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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
I shut my service off yesterday as I will be in Japan for a few months and the international roaming is crazy! Any options to make it work with Google voice only over Wifi? I tried calling and it says no service available.
Also, I'm in Japan, are there any other options like configuring it to work with Softbank or anything like that? Thanks.
Have you tried to download and use the skype app over wifi? It may cost you a little to call but would be better than the roaming fees.
jmd1981 said:
I shut my service off yesterday as I will be in Japan for a few months and the international roaming is crazy! Any options to make it work with Google voice only over Wifi? I tried calling and it says no service available.
Also, I'm in Japan, are there any other options like configuring it to work with Softbank or anything like that? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Voice on Android does not currently support VOIP from the handset to the server. That feature is only available through the Gmail desktop browser page on an operating system that is supported by the Gtalk voice and video chat plugin. Another way to get end-to-end VOIP with Google Voice is using Gizmo5, if you had signed up for that service before Google bought it out. That only lets you do incoming calls though.
Also, I'm in Japan, are there any other options like configuring it to work with Softbank or anything like that? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a temp visa or better yet a coworker or friend there you could probably get month-to-month service there. That would be the best bet, but it's generally one of the more difficult countries for visitors to get a sim card in. The airport might have some rental services, but iirc they rented you the whole phone (by the day no less) and it's fairly expensive compared to regular service.
Also it goes without saying that if you want to use a Softbank sim you will need to subsidy unlock (also known as sim unlock) the phone.
Edit: it is rumored that the WiFi calling feature that T-mo is bringing to the G2 and other Android devices will allow a connection and minutes usage internationally. Personally I think this is unlikely (for a few reasons, some of which are legal/regulatory) but it would be pretty nice. Of course this would seriously short circuit the way GV for Android works. You would not be able to make outbound calls with GV in the caller ID.
If you need an unlock code for that phone. to use a japan sim. Let me know via PM
You could always install skype and set your outgoing caller id to your google voice number. Then sign up for a number at sipgate.com and add your new number to google voice. Once that's activated, download and install Fring or sipdroid and add your sipgate information. Use skype to making outgoing, take incoming calls with fring or sipdroid. Alternatively, if you don't want to pay for unlimited skype-out, you can try one of the many google voice dialer apps out there. They basically initiate calls using the google voice web interface, which you can actually do via your browser if none of the apps work out.
Edit.
Or just buy a skype number and unlimited skype out then setup skype caller id and forward your GV calls to your skype #
I'm not sure if any devs will see this here, so I will probably post in the G1 dev forum or the general android forum as well, but I wanted to do a search first and this is the only similar thread I have found. Anyway...
As some of you know, you can now place FREE calls to anywhere in the US or Canada using GMail and the "voice and video chat plugin". You can also receive calls from within GMail if you have a GoogleVoice account and you set it up to forward GoogleVoice calls to "Google Chat" as well as your phone(s).
This is awesome! I can now answer calls from GMail instead of my phone. I wish the desktop GoogleTalk app did that so I wouldn't have to always keep a webbrowser page open to GMail, but that is not what this post is about...
I got to thinking: if GMail can place and receive free phone calls, why can't I do that on my phone (or any device with internet)? I downloaded every available webbrowser for Android and tried to surf to GMail, but none of them even loaded the page (???), much less the plugin.
While searching for any possible solution, I learned that the required "voice and video chat plugin" is available for Linux. This fact makes me almost positive that it is somehow possible for someone to develop an Android app that loads that plugin, logs in to GMail (spoofing a desktop browser), and displays the Pop-out dial pad capable of placing and receiving free calls!
Is anyone up to the challenge? This is huge people! FREE phone where ever there is internet. I hope someone can make this happen.
There is a way of doing this... you ARE talking about calling and using your 3g/4g network, right?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Um... ok, what is the way of doing it?
I am talking about using the Google "voice and video chat plugin" along with the dialer in GMail to make/receive free calls anywhere with internet (WiFi/3G/4G, without using minutes) just like you can already do if you have a Windows/Mac/Linux webbrowser, but through an Android device.
Don't you have WiFi Calling?
AndroidBoston said:
Don't you have WiFi Calling?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you not realize the WiFi calling app still relies on the TMO network?
rpmccormick said:
Um... ok, what is the way of doing it?
I am talking about using the Google "voice and video chat plugin" along with the dialer in GMail to make/receive free calls anywhere with internet (WiFi/3G/4G, without using minutes) just like you can already do if you have a Windows/Mac/Linux webbrowser, but through an Android device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, there is no equivalent of the gmail chat plugin. You're limited to using a sip client and forwarding your GV to that number
I'm pretty sure you can't even roam in Japan anymore. Unless this phone has the UMTS frequencies for 1900, you wont get anything. Recently, Softbank shut off GSM/2G service.
So here is what I did... I now have a working VOIP phone service via my T-Mobile Tab..
-- Get the hacked Skype App (allows 3G calling) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=156KWZVH
-- Get Google Voice from Market
-- Go to skype.com and setup an account
-- Order a Skype Internet Number (it's $30 for a year right now -- normally $60)
-- Add a Skype calling plan ( I went with $2.99 a month for unlimited calling)
-- Set Skype to display your Google Voice Number (Caller ID Settings)
-- Set Google Voice to forward all calls to your Skype number
-- Go into Google Voice App and set it up to use your Skype number for voicemail notifications.
It works and it works pretty darn well...
Pros:
--Incoming and outgoing voice capabilities
--Unlimited calling in the US and Canada for $2.99 a month
--With 3G data plan you always have phone functions to dial out and receive
--Use Google Voice for SMS messages and you only have the one number.
Cons:
--If you don't want to use the Google Voice number for SMS then you will have 2 numbers. The one that came on your Tab that is used for SMS/MMS and a number for phone usage.
--Price for this to work per year amounts to $66 ($30 for the Skype number and $36 for the unlimited plan) Not really a con if you consider this is the total cost for a year of unlimited cell (VOIP) calls from you Tab
--If you use Google Voice for SMS it does not do MMS
Here is how it works...
When someone calls your Google Voice number it forwards it to the Skype number and the Tab rings...
When you call someone it displays your Google Voice number...
COOL....
Thanks for telling step-by-step to this workaround... couple of more cons, for me anyway.
1) a big con for me is that it means I can't port my existing cell no. to my new Tab... and since I'm a consultant and it's been my phone no. for a long time... that's kind of a drag.
2) Also, I've heard Skype call quality is sketchy at times?
3) No 911 calling via Skype I beleive?
thoughts pls?
ps... I suppose if I just kept my Sprint plan and went to phone only and kept my Pre I could just call forward my cell no. to Google voice?
I ported my previous cell number to my Tab...
Skype can be sketchy if on a slow or weak 3G or Wifi connection... I have had no problems with it yet though...
Yes, no 911 calling.... But you can program your local police / fire / EMS non emergency dispatch center number as a contact... That's what I did... Granted it's not as fast to get answered as 911, but it is a suggestion...
I don't see why you could not forward the previous cell # to GV then have it forwarded to Skype. Then set the Caller ID in Skype to display your previous cell number... Should work...
I might give this a try and see how I like.... since the phone flashing seems to be stuck at 2G plus a few other problems at this point....
Thanks much for the instructions...!
I decided to do this route as opposed to flashing the other way... Flashing the Euro ROM does still have issues and even once they are worked out, I can't see a US carrier adding voice to the Tab... Even with flashing the Euro ROM you will still need another SIM card to use that has voice functions enabled on it (hence, a different number like this process requires)...
Many people already have my GV number so this was also an easy way to get phone function without much effort... And at $66 a year for unlimited voice, I don't see a carrier plan even coming close to that...
Please Elaborate
@raqball
How does it work? Is it smooth?
My wife has a Skype account, does it have to be the unlimited calls or do you use the free calls from skype?
I really would love to see a YouTube vid please, or just a demo, I need to feel confident to give back the MyTouch 4G for this
Cause if it's like that, I am going to go and give back the MyTouch and get the tab for the Both of us tomorrow!
xexes said:
Thanks for telling step-by-step to this workaround... couple of more cons, for me anyway.
1) a big con for me is that it means I can't port my existing cell no. to my new Tab... and since I'm a consultant and it's been my phone no. for a long time... that's kind of a drag.
2) Also, I've heard Skype call quality is sketchy at times?
3) No 911 calling via Skype I beleive?
thoughts pls?
ps... I suppose if I just kept my Sprint plan and went to phone only and kept my Pre I could just call forward my cell no. to Google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this for months on my old Milestone (Droid) due to me being in Canada and everyone I knew being back in the US (and all calls to the US are int'l long distance via cell) until I found a way to make GV work here in Canada via normal phone lines.
Yes, call quality via Skype is sketchy at times, depending on connection quality, and there's ALWAYS lag.
Call forwarding works fine.
I wouldn't sweat 911, but then again I have almost no respect for that service anyway.
How stable has this been running for the ones using it?
Sent From The Moon... With a HTC Glacier
Any way to do this without Skype? Can't pay for everything :/ Will GV just work?
You'll need some sort of VOIP to make it work, but it doesn't have to be Skype.
Keep in mind, Google Voice is NOT a VOIP service, it's a fancy call forwarding and voicemail service that also lets you pick a free US phone number for life.
And folks, there's always Sipdroid and a SIP number service (there's quite a few besides Gizmo)
http://gurnted.wordpress.com/guides/updated-guide-from-xda/
Matt4542 said:
Any way to do this without Skype? Can't pay for everything :/ Will GV just work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems here. I am using the hacked Skype app that allows 3g calling. Working great for me so far.
Sent from Samsung Tab using XDA App
raqball said:
No problems here. I am using the hacked Skype app that allows 3g calling. Working great for me so far.
Sent from Samsung Tab using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And where do you find that pls?
xexes said:
And where do you find that pls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also updated the 1st post with the link... Here you go though...
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=156KWZVH
Two numbers?
raqball said:
Cons:
--You will have 2 numbers. The one that came on your Tab that is used for SMS/MMS and a number for phone usage. No worries for me though as I give out the Google Voice number as my home number anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome post! I will probably do this tomorrow. $60 a year is a small price to pay to finally make my Tab a phone.
I currently only have the Google Voice app installed (no hacked Skype). When I go into my contacts (app which came with Tab) and I click on a contact, and then click the message icon, a little screen pops up asking if I want to complete the action using Messaging or Google Voice. Furthermore, you can check the "Use by default for this action" to always use Google Voice for texting. When I click Google Voice the text shows up to other people as my Google Voice number.
If the trick in this thread can use your Google Voice number as what shows up to other people as your caller ID, wouldn't this simplify you down again to one number (the Google Voice number)?
the problem with this is skype doesnt work with Bluetooth headset. so you either have to get a WIRED headset or use speaker phone which means no privacy
SteveIndianer said:
Awesome post! I will probably do this tomorrow. $60 a year is a small price to pay to finally make my Tab a phone.
I currently only have the Google Voice app installed (no hacked Skype). When I go into my contacts (app which came with Tab) and I click on a contact, and then click the message icon, a little screen pops up asking if I want to complete the action using Messaging or Google Voice. Furthermore, you can check the "Use by default for this action" to always use Google Voice for texting. When I click Google Voice the text shows up to other people as my Google Voice number.
If the trick in this thread can use your Google Voice number as what shows up to other people as your caller ID, wouldn't this simplify you down again to one number (the Google Voice number)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...
raqball said:
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, and I love that app....
About 5 minutes after I turned my Tab on I got a text asking if I wanted to buy some chronic/Mex from someone who obviously didn't know their contact's phone no. had changed!
But the app is great!
Not bad, not bad at all. Very good post.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab
raqball said:
It would, but GV still does not do MMS..... Plus you would loose the snazzy Tab SMS/MMS messaging app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point, decisions decisions! For me I may be willing to sacrifice MMS for the simplicity of one phone number. I would justify it by using video calling, YouTube posting, and Facebook/Picasa pictures. I'm already giving up the native Email app because it puts weird labels on my Gmail emails instead of archiving emails like the Gmail app. So much for "native tablet optimized apps."
Cons for this route:
No 911 support
Two phone numbers or no MMS
Complicated calling procedure through Skype
Pros:
Delicious Galaxy Tab
so is everyone just got to use there tab with speaker phone ? because unless u use a wired headset that what u get since the TAB only has a speaker on the bottom.
if I could only get a Bluetooth headset to work with skype
I have google voice installed on my wifi xoom when I try to call someone it calls my phone then when I answer it my phone calls the contact I tried to call from GV.? Is there any way to just make calls from GV? It also is the same for the browser version of GV. Texting works on both though.
Google voice is not a voice over IP service, it doesn't do calls.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Actually there is a way. Go to the Xoom developers forum and open the thread called "CRTAnim+desktop.........". Go to last page. Note that you have to be rooted to do this.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
o man I was thinking it did because when I had it installed on my old g1 back in the day I made calls from my g1 with google voice. But don't remember it calling my g1 then connecting to the contact I called. Sorry for the dumb question. I feel very supid now
okay thanks don't know if I will be rooting this one tho. Can't say I won't because I always do when I get tired of waiting for the newest update lol.
If you dont want to root, and still make voip calls with this, its easy..
get a sipdroid account, at pbxes.org
install sipdroid on the xoom
install something like acrobits SIP dialer, or, you should be able to do it with your google voice account
the thread that tells you how to sync your google voice account to sipdroid is here
http://www.droidxforums.com/forum/droid-x-apps/15366-sipdroid-free-voip-via-google-voice.html
there are some issues today with pbxes servers, so it may not work right at the moment, but trust me, I have been making voip calls from my evo for months using this, and, made tons of calls from the xoom earlier in the week using this method
have fun!
cool thanks I will check that out.
ericman77 said:
I have google voice installed on my wifi xoom when I try to call someone it calls my phone then when I answer it my phone calls the contact I tried to call from GV.? Is there any way to just make calls from GV? It also is the same for the browser version of GV. Texting works on both though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait... how did you get Google Voice on your Wi-Fi Xoom?
It's not in the Market.
you dont need google voice on your tablet, per se, you just need a google voice account, ad, you do the configuring from the google voice website..
gerbick said:
Wait... how did you get Google Voice on your Wi-Fi Xoom?
It's not in the Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Side load it. There's an older thread on this forum titled something like "I got GV working...." it includes a link where you can do a hacked version of GV that works great for SMS.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Is it possible to make regular calls from the wi-fi Acer tablet? Like maybe from Google Voice?
I beleive the answer is Google Voice, which doesn't work on tablets, but if you google around you'll find hacked versions for Honeycomb that might work. Those allow you to do incoming calls, but for outgoing you need a dialer, and there is a program on the market called GrooVe IP which does what you need. It's cheap, about $2 or something. Your phone number would be your Google number, and you have to have it set to forward calls to Chat. I also think you have to log out of all your other Chat sessions on other computers for it to work. I played with it but gave up for now and am hoping Google will bless us with a fully functional version.
mknewman said:
I beleive the answer is Google Voice, which doesn't work on tablets, but if you google around you'll find hacked versions for Honeycomb that might work. Those allow you to do incoming calls, but for outgoing you need a dialer, and there is a program on the market called GrooVe IP which does what you need. It's cheap, about $2 or something. Your phone number would be your Google number, and you have to have it set to forward calls to Chat. I also think you have to log out of all your other Chat sessions on other computers for it to work. I played with it but gave up for now and am hoping Google will bless us with a fully functional version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, there's a way to get incoming calls to work?
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA Premium App
Technically you should be able to call with skype, need to get credit first or subscribe to premium also there is another voip app like buster which also works with credit on your account.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I will look around for the hack. I will post it here once I find it.