Questions about using Google Voice to call Canada

[sremick]

I am about to explore using Google Voice for the first time to make international calls, specifically Canada (from the USA) which is supposedly free.

Two questions that searching on Google haven't clearly answered:

1) Some things I've read suggest that it's only free if you call a Canadian land line. Other things said "all calls". Can someone clarify? Does Google Voice even know if the # I'm dialing is a cell phone?

2) I'd love to use the feature in the Google Voice Android app where you can set it to make all international calls via Google Voice. But with Canada, you don't use +011 and a country code... you just dial the number like any USA long-distance number. So how can Google Voice detect that I'm calling Canada, and ensure it goes out via Google Voice and not my normal phone dialer? Do I need to do something special?

Thanks

 

[necosino]

The cost to connect calls to a number in US/Can is Free for GV regardless if its a landline or cell. However, you will use your own carrier's minutes.

The cost to connect to international numbers is relatively cheaper than most carrier's fees. Basically GV connects to the international number, then calls you from a US number. So from your carrier's end its a local call, but then you pay google $0.##/minute depending on the country.

 

[sremick]

The cost to connect calls to a number in US/Can is Free for GV regardless if its a landline or cell. However, you will use your own carrier's minutes.

Right, I got that much, and it wouldn't be a problem since I'd use my landline as the local number. So no local carrier minutes to use. But thanks for clearing up the bit about the cell line.

Any thoughts on question #2?

 

[ChicoFox]

2) I have my phone set to use GV for all international calls to Canada. I just type 1+area code+number and GV automatically handles it.

 

[sremick]

2) I have my phone set to use GV for all international calls to Canada. I just type 1+area code+number and GV automatically handles it.

Cool, guess it somehow detects the Canadian area code. Will just have to be brave and try it. Thanks.

 

[RyanB]

OP, could you update this thread with how you make out, billing wise?

 

[xiaobao12]

Cool, guess it somehow detects the Canadian area code. Will just have to be brave and try it. Thanks.

I am about to attempt the same thing but am afraid I will get charged by sprint. There is no dialer option in the GV apparently on my Android...do I just make the call from the regular dialing screen of my phone? Thanks in advance.

 

[bruce73]

I use GV to call my brother in Canada, both his land line and his cell. I use Voice Choice (free or paid versions available in the Play Store) in conjunction with GV so that when I dial his number it will automatically go through GV (it also works for texting). I'm with AT&T and so far so good.

 

[xiaobao12]

Where is the dialer in GV? I see the phone icon for recognized contacts but how do you type in a number?

 

[bruce73]

There isn't one. You use the stock dialer. Depending how you set it up, you can use GV all the time, never, international only, or always ask. Then, with Voice Choice, if you have GV set to "use all the time ," you can select specific numbers to be routed through GV, with the others going through your regular phone service.