Database Users

google voice

can i get the nexus one and get the cheapest plan on tmo and use my google voice and not use minutes??
i guess i am confirming that GV using data and not plan minutes.....

Google Voice is not VoIP. It WILL use your minutes. Unless you have fav5 grandfathered in your contract or AT&T (you'll loose 3G) A-List, you are SOL.
I just moved to T-Mo on the 1st and moved in with 80/month contract free unlimited everything plan so I am ok. Before that I used HTC Magic (Rogers) with google voice and A-List on AT&T.
But to recap, you will need minutes. Google voice is more of a front number at the moment. Not a VoIP service as of right now. With purchase of Gizmo, it may turn that way later but for now, you talk, you use your minutes.

It goes through regular phone calls, so no. Unless you get the MyFaves and put the GV number on your favelist
Edit: Too slow.. d'oh

thanks guys...
yeah, i have a rogers magic on att now......i think i'm gonna make the switch to tmo now....
get unlocked phone....and get the 500 mins even more plan for 59.99/mo.............sell my magic and make up the difference in the $$$ for n1...

Can you disable data, and use a voice plan only?

Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?

KevinStraight said:
Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Re: Disabling GPRS - try NoData from Modaco - its a freeware, just google for it and disable all your data plans.

O2 will work with just voice plan
A. Omnia 2 will work with just a voice plan, I used mine in the Cook Islands last week with just a voice plan SIM.
B.The problem is that Bell offers data with the phone setting so you would have to make sure you disable the data, not just with Opera or the GPS, or you will incur data charges and they will roll up quickly. Most likely they offer the bundle (I have it and fine it a very reasonable plan for my phone use) because people regularly use data by mistake.
C. GPS Worked just fine. I couldn't use google maps but no problem, there's only one real road
D. As long as you are not using push email or any application that accesses the internet automatically you should not incur charges.
E.You don't have to unlock the phone unless you want to go with a different provider than Bell.
Are you set on having an Omnia 2? Perhaps a better option would be to purchase an unlocked Omnia 2 and a pay as you go SIM from a provider that does not have data.
Good luck.

post deleted

That rep was full of ****. Buy the phone outright, and call Bell and ask them to disable the data for you so you never have to second guess or accidentally use data on your phone. Be careful, you must disable data on every sim card you decide to use.

KevinStraight said:
Greetings All,
After some disagreement with Bell, I've tried to find some truth regarding smart phone plans and the OMNIA II. The Bell representatives stated the Omnia II will only work with a smartphone plans (which conveniently start at $50 Ouch!)
Supposedly if I outright buy the phone (full price) I won't be forced into a contract. Assuming I'm contract free... can I subscribe to a cheaper monthly voice plan only?
The goal is to use the phone as a WM 6.5 PDA and surf only when in the vicinity of WIFI (home and office etc). For the few phone calls I make (which avg 4-5 a month - yes I hate talking on a cell phone), a simple voice plan with basic text messaging should suffice?
The issues surrounding this are:
A. Has this been done successfully before - is anyone doing it now???
B. When a WIFI hotspot isn't available, will the browser fail or will it secretly connect to the cellular network and ding me with data charges?
C. Having no prior experience with a GPS enabled cell phone - this "A-GPS" needs the data package to work? Or can I use it with a voice plan only?
D. I've heard stories of smartphones constantly talking to the cellular network, is this an issue? or is there a way to disable the data connections forcing it to use WIFI only?
E. Would any of this warrent unlocking the phone? Bell stated it comes locked with a Bell SIM card (its on their HSPA+ network).
Again, the goal is to use it as a suped' up PDA, surf only on WIFI and subscribe to a bare bones phone package for that occasional call I might make.
Suggestions? Comments? Advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just signed a three year contract with Bell, a few weeks ago i was surfing on their site and like you said , impossible to get a Omnia 2 without a data plan, last week i went back on, and I dont know if its a bug, but you can order one with a regular voice plan, i took the 30$ plan ( cheapest) got the phone by mail , free.
If i click on my connections on top you can disable all data, and only use wifi. If it does want to use data it warns you before activating it.
Hope this helps

Ulimited Data -Amazon Purchase

I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy

should this work for any phone purchased through amazon wireless?

yes, I had activated with the $15 plan but then I called them to put back my old unlimited data plan.

my billing cycle is up today so tomorrow i have to see if its still unlimited if its not then im going to call them because on my plan now it still says unlimited.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,

konkie said:
I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.

ShadowLegion said:
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, I've have a HTC Hermes since '07 with a UL Data plan. Ordered 2 Focus's today through ATT Premier (buy one get one free) and was able to apply the UL plan to it, 2GB plan to my Wife's.

psills said:
I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
forgot to mention this only works for people already using the unlimited data plan!

Thanks everyone. Now I feel sad for not taking any upgrade offers to smartphones in the past

I did exactly what is said in the first post. Ordered from Amazon with 2gb and 1500 message plan. I called att to transfer my plan but the rep said I could not. The rep said that I could Not transfer my existing plan (media net 200 bundle with unlimited data) because my previous phone was not a smart phone. I told her I had htc fuze and she was puzzled. She talked to supervisor and still said I could not keep my old plan.

Using Google Voice When Throttled (T-Mobile USA)

So, yeah, I used 5GB and got throttled to 2G speeds by TMO. I'm not really complaining since this wasn't a normal month for me. What does suck, however, is that now when I get a Google Voice call, it keeps cutting out during the conversation which is really, really bad. This is because the 2G connection simply doesn't provide enough bandwidth for GV to work well. (When I'm not on wifi and using the throttled 2G.) I know there isn't really anything to be done about it, just pointing out that it sucks.

Word ^^^^

You'll just have to wait until you get a computer, then you can listen to it.

c00ller said:
You'll just have to wait until you get a computer, then you can listen to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's talking about phone calls over google voice it looks like, not voice mails. This would most likely be the reason he hit the limit.

Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using xda premium

lawalty said:
Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its only that expensive if you want unlimited minutes to land lines. Their base plan is $70 and has unlimited calling to any mobile (not just sprint, but any mobile phone) along with unlimited text and data. Its actually a really good deal, but CDMA/WiMax sucks so bad... I really don't think I can pay more for worse speed and locked devices lol.

brfield said:
He's talking about phone calls over google voice it looks like, not voice mails. This would most likely be the reason he hit the limit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops, my bad! That is certainly a bummer.

Yep, I'm talking about voice calls through Google Voice. The thing is - I'd be willing to pay like $30 to get another 5GB of high-speed data until my next billing cycle, but there is no way to do that, I'm just stuck! (The data this month was definitely an exception - I'm typically around more like 2.5 GB for the month.) The funny thing is (as Lawalty mentioned) that I've been watching Sprint closely and am seriously considering switching to them in 2012. I guess I'm not the only one.

Originally Posted by lawalty
Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
Its only that expensive if you want unlimited minutes to land lines. Their base plan is $70 and has unlimited calling to any mobile (not just sprint, but any mobile phone) along with unlimited text and data. Its actually a really good deal, but CDMA/WiMax sucks so bad... I really don't think I can pay more for worse speed and locked devices lol.
I haven't ever gone over my 5 GB cap, but i'm looking to get away from T-Mo bcause of their impending merger with the Evil Empire. I originally left AT&T and took my iPhone (original 2G) to T-Mo cause I was fed up with AT&T's crappy coverage and high fees, so I certainly don't want to give them any more of my monies.
I just haven't found a plan similar to T-Mo's Flexpay on any other carrier. I don't want a 2 year contract. That was the thing I loved most about T-Mo, I never had a contract with them, and sometimes I skip whole months without paying for service, but I still get to keep the same plan. Plus, they pro-rate the cost of my monthly bill.
If I could find something like that with Sprint or Verizon, then I would certainly switch.

I had flexpay and it was a pita! Eventually had to make a new account just to upgrade! Now they think I've only been with then a year when I've been with them 7! Oh well.

You must be using GV + SIP to make VOIP calls instead of 'regular' use of GV, which uses a cellphone connection and so your minutes. I've used GV on T-Mobile for business for years, thousands of minutes a month, and with negligible impact on data usage. GV only uses data to login to my GV account and to download the voicemail audio files.
T-Mo's unlimted voice, text, and data (1st 2GB unthrottled, plenty for me) for $50/mo is by far the best deal available.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.

Crashdamage said:
You must be using GV + SIP to make VOIP calls instead of 'regular' use of GV, which uses a cellphone connection and so your minutes. I've used GV on T-Mobile for business for years, thousands of minutes a month, and with negligible impact on data usage. GV only uses data to login to my GV account and to download the voicemail audio files.
T-Mo's unlimted voice, text, and data (1st 2GB unthrottled, plenty for me) for $50/mo is by far the best deal available.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have clarified that - my data usage was not due to GV, I went over the 5GB limit due to tethering during an internet outage at home for a couple of days. GV seems to still use some type of control connection or something that causes the calls to cut out frequently when you are on a really slow connection. (My speed tests while I've been throttled have always shown less than 64kbps.) I'm not sure how it works, I just know that GV worked great for me until I got throttled.

Makes no sense. I often make perfectly good GV calls out in the boonies with no data connection at all. GV uses a standard cellphone connection like any other call. Your data speed has zero to do with call quality.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.

Crashdamage said:
Makes no sense. I often make perfectly good GV calls out in the boonies with no data connection at all. GV uses a standard cellphone connection like any other call. Your data speed has zero to do with call quality.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure about that, The Google Voice troubleshooter states:
"If you’re using a mobile device, ensure that your carrier network connection is strong."
Which would indicate to me that you do need a data connection. I've only noticed this on incoming calls, so maybe outgoing calls are different. In any case, later tonight I'll run some bandwidth tests on my router at home and make some GV calls while on wifi to see how much bw it looks like it is using (if any.)

mralexsays said:
I'm not sure about that, The Google Voice troubleshooter states:
"If you’re using a mobile device, ensure that your carrier network connection is strong."
Which would indicate to me that you do need a data connection. I've only noticed this on incoming calls, so maybe outgoing calls are different. In any case, later tonight I'll run some bandwidth tests on my router at home and make some GV calls while on wifi to see how much bw it looks like it is using (if any.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crashdamage is correct.
Google Voice only uses data for two things:
1) text messaging
2) whenever you place an outgoing call, it will ask the Google servers what "Voice" number it should call (instead of whoever's regular number) so that it will display as your Google Voice number on the receiving end's caller ID. If your GV app is updated, it should only have to do this once per person. Once it has that number, it places a call to it through your regular cell phone connection.
Incoming calls don't use the data at all; Google's servers will receive a call placed to your Google Voice number, and they will reroute the call instead through your cell phone connection to your cell number.
The clarity problems you're having have to do with your service provider and the signal strength you have at any given location. It has nothing to do with your throttled data connections. I only get 2G service where I live, and I've never had any problems using Google Voice for making calls.

skmpowdjy said:
Crashdamage is correct.
Google Voice only uses data for two things:
1) text messaging
2) whenever you place an outgoing call, it will ask the Google servers what "Voice" number it should call (instead of whoever's regular number) so that it will display as your Google Voice number on the receiving end's caller ID. If your GV app is updated, it should only have to do this once per person. Once it has that number, it places a call to it through your regular cell phone connection.
Incoming calls don't use the data at all; Google's servers will receive a call placed to your Google Voice number, and they will reroute the call instead through your cell phone connection to your cell number.
The clarity problems you're having have to do with your service provider and the signal strength you have at any given location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, that's good to know, thanks. It's just weird that someone can call me on GV and it is all cut-out sounding, then call me right back on the regular number and it is fine (same location.)

Possible (but unlikely) GV itself is having some kinda technical problem cleanly routing your calls. But your data connection has nothing to do with it. Also could be a problem with the service of the person calling you. Make sure the issue exists with all GV calls, not just from certain people using your GV number.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.

Yep, ran a few tests while connected to wifi - bandwidth graph on tomato showed no real bandwidth usage during the call. Will have to figure out if my problem lies elsewhere.

International Roaming

I was just curious if anyone knew how I could use text, data, and voice in another country without having to pay for the extremely high charges for international roaming. Someone mentioned buying a prepaid SIM card once I get in the country from one of the local carriers and switch it out with my SIM card. I'm also curious if something like Google Voice would work, if I set it to use Google Voice for all of my voice calls and texts if I set it to use VOIP instead of the standard network. I know this will only work if I'm connected to WiFi, but I can deal with this Instead of paying so much for data & minutes if I buy a plan. Has anyone figured out the best way, or cheapest I should say, to be able to use the phone internationally without having to pay for a plan and have to pay $1 USD per minute for overage.
If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk