If you have "unlimited calling" set up on your Android Phone, DO NOT upgrade Google Voice!

[Bing]

Read this article first:

Google Voice Blog: Faster dialing with Google Voice on Android and Blackberry devices

If you, like me, have your outbound Google Voice access number set as one of your "Family and Friends", you'll find that all outbound calls are currently free (since Verizon sees them as going through the outbound number, regardless of who you actually call). However, this new method assigns a personal number to EACH contact.

So if your girlfriend or brother already had Verizon, and you didn't use Google Voice, it would be free calling.

But if you called them with the old Google Voice application, they would both appear on your bill as calls to your Google Voice access number. (So if you had that one number on your Friends and Family line, you could call both of them -- and anyone else -- without using any minutes.)

HOWEVER, if you upgraded, your brother essentially has 1 non-Verizon number, and your girlfriend has another non-Verizon number, so even though they're both Verizon users, you're going to get screwed over with minute usage.

Keep an eye out for these things! Google either needs to work with Verizon (and AT&T, etc.) to fix this gap, or they need to keep it an option to use a single outbound access number. I know I won't be upgrading my Google Voice app until they fix this.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

I think they key is to NOT use access numbers; using your actual GV number as an F&F number ALONG with a dialer program gives you the same benefit with incoming and outgoing calls.

 

[Bing]

I think they key is to NOT use access numbers; using your actual GV number as an F&F number ALONG with a dialer program gives you the same benefit with incoming and outgoing calls.

That's a possible solution, but there are two things I don't care for about that:

1. It's the slowest method, since it takes another application to work through. This alone undoes any reason for the GV app update.

2. It requires your phone to call you back, which seems too "hackish" for me. I prefer to place a call and just have it outbound. (For example: I don't want my phone to ring when I'm placing a call.)

 

[svensjo]

That's a possible solution, but there are two things I don't care for about that:

1. It's the slowest method, since it takes another application to work through. This alone undoes any reason for the GV app update.

2. It requires your phone to call you back, which seems too "hackish" for me. I prefer to place a call and just have it outbound. (For example: I don't want my phone to ring when I'm placing a call.)

While you are correct about #1, you are wrong about #2. I have been using a dialer program for quite some time, and it doesn't require my phone to ring back. It works just as if you were dialing your GV number and entering the number manually: You hear the google greeting, then it pauses, enters a 2 for an outbound call, pauses again, and then enters the number you are dialing with the pound sign at the end. The GV lady then says "This is a free call." (The magic words.) I use FLex Dialer Lite (formerly GV dialer). I don't mind the slight delay in order to save some cash.

 

[CirkDroid]

Hah, I just checked, and I have 5,000 rollover minutes. I only average about 350 billed minutes per month since I have a day job + a gym habit.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

While you are correct about #1, you are wrong about #2. I have been using a dialer program for quite some time, and it doesn't require my phone to ring back. It works just as if you were dialing your GV number and entering the number manually: You hear the google greeting, then it pauses, enters a 2 for an outbound call, pauses again, and then enters the number you are dialing with the pound sign at the end. The GV lady then says "This is a free call." (The magic words.) I use FLex Dialer Lite (formerly GV dialer). I don't mind the slight delay in order to save some cash.

I used GV Dialer on my BB (loved it; what Apple did to them was unfortunate) and used Flex Dialer on Android as well.