment fully when I discovered this since I have unlimited minutes anyway.
ytj87 said:
I think you can do this by dialing the 406 number assigned to your contacts by Google. The caller ID they receive will be from GV, which I presume means the call is actually routed through GV. I did not experiment fully when I discovered this since I have unlimited minutes anyway.
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can you elaborate on the 406 #?
there is an app for that.
search market for "GV" or "google voice" and you will find it.
Can't remember the name of it but I was looking into it because I use GV for domestic calls but voxofon for international (great rates and intercepts calls like GV app does, this double interception causes issues).
Basically, when you call someone via GV, Goog assigns them an alias number in the 406 area code. If you dial that alias straight through the phone, you will be connected using GV even though you didn't start the call using GV. Also if you text that alias, the text will go through GV.
The trick to finding the number is to receive a text from it. That text will be from their 406 alias. Needless to say, this obviates finding the 406 of a landline and makes finding the alias of business contacts unprofessional.
As of earlier this year I knew of no other way to find the 406 number.
ytj87 said:
Basically, when you call someone via GV, Goog assigns them an alias number in the 406 area code. If you dial that alias straight through the phone, you will be connected using GV even though you didn't start the call using GV. Also if you text that alias, the text will go through GV.
The trick to finding the number is to receive a text from it. That text will be from their 406 alias. Needless to say, this obviates finding the 406 of a landline and makes finding the alias of business contacts unprofessional.
As of earlier this year I knew of no other way to find the 406 number.
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Interesting. I believe i skimmed over something like this as it sounds familiar. I will look into this as it seems like a valid solution for what i need.
Thanks for your help!
Related
Can anyone help with advice or an application for the following (if it doesnt exist it should-but it probably does!):-
I do some newspaper work and hence my phone number is in the paper every week. Im reviewing and it leaves me open to abuse and i occasionally get a mouthful from HIDDEN numbers.
It means that i now just dont answer any hidden numbers, which im sure several of which are genuine.
Is there an application/ way that i can make ALL incoming calls that have their number hidden IMMEDIEATLY go to a specific voice mail? (e.g. "Hi, this is **** ******. Hidden numbers are not accepted on this phone. Please ring from a revealed number, text or leave a vociemail and ill get back to you").
Have i any specific options???
GOOGLE AND INSTALL MAGICALL - it does everything you have asked for and more its awsome this is 100% the answer to your issue.!
An alternative may be is to call your mobile phone operator to see if they have a "block-the-blocker" (that's what it's called where I live) service: if the caller blocks/hides his/her phone number intentionally or by default, s/he is greeted by a system recording saying blocked ID calls are not accepted (followed by with instructions on how to unhide ID).
I think call firewall will do what you need, good luck.
Sounds like you may want to check out Google Voice.
Basically, you get a free phone number that forwards to the phone(s) of your choice, along with extensive call filtering options and a lot of other cool features.
It won't help you with the people who already have your number, but Google Voice allows you to set up call filters so that you can send unidentified callers straight to voicemail or reject them with a "hidden numbers are not accepted on this phone" message.
If you have a Google Voice number and a Windows Phone, you can get apps for dialing out through Google Voice so your GV number shows up when you return a call.
If you go this route, you'll want to check out the following apps:
iDialer (Google Voice version) - This program can be used to dial out normally through your cell phone, or initiate calls through Google Voice.
iContact - This program integrates iDialer with your phone contacts.
Green Button (sets up your phone's green "call" button to open iDialer instead of the default dialer)
Google Voice Easy SMS - sends texts from your phone through your Google Voice number.
I have this set up on my Tilt2, and I'm very pleased with it. Feel free to message me if you need any questions answered.
Geekaholic said:
Sounds like you may want to check out Google Voice.
Basically, you get a free phone number that forwards to the phone(s) of your choice, along with extensive call filtering options and a lot of other cool features.
It won't help you with the people who already have your number, but Google Voice allows you to set up call filters so that you can send unidentified callers straight to voicemail or reject them with a "hidden numbers are not accepted on this phone" message.
If you have a Google Voice number and a Windows Phone, you can get apps for dialing out through Google Voice so your GV number shows up when you return a call.
If you go this route, you'll want to check out the following apps:
iDialer (Google Voice version) - This program can be used to dial out normally through your cell phone, or initiate calls through Google Voice.
iContact - This program integrates iDialer with your phone contacts.
Green Button (sets up your phone's green "call" button to open iDialer instead of the default dialer)
Google Voice Easy SMS - sends texts from your phone through your Google Voice number.
I have this set up on my Tilt2, and I'm very pleased with it. Feel free to message me if you need any questions answered.
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Anyway u hook me up w/ an invite? i remember when Gmail frst came out they had this invite only thing and the people who have been invited can invite like 50 something people! Could you do that too? if yes, plzz could i get an invite! ... If yes.. u can PM me and i will give my email!
Thank youu
There is a service called Trapcall, google it. when somone calls you from an unlisted number all you have to do is press the call reject button then it will ring back with the callers unmasked number, and the caller never notices. its not an app and free.
Picked up an IO phone, and since we cannot activate the Evo on our Sprint lines yet, I am starting to use my google number for my main number. Figure good time to switch.
Dialing in and out is fine so far. I like that I can control who rings through to what phone etc.
I am not sure I am a fan of how it handles text. Seems like all SMS go into gvoice, AND into handcent, but handcent comes from some 406 number.
Anyone find a way to work around this? Of a way to make texting work more like it does if they text your phone?
Disable Google Voice (on the website) from texting the #, and just use the Google Voice app for SMS w/ the GVoice #.
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.
Yeah, go to the website and disable SMS to your cell phone and just use the google voice application for texts.
sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you at work.
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Cool!
I do something similar at work.
I have my GV calls forwarded to my office desk number and my cell phone at the same time. This way I have the option to answer using my desk number or my cell phone.
Bah, this does not seem like a good solution.
Handcent, Chomp, etc, have a great popup that I really like. Going through google voice app all the time isn't as handy.
I was also a little surprised that I am not able to send or receive mms at all through google voice. So any pictures / links have to be sent directly to my phone.
sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.
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I've been doing this for years. Never occurred to me to tell anyone else about it. Thanks.
sergey.povzner said:
[off topic, but still maybe useful]
Just recently came up with a somewhat unexpected use for Google Voice: I programmed Google voice number into building's intercom system. Now when somebody tries to get into the building and dials my apartment, all my phones ring. Especially convenient, if you need to talk to UPS guy when you're at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also very handy if you have roomates.
I use both Handcent and the Google Voice app. I add the 406 number to the contact then I know who I am messaging, and if I delete the message I can still message them from Handcent. I emailed the email for the Google Voice app to see if they would be able to add a quick reply somehow within the app. We shall see how that goes.....
fireboy6275 said:
I use both Handcent and the Google Voice app. I add the 406 number to the contact then I know who I am messaging, and if I delete the message I can still message them from Handcent. I emailed the email for the Google Voice app to see if they would be able to add a quick reply somehow within the app. We shall see how that goes.....
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This won't always work as the number changes depending on when the message is sent.
As for setting it up to not send SMS to my phone, I tried that and it didn't work. You have one of two options if you're in my situation. Tell the GV app to not notify you of anything, essentially making it useless. Or have Handcent block the number that GV sends you texts from. You have to block a new one whenever it shows a new number but it works decently that way. I'm just stuck with getting two messages until friday lol
I am with you. The whole txt message thing is why I'll probably never use google voice for much else besides maybe a call forward.
chuckhriczko said:
This won't always work as the number changes depending on when the message is sent.
As for setting it up to not send SMS to my phone, I tried that and it didn't work. You have one of two options if you're in my situation. Tell the GV app to not notify you of anything, essentially making it useless. Or have Handcent block the number that GV sends you texts from. You have to block a new one whenever it shows a new number but it works decently that way. I'm just stuck with getting two messages until friday lol
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You either have to choose - use the GV app or use Handcent or whatever other SMS proggie you like. If you use the GV app, turn off SMS forwarding and all texts are handled within the GV app itself, no charges for texts with your carrier, and there is no need to deal with 406 numbers because the app is all integrated with your contacts.
If you need to use an SMS proggie, then of course you'll have to forward text to your GV account as SMS' and the benefit of GV is lowered.
I have my gv # on my friends and family list. I guess this means I'm using minutes when I use gv to dial out.
Does anyone know how this works?
You will want to download the "Google Voice" app from the Droid Marketplace. Also if you search these forums there are how-to's on how to set it up to replace your Verizon voicemail as well as using it to call out/have calls come in. If you need more help after that let me know (also I would happy to take a GV invite off your hands if you have one to spare =p, *note* I will continue to help you regardless ).
I've already downloaded that app and I love how it works except for not using my local gv number when I dial out. It seems to use a random, simi-local number each time.
You've got an invite either way. PM me your email address and I'll figure out how to send the invitation.
Thanks for your help.
DeeBG said:
You will want to download the "Google Voice" app from the Droid Marketplace. Also if you search these forums there are how-to's on how to set it up to replace your Verizon voicemail as well as using it to call out/have calls come in. If you need more help after that let me know (also I would happy to take a GV invite off your hands if you have one to spare =p, *note* I will continue to help you regardless ).
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Just wondering, I'm not sure if this is related to your issue, but did you have caller ID blocked in any way before/during setting up GV?
Edit: Also for making outgoing calls, are you calling your GV number and then dialing out from there? Using that method or calling directly from your computer SHOULD make your GV number appear when you call someone (the GV app is suppose to do this for you, btw if you need help testing this I can PM you my phone number... free weekend mins and all =p).
Force GV Settings
Another thing you can try is going to https://www.google.com/voice/#callsettings and setting the "Caller ID (out)" to your GV number. This might force GV to display the correct number. What it sounds like they are doing now is drawing from a pool of random numbers in the area (for whatever reason, I don't know why) that they control and routing your call through them.
From what I have read, there is no way to dial straight out through gv. You have to dial your own gv number and use the #2 option.
I think I had a Window's Mobile app on my Touch Pro that did that for me.
DeeBG said:
Another thing you can try is going to https://www.google.com/voice/#callsettings and setting the "Caller ID (out)" to your GV number.
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No, right under that option it says this:
"Note: this setting currently only applies to text messages; calls will be included soon."
gentleart said:
From what I have read, there is no way to dial straight out through gv. You have to dial your own gv number and use the #2 option.
I think I had a Window's Mobile app on my Touch Pro that did that for me.
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That's not how it works with the native Android app. It's much quicker/easier and it dials some other "special" number, not your own GV number.
lexluthor said:
That's not how it works with the native Android app. It's much quicker/easier and it dials some other "special" number, not your own GV number.
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That defeats what I want it for - free calls.
My GVoice app seems to dial the same number every time. When you start a call using your GVoice number, just look at the pop up that says "Calling via Google Voice ###-###-####' and add that to your Verizon Friends & Family numbers. Your bill will show that you call that number over and over, so all outgoing calls are free. Incoming calls will not be free unfortunatelly :-/
gentleart said:
That defeats what I want it for - free calls.
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Hey gentleart sorry for the late reply, I've been afk for a couple days thanks to my gf working the front desk at a Pediatrician's office x.x (curse those snot-bubbling runts, we went through 30 packs of ramen noodles and tea in the last few days =p).
I didn't notice that "Caller ID (out)" only applied to text, I wrote that before I had access to GV and that was a recommendation I read on their board. Even if that were true for making phone calls though, it might not solve your problem. I'll make a thread on the Google Voice help site about this specific problem though (I'll PM you the link once the post is up) and if an answer arises out of it, I'll post it back in this forum for public knowledge (BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! ugh sorry... x.x).
"Free for All"
arnoldo83 said:
Incoming calls will not be free unfortunatelly :-/
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J/W, under Google Voice's "Calls" settings, have you tried changing "Caller ID (in)" to "Display my Google Voice number"? For some reason I have a feeling that you would still get billed for the incoming call (I can't wait until cell phones work like landlines) plus you wouldn't know who was calling (possibly forcing you to talk with relatives or even worse... ex-significant others x.x).
If you are a heavy enough phone user to need this you would probably want to switch to the unlimited plan, but I'm just curious how it would work with Verizon. For now though, I'm going to try and figure out why some people are getting multiple outgoing GV numbers when using the Android app (I think if you are in a heavily populated area - by GV users at least - that it might just cycle you out to another number... but there should be a way to force it to use your number without having to dial manually).
arnoldo83 said:
My GVoice app seems to dial the same number every time. When you start a call using your GVoice number, just look at the pop up that says "Calling via Google Voice ###-###-####' and add that to your Verizon Friends & Family numbers. Your bill will show that you call that number over and over, so all outgoing calls are free. Incoming calls will not be free unfortunatelly :-/
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This is what I did, and I can confirm that all outgoing calls are free. I also added my GV number to my "10" so that when family calls it's included. Unfortunately you can't have your cake and eat it too, your incoming calls will be charged minutes just like they've always been. I just have it go to my work phone while I'm at work, and answer it for free using my land line.
Google Voice Callback
gentleart said:
I have my gv # on my friends and family list. I guess this means I'm using minutes when I use gv to dial out.
Does anyone know how this works?
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Install Google Voice Callback. This routes your calls via the web for dialing purposes and then google voice calls you back. Now outgoing calls are free if you have friends and family, and incoming calls are free if someone calls your google voice number.
You still have to have a pretty high priced contract with Verizon to get friends and family though.
For fear of sounding like an idiot I just have to ask.. I got a Google invite finally and now I'm not sure what I want to do. I really need to keep my current cell number because I have a billion business cards with this number, but I want the awesome voicemail service. I'm guessing I should choose the Voice Mail option only and I will not lose my current number? Does this sound about right?
gentleart said:
That defeats what I want it for - free calls.
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The number you see pop up when you dial should actually be the same each time. You should put that number in your friends and family and then using google voice out should not use minutes.
This may help, put this text in a Google search and take the top link
site:lifehacker.com google voice free
So I've been using gv since I got my g2 for a majority of my text messaging to save some money on my plan. I was just browsing through the gv guides and read that when your contacts text you it should come from a unique 406 number, not their real phone number. this has never happened for any of my contacts...am I doing something wrong? all of my contacts I've been texting show their normal 714 numbers, no 406
If you are using the GV app, it will show the normal numbers. If you have GV configured to forward SMS to your carrier number (so they show up in the standard messaging app) then they will come from a unique 406 number.
Since you are using the GV app, everything is working as it should
I left the evo and went for the nexus....but I got much love for the evo, so I figured this out and wanted to post it here.
Ok so I orginally thought the idea of GV integration with sprint was awesome...after fiddling with it. I was very disappointed.
The problems I had with it were...I dont want to use my GV number as my primary. I dont want to change my GV number to my cell number. Each option had issues that I felt needed to be addressed. Changing my GV number to my cell made it to where txt would be comming into my phone via gv app. Yes there is a work around but ita annoying and I dont want my text stored on line. I also didnt want to change my gv number, this to me sounds like it could be a bad idea at some point in time, and cause other issues. So I set out how to get classic google voice back with the new app that will not let you just use it for vm heres how i did it.
1) Launch GV app on phone, and sign in, when it ask choose to change your gv number to your cell number.
2) Get annoyed and go get a shot of vodka, and wait about 15 minutes (honestly because you wont be able to change it back for at least 15 minutes.)
3) Login to gv on the web (voice.google.com)
4) once in there click the gear, and pick voice settings. Under the phone area choose to disable the sprint port number (your google voice number). It will disable and revert back to your old gv number
5) Where your mobile number is at you should see enable google voice mail for this line. Click that, and follow the instructions.
6) Click on voice mail and text uncheck email message and send sms.
7) on your phone open gv, goto more then settings make sure it says. Making calls do not use gv to make calls. make sure this phones number is your actual mobile number adjust sync options as you wish and make sure My gv number is indeed your gv number.
8) DO NOT SIGN OUT OF THE APP (Im not sure what will happen but my guess is it will break.
Options: now if you dont want to use the gv app you can have gv send you an sms or an email instead. or you can manually call your vm (by calling your real gv number) or by editing your voice mail settings under call settings and change your vm settings.
Enjoy