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so, i have ordered, and not yet received (get tomorrow) my nexus one. one of the things about it is that i only have the 500 minute plan (no, i didn't wanna drop 530 on a phone, lol), but coincidentally, i also like to game on the ps3 with a friend. unlike xbox, ps3 doesn't do private chat, so coordinating is actually easier with a cell phone. because i don't want to eat minutes, my intention was to actually skype him through my wifi. however, now i'm finding out, to the best of my knowledge, our option is 'skype lite', which is essentially a turd, and doesn't do anything for me except route my calls through skype on my phoneline, still using my minutes = worthless to me.
so, you guys have been fiddling with android for a while yet, i'm guessing, and i'm wondering what the best option/workaround is. i've heard mention of 'fring', but am not familiar with it. same with 'iskoot'.
gimme the digs, gents (or ladies, as the case may be). how can i voip using my phone to my buddies, without chewing phone minutes?
appreciated
-t
You're paying for the phone regardless. Contract monthly rate is more than non contract rate.
Google Voice comes pre-installed on the N1.
If you don't have a GV account, sign-up for one. It's still by invite only so it may take awhile before you get the invite.
Then you can just go into the 'Voice' app and select to make all calls via Google Voice (which means FREE, doesn't utilize your voice minutes).
You can use fring which has skype call support
Nimbuzz and Fring work well.
Countries outside the US don't get google voice yet.
Namuna said:
Google Voice comes pre-installed on the N1.
If you don't have a GV account, sign-up for one. It's still by invite only so it may take awhile before you get the invite.
Then you can just go into the 'Voice' app and select to make all calls via Google Voice (which means FREE, doesn't utilize your voice minutes).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You seem to get a GV account automatically with the Nexus One but it still uses your minutes!
Google Voice is not a voice service. You'll still use cell minutes using that alone. You'll need something like Gizmo to voice call over data.
Personally, I use SIPDroid, which integrated perfectly with the N1, GV, and Gizmo. Simply install it, and set up SIPDroid with the settings here:
androidcommunity.com/forums/f4/how-to-free-calls-via-wifi-using-google-voice-and-gizmo5-21836/
Then all calls will always attempt to go through data, if it fails, it will fall back to a normal phone call. Works perfect.
sipdroid supports the industry standard for VoIP (i.e. SIP, like the former gizmo5). You can call other software SIP clients, hardware SIP phones, and SIP<->telephone network gateways.
thanks guys, i'll give this a shot.
and, i already have a GV account. and 2 more invites, lol. i'll just sit on those for a bit...
GV will definitely use minutes, which is what i wanted to avoid. i'll see how the voip options work out. much appreciated.
and, if anyone has any more help/suggestions, it'd be greatly appreciated!
-t
darnit, gizmo5 is no longer an option. new user registration has been suspended :/
Use sipdroid to tie with GV and that should prevent the minute usage. I use sipdroid with gizmo 5 and that works but sipdroid has its shortcomings though. but it works and if you're on 3G, no one can tell the difference. Check the G1/dream forums for more info on sipdroid. There's also a thread over there about sipdroid/skype and another app for totally free minutes....
agentkalaw said:
Use sipdroid to tie with GV and that should prevent the minute usage. I use sipdroid with gizmo 5 and that works but sipdroid has its shortcomings though. but it works and if you're on 3G, no one can tell the difference. Check the G1/dream forums for more info on sipdroid. There's also a thread over there about sipdroid/skype and another app for totally free minutes....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also using sipdroid, GV and gizmo5. I setup GV to forward to gizmo, and setup sipdroid to login to my gizmo account. All incoming calls to gizmo are free. However if you originate an outgoing call with gizmo, you will be charged the per minute rate by gizmo. To get around this, I use the GV website to originate the call, so that it calls my gizmo account first then connects the call.
Works great so far.
dang. wish that the gizmo site was still open for new members. :/
I suspect that they closed it once google bought them. They might have invites soon, because google will prolly integrate this they of hack into their google voice service. . .
Yes it was closed when Google bought Gizmo5. Are there any other alternatives?
Take a look at this article about the Nexus One subsidized vs ubsubsidized.
He mentions this:
an unsubsidized Nexus One with a data-only T-Mobile plan ($39.99/month), a Skype subscription for unlimited calls to mobile and landlines anywhere in the US and Canada ($2.95(!)/month), and a SkypeIn number ($30/year).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder how he set that up? I'ld pay $3/month and $30/yr for calls.
I have been trying to configure sipgate pbxes.org Google voice and sipdroid to work but i haven't been able to do it properly if anybody could help me out i would appreciate it
Sipdroid works great on my G1 and N1. I highly recommend it. Give it a try.
MO-Call app for Android
Hi,
Can you try this one, called MO-Call, for making cheap or free international calls?
They support over 2170 handsets on all platforms.
Give a try and let me know what you think.
Cheers
[Guide] Unlimited Wifi/3G VoIP Calling
Anyone any advise on the best skype, voip, sip apps ??
Thanks
If you need to make skype-to-skype calls then Fring and Nimbuzz. If you just need to make paid calls, Skype Lite should do.
Best sip app is sipdroid.
what's sip?
It's one of VoIP protocols: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol
I have to say that I used fring the other day to do a skype to skype call over wifi, and the quality was bad - delayed audio, crackling, general low audio quality. My partner has the skype client for iPhone, and her call quality is, to be honest, amazing. It sounds better than calling on mobiles (when calling over wifi).
I hope this is not common and I would love for someone to tell me if Nimbuzz has good call quality over wifi.
Cleargrey said:
I have to say that I used fring the other day to do a skype to skype call over wifi, and the quality was bad - delayed audio, crackling, general low audio quality. My partner has the skype client for iPhone, and her call quality is, to be honest, amazing. It sounds better than calling on mobiles (when calling over wifi).
I hope this is not common and I would love for someone to tell me if Nimbuzz has good call quality over wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same experience with fring over wifi. No point in even trying 3G.
Why don't you just go ahead and test nimbuzz yourself?
nimbuzz has better sound quality than Fring. Do not know about the comparison to iphone skype app.
What is this Skype Lite?
Is this the one for Verizon Wireless?
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/android/
But this one is useless to me because it cannot be used with WiFi ...
And it is only for Verizon
I just dont get this, why Skype does not make generic full native client for Android?
Google does not allow it?
Skype does not know how to code?
Patents?
Karolis said:
If you need to make skype-to-skype calls then Fring and Nimbuzz. If you just need to make paid calls, Skype Lite should do.
Best sip app is sipdroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really can't believe we can't get an official skype app for android.......
I think most mobile networks do not want people making calls over Skype because it goes over VoIP the voice network - So your network would lose out on charging you.
However, I just found out you can install Skype Lite beta on the HTC Desire and it makes calls/IM's. If you look on google for "Android Freeware - Skype Lite Beta" you should find it.
Does it work via Wi-Fi?
Rogem said:
I think most mobile networks do not want people making calls over Skype because it goes over VoIP the voice network - So your network would lose out on charging you.
However, I just found out you can install Skype Lite beta on the HTC Desire and it makes calls/IM's. If you look on google for "Android Freeware - Skype Lite Beta" you should find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the phone on 3 (three.co.uk) contract you get free skype-to-skype calls for life
Now if only everyone in the world went on three, we'de never have to pay for a call to anywhere in the world again lol
gogol said:
Does it work via Wi-Fi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The chat/skype>skype feature works via the 3g/data/WiFi however landline calls goes via your phone's voice network (charging your network minutes).
Luke_Hero said:
Now if only everyone in the world went on 3, we'de never have to pay for a call to anywhere in the world again lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But then we would all be on the 3 network
I use Smartgroshen app, simple, good quality of voice and sync with your phone contacts. Get 0.5 euro at start.
I am also using Smartgroshen app for calling. Skype is OK, and Smartgroschen more than OK.:good::good::good:
• I use Smartgroshen app. • With Smartgroschen app, you can make cheap phone calls to all mobiles and landline in the world from your smartphones and tablet without sim card.
I have a rooted Droid X and have really enjoyed finding ways to tinker with my phone to get additional benefits from my device. Previously, I have been getting completly free VOIP calls by running the hacked version of Skype that allows for functionality over both 3G and Wifi. I paid $30 (so not completely free) to Skype for an annual unlimited calling plan to all of North America. The quality is pretty good over 3G and even better over wifi. However, when I call people, my number shows up as unknown. I could pay Skype for an actual #
($60) to remedy this so that people could call me back, but I've held off for now. If someone wants to talk, it is easy for them to text me and I can call them back since I don't always leave my phone on 24/7.
Recently, I decided to play around with SIP technology as a way to have an alternative to Skype and to have a reason to tinker. I already had a Google Voice # and set up a free account at sipgate.com Then I set up my Google Voice # to forward all calls only to my sipgate #.
I also downloaded Google Voice Free Forwarding app from the marketplace and configured that so that whenever I make an outbound call via the standard dialer or through my CSIPSIMPLE widget, the call will pause, google voice free callback will intercept the call and allow me to talk to my desired # completely free with no minutes used. The drawback is that it can take 15-20 seconds for the call to go through and the call quality doesn't seem to be as good as when using Skype---both on 3g and wifi. But, to be fair, it is completely 100% free calling and cheaper than Skype.
Recently, I had the opportunity to acquire a Gizmo5 account and a Sip Sorcery account and am curious to know how I can use these to enhance my sip experience on my android phone.
I know there is a plethora of info on both of these services, so I don't expect anyone to hold my hand or reinvent the wheel. However, I just want to know what some of the possibilities may be.
Since I already have Skype and already have a sip service setup through Google voice, sipgate, and Google Voice Callback, will Gizmo or Sip Sorcery allow me to have a better experience in terms of quality, ease of use, or quickness when it comes to connecting the call.
It looks like Gizmo my have some integration through Google Voice that other #s don't offer but does it really offer any major advantages?
Personally I only use SIP when connecting to my asterisk server on my VPS to make my calls untraceable and to spoof my callerid for free. Also, I don't really like the SIP services out there.... and I especially don't like Skype's VoIP service. If you are looking for a good SIP app however.... get SIPdroid. (I believe that's what I use)
Sent from my DROIDX using Liberty 1.5 with FC10 Linux chrooted!
I've been experimenting with the built-in SIP functionality in Gingerbread. Here's what I have so far:
I have three different Google Voice numbers. My main GV number is linked to the official GV app on my phone, and I use it for most calls.
My other two numbers forward to SipGate accounts. I configured the Gingerbread internet call menu with my SipGate accounts. My use of those lines is specific and limited enough that I enable SIP calling only when I need it.
I use the Google Voice mobile site when I need to originate calls for my secondary numbers. I know some people prefer third-party callback apps, but sometimes those stop working when Google changes their API. Those numbers are mostly incoming anyway, so that's a minor issue.
Because my phone is rooted, I can make VoIP calls on both wifi and cellular data, although quality suffers on 3G.
If anyone is interested in how to set this up, I posted complete configuration instructions on my blog.
Also, if anyone has ideas for a better setup, I'd love to hear them.
I am just now starting voip class at my college and this seems like a fun little experiment to help me learn a bit and see what it can do. Thanks.
Good guide. I could have used this a few months ago. I've tried exactly the same steps on my Shift, even to the point of installing iDialer and Fring on my HTC Touch Pro 2 (same as the Tilt 2). In both cases I was never happy with the performance though (and I couldn't get iDialer to integrate with GV to make it work as a VOIP only WiFi phone). There's always a lag, which throws off my wife whenever we try to use it.
I just tried Talkatone Preview for Android as well, and it's slightly better, but there's still a lag.
Have you looked at grooveip? the app and a voice number is all you need. Roommates cells got turned off so I went with groove and it seems to work great.
Keep up the great work.
I would probably use this if I needed to make international calls.
I get good enough Sprint service here that I'm never out of coverage, but international calls can run that bill up.
Aestivalis said:
Good guide. I could have used this a few months ago. I've tried exactly the same steps on my Shift, even to the point of installing iDialer and Fring on my HTC Touch Pro 2 (same as the Tilt 2). In both cases I was never happy with the performance though (and I couldn't get iDialer to integrate with GV to make it work as a VOIP only WiFi phone). There's always a lag, which throws off my wife whenever we try to use it.
I just tried Talkatone Preview for Android as well, and it's slightly better, but there's still a lag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the major pitfall of VOIP in general, but I did find a really cool app that made calls after you listened to an ad. I'll try and locate it. You need a computer and mic for it. It's like Skype, but free.
Grooveip is really nice. I was using that to make free calls back to the states while in sout east asia. Easy to get free wireless hotspots over there.
Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk
I use Linphone but it's configured to my home voip provider (Callcentric). It should work also to make free calls though.
Hi,
I'm very satisfied with my nexus 4 exept one thing: When I use the integrated VOIP / SIP function, I have a very poor audio quality with echos on both sites. However Skye is working fine (on speaker).
Does anybody know about this problem and how to fix it? With my other phone (Defy with CyanogenMod 10, thx quarx) it is working perfectly fine.
thx
inso
Google hasn't bothered to develop the native SIP client so it's very crude and realistically unusable. It is integrated though, which makes it so appealing.
What you need is a SIP client that supports a packet loss / jitter tolerant codec like speex, ilbc, silk, or even g729.
Skype at least in the past used silk.
You may want to look into sipdroid or csipsimple. I'd love to use csipsimple, but last I used it, there was a nasty loop glitch when using it with google voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svCqNEf8k9Q
Thanks for the fast reply. I'll give csipsimple a try.
inso
do make sure to disable all codecs but that aren't packet loss / jitter friendly.
no g711 etc.
yes to speex, ilbc, g729, and to a lesser extent, gsm.
Unfortunately the echos still occured, even with csipsimple. I now fixed it by installing CM 10.1. Just in case anybody else has got this problem.
Again, thanks for your help
I haven't had many problems with it. I had one person say it echoed on their end but no one else. I haven't heard any echoes.
My problem is with trying to use Google voice. If I set the app to use voice for all calls it doesn't give me an option to call with internet. If I don't use Google voice it gives me the option to internet call. I would Prefer to be able to keep my Google voice settings the same but I had to set it to " ask every call". This way I can say " without Google voice" then get the option to use Internet calling.
But I don't want to just select " don't use Google voice for any calls". That would give me the option to use Internet calling every time but wouldnt use the correct number when I don't use Internet calling.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
In that case, set Android to always use internet calling, and set GV to prompt. Then if you hit yes, it'll use GV and dial out. If you hit no, it'll use internet calling.
But, I don't know how satisfied you'll be with the native client... Poor codec choice.
ziddey said:
In that case, set Android to always use internet calling, and set GV to prompt. Then if you hit yes, it'll use GV and dial out. If you hit no, it'll use internet calling.
But, I don't know how satisfied you'll be with the native client... Poor codec choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give that a shot and see how it works.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app