[APP] GrooVe IP - Google Voice VoIP

[z3N#]

If you have calls only forwarded to Google Chat the only way you'd receive calls is if the app was running. If the app is stopped, it's not connected so it can't receive calls.

OK, so if I disable 'Allow 3/4G calling' and select 'Use GvIP on Wifi only' will that allow the device to ring natively while the app is still running ?

I know it makes no sense, because then what is the point of having the app.
I am not ready to give up on this yet, but I need to be able to receive calls, that currently using the app, the other party can never hear me.

 

[snrb]

OK, so if I disable 'Allow 3/4G calling' and select 'Use GvIP on Wifi only' will that allow the device to ring natively while the app is still running ?

I know it makes no sense, because then what is the point of having the app.
I am not ready to give up on this yet, but I need to be able to receive calls, that currently using the app, the other party can never hear me.

When you make calls the other side can hear you but not when you receive calls? Sorry not sure I understand the core issue. If you email me snrb.labs@gmail.com it'll probably be faster and easier to troubleshoot the issue.

 

[nwaves]

Why use GrooVeIP when Google Voice already offers free unlimited US calls?

 

[snrb]

Why use GrooVeIP when Google Voice already offers free unlimited US calls?

The app provides a capability that the Google Voice android app does not. The Google Voice android app uses your cell phone minutes to make calls (When making/receving calls with Google Voice number on cell phone, is it going to use my cell phone airtime minutes? - Google Voice Help)

GrooVe IP does not use your cell phone minutes. It connects to Google Voice using your data connection or WiFi. So not only can you make and receive free phone calls you can do it in areas where you have no cell reception but do have a WiFi connection available.

 

[Tamale]

I just want to say that I finally got my monthly 4G plan with T-mobile activated on my new HTC sensation over the weekend and purchased GrooveIP right away and set it up. Aside from T-mobile taking longer than I expected to activate the data portion of my plan, everything has been working flawlessly since I got it.

I'm very, very impressed with the quality of grooveip (both app functionality and voice quality), and compared to sipdroid it's actually usable and reliable. Totally worth the app purchase (i'll be saving between $30 and $60 every month with this plan anyway), and what a great thing to have support from the main developer himself in a forum like this.


A+++++ would do it all over again thanks, snrb.. you made cell phones affordable again.

 

[snrb]

I just want to say that I finally got my monthly 4G plan with T-mobile activated on my new HTC sensation over the weekend and purchased GrooveIP right away and set it up. Aside from T-mobile taking longer than I expected to activate the data portion of my plan, everything has been working flawlessly since I got it.

I'm very, very impressed with the quality of grooveip (both app functionality and voice quality), and compared to sipdroid it's actually usable and reliable. Totally worth the app purchase (i'll be saving between $30 and $60 every month with this plan anyway), and what a great thing to have support from the main developer himself in a forum like this.


A+++++ would do it all over again thanks, snrb.. you made cell phones affordable again.

Thanks! Glad you like the app.

 

[Tamale]

Thanks! Glad you like the app.

I just feel like this thread in general needs less negativity. This is truly a fantastic app. Without something like grooveip, people like me would have to pay $30-$50 a month more for a cell phone that actually has a decent amount of data and anytime minutes.

 

[xmancool]

SNRB, First, this is pretty great app.

Second, my current problem is on a LG Optimus S on 2.2.2. After the phone is left alone for a few minutes and the screen turns off, Groove IP does not ring until the fourth ring on the dialing phone, so most calls go to voice mail when they ring once on the LG Optimus.

I've checked the *Partial Wake Lock* But that doesn't seem to make a difference.

CSipSimple routing Google voice through Sipgate does not have this problem: Calls ring through immediately.

TIA

 

[jbunne11]

I am trying to set up Groove IP and Tasker to load and close Groove based on my wifi status. When I connect to a given wifi network Groove loads, and when I disconnect Groove closes (ideally). I am doing it this way in order to save battery by closing Groove IP when it is not being used. I am also using Tasker for other options (not start Groove during Verizon nights and weekends; put phone into airplane mode to prevent simultaneous ringing, etc.) I have everything working flawlessly except the automatic close of Groove IP. When I use the "Kill App" task in Tasker on Groove IP, it closes briefly, then loads right back up again. I have also found that other task killer apps do not work on Groove IP. The only way I have found to stop Groove is to "force stop" from Android Settings -> Applications -> Manage Apps, or by "Exiting" from within the app itself. I guess what I am asking is...

Is there a way to force stop the app from Tasker without using the "kill app" task? What is the name of the process that must be killed in order to permanently close Groove IP?

 

[Tamale]

For the first time since I got my phone, I've been having problems staying signed into google from Groove IP. My signal strength is in the 40-60% range, and sometimes hops between 2G and 4G (according to my HTC sensation on T-mobile), but obviously not staying signed into google voice means groove IP is unfortunately unreliable. When trying to sign back in I keep getting the error "Network error: could not reach Google servers." Any ideas what I can do?

 

[snrb]

I am trying to set up Groove IP and Tasker to load and close Groove based on my wifi status. When I connect to a given wifi network Groove loads, and when I disconnect Groove closes (ideally). I am doing it this way in order to save battery by closing Groove IP when it is not being used. I am also using Tasker for other options (not start Groove during Verizon nights and weekends; put phone into airplane mode to prevent simultaneous ringing, etc.) I have everything working flawlessly except the automatic close of Groove IP. When I use the "Kill App" task in Tasker on Groove IP, it closes briefly, then loads right back up again. I have also found that other task killer apps do not work on Groove IP. The only way I have found to stop Groove is to "force stop" from Android Settings -> Applications -> Manage Apps, or by "Exiting" from within the app itself. I guess what I am asking is...

Is there a way to force stop the app from Tasker without using the "kill app" task? What is the name of the process that must be killed in order to permanently close Groove IP?

I believe tasker can broadcast intents. These are the intents to start and stop GrooVe IP

<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.gvoip.START_GROOVE_IP" />
<action android:name="com.gvoip.STOP_GROOVE_IP" />
</intent-filter>

 

[snrb]

For the first time since I got my phone, I've been having problems staying signed into google from Groove IP. My signal strength is in the 40-60% range, and sometimes hops between 2G and 4G (according to my HTC sensation on T-mobile), but obviously not staying signed into google voice means groove IP is unfortunately unreliable. When trying to sign back in I keep getting the error "Network error: could not reach Google servers." Any ideas what I can do?

The network error means the app tried to open a connection to Google's servers but wasn't able to. Similar to if you try to open a webpage on your computer and you don't have a network connection. Not really much I can suggest for that, seems like your device is having trouble connecting to the internet. Can try restarting the device to see if that may help.

 

[jbunne11]

I believe tasker can broadcast intents. These are the intents to start and stop GrooVe IP

<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.gvoip.START_GROOVE_IP" />
<action android:name="com.gvoip.STOP_GROOVE_IP" />
</intent-filter>

This is exactly what I was looking for. With a little research I was able get these commands working in Tasker. Thanks for such a quick response.

 

[mondokat]

Hi, I have a question. My grooveip seems to sign me out pretty frequently. Does being signed in to the google voice app on my phone count as a google talk sign in? I'm just wondering if the two android apps are conflicting, because i am sure i am not signed in anywhere else. Thanks!

 

[snrb]

Hi, I have a question. My grooveip seems to sign me out pretty frequently. Does being signed in to the google voice app on my phone count as a google talk sign in? I'm just wondering if the two android apps are conflicting, because i am sure i am not signed in anywhere else. Thanks!

No the google voice app should not conflict. Being signed in to Google Chat anywhere else should not cause really any issues for GrooVe IP any longer. The app will get signed out anytime the OS notifies that the network connection has changed or dropped. The app will then try and sign back in when connectivity is restored. One thing to check is your device may be putting the data connection into a power saving state when the screen turns off. That would cause the app to sign out. Or any task killer or battery manager apps could trigger the same behavior. Or if you've moved the app to the sdcard, it loses priority and could be killed by the android os.

 

[tcat007]

Mine works flawlessly. If I put it in airplane mode ball turns red, if I turn on wifi, ball turns green within 15 seconds, if I switch to 3G turns red for a few seconds then back on. No tasker, the app just works. I have Google Voice set to forward to chat and cell. I turn off data during the day, calls go to my cell. I turn on wifi at night, calls go to Groove IP. If I'm on wifi, I call out using Groove; if I'm on 3G or 1X I call out using my cell minutes.

My ONLY grip is echo at other end using speakerphone.

 

[mondokat]

No the google voice app should not conflict. Being signed in to Google Chat anywhere else should not cause really any issues for GrooVe IP any longer. The app will get signed out anytime the OS notifies that the network connection has changed or dropped. The app will then try and sign back in when connectivity is restored. One thing to check is your device may be putting the data connection into a power saving state when the screen turns off. That would cause the app to sign out. Or any task killer or battery manager apps could trigger the same behavior. Or if you've moved the app to the sdcard, it loses priority and could be killed by the android os.

Thanks for the response.

I don't have any task killers or battery managers installed, and I don't have grooveip on the sdcard. I must be losing my wifi signal, so that sucks. It happens while I am using the phone, staring at it, so I know it's not the screen turning off. I have a Nexus S from sprint, anybody else have that problem? I heard the Nexus S has a low power antenna.

 

[snrb]

Thanks for the response.

I don't have any task killers or battery managers installed, and I don't have grooveip on the sdcard. I must be losing my wifi signal, so that sucks. It happens while I am using the phone, staring at it, so I know it's not the screen turning off. I have a Nexus S from sprint, anybody else have that problem? I heard the Nexus S has a low power antenna.

Might be worth restarting the router just to see if that helps

 

[jjane45]

I have Google Voice set to forward to chat and cell. I turn off data during the day, calls go to my cell. I turn on wifi at night, calls go to Groove IP. If I'm on wifi, I call out using Groove; if I'm on 3G or 1X I call out using my cell minutes.

Is it possible to forward GV to both chat AND cell, and get incoming calls through Groove IP? I'd be worried about missing important calls due to data connection issues if GV forwards to chat alone, but if both rings the built-in dialer precedes Groove IP, right? This, and the severe battery drain are the only things holding me back from using Groove IP for real (and take advantage of T-Mobile's 100 minutes / 5GB data plan). What are your experiences?

 

[tcat007]

It seems "random" as to which line picks up. Any calls to my cell# always go to cell. Any calls to GV# usually get picked up by GV voicemail, but if GrooveIP is active (green ball), usually the call will ring GIP. I don't really care if they go to GV voicemail, since I get an email not long after. I don't get a lot of calls, so not really sure how random it really is having both forwards set.

Is it possible to forward GV to both chat AND cell, and get incoming calls through Groove IP? I'd be worried about missing important calls due to data connection issues if GV forwards to chat alone, but if both rings the built-in dialer precedes Groove IP, right? This, and the severe battery drain are the only things holding me back from using Groove IP for real (and take advantage of T-Mobile's 100 minutes / 5GB data plan). What are your experiences?

 

[jjane45]

Thank you tcat007. Since GV is my primary number, I need assurance of reliability For incomeing calls, regardless if Groove IP is set to "always use Groove IP" or "ask me", mobile network always picks up first and Groove IP shows missed call... I vaguely remember seeing the option to choose when test running it previously? If there is any way to forward to both cell / chat and still pick it up on Groove IP, I may even live with the battery drain!

 

[voltaic]

Thank you tcat007. Since GV is my primary number, I need assurance of reliability For incomeing calls, regardless if Groove IP is set to "always use Groove IP" or "ask me", mobile network always picks up first and Groove IP shows missed call... I vaguely remember seeing the option to choose when test running it previously? If there is any way to forward to both cell / chat and still pick it up on Groove IP, I may even live with the battery drain!

I'm sure snrb will be around shortly... But what carrier/network are you on? If you're on a GSM network like AT&T or Tmobile, you should be able to have GV forwarded to both your cell phone# and Google Chat, and then be able to have both Groove and your regular cell phone line ring simultaneously.

But if you're on a CDMA network that can't handle voice and data simultaneously, the incoming call to your regular voice will cut off the data connection to Groove, and then you get your missed call in Groove.

 

[snrb]

I'm sure snrb will be around shortly... But what carrier/network are you on? If you're on a GSM network like AT&T or Tmobile, you should be able to have GV forwarded to both your cell phone# and Google Chat, and then be able to have both Groove and your regular cell phone line ring simultaneously.

But if you're on a CDMA network that can't handle voice and data simultaneously, the incoming call to your regular voice will cut off the data connection to Groove, and then you get your missed call in Groove.

That is exactly what I would have said. If your device can do voice and data at the same time (wifi or gsm provider) then when you forward to both, both your cell and GrooVe IP will ring.

 

[jjane45]

That is exactly what I would have said. If your device can do voice and data at the same time (wifi or gsm provider) then when you forward to both, both your cell and GrooVe IP will ring.

Thank you snrb and voltaic! I tested more today on Tmobile prepaid with Samsung exhibit 2 and got mixed results as tcat007 described. GV forwards to both cell and chat, and when it rings, sometimes it's mobile only, sometimes it was flashing quickly between stock dialer and groove IP. I had about 30% chance of picking it up on groove IP if I focus really hard... really wish it can consistently ask me to choose between the two, similar to the outgoing calls

 

[snrb]

Thank you snrb and voltaic! I tested more today on Tmobile prepaid with Samsung exhibit 2 and got mixed results as tcat007 described. GV forwards to both cell and chat, and when it rings, sometimes it's mobile only, sometimes it was flashing quickly between stock dialer and groove IP. I had about 30% chance of picking it up on groove IP if I focus really hard... really wish it can consistently ask me to choose between the two, similar to the outgoing calls

Unfortunately since the call is originated from Google Voice we can't control where the call goes. You can try the beta version on our Facebook page to see if the GrooVe IP incoming call screen stays on top more consistently.