• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

who ueses Google voice to save $$$ on plan

D

dan330

Extreme Android User
hi,

i was wondering.... about using Google Voice to make calls and texting. what are the issues. of course on a high-end Android phone.


if... I get verizon's $39.99 plan 450mins (no texting)
add in $29.99 for unlimited data...
get Google voice .. for additional call needs to land lines and texting.

will this work????
who has been doing this..??

thanks
 
I do for my work number, and I add my GV number to my friend & family list. Basically I send and receive a high volumn of calls from my 'work phone' M-F but with my job I am often out of the office. So my work number is my GV number and so that prevents my work calls from eating up my minutes. For non-work calls I use my direct cell phone number because I don't actually use that all that much.

Basically:

work phone call--->google voice--->cell phone (free calls)
non-work phone call--->cell phone (use my minutes)

I find it to be reliable, however the call quality is not as good as using it directly. That being said, I am on an older blackberry so that may be causing the call quality issue as well. Outgoing phone calls work fine, but because of the 5-10 second delay I only use google voice if I know they are going to be long conversations. I haven't had any issues with outgoing, other than it sometimes makes me nervous when I dial a number and its calls some strange number to connect me. I worry that I am going to have a bill for a 45 minute conversation to a chinese phone number or something, but that has never happened in over a year of using it.

One other benefit that I find useful is the free visual voicemail. Verizon wants $3 per month for that feature and frankly I find that absolutely ridiculous.
 
dan330 said:
have u used it for texting???
Click to expand...

No, I have never used it for texting and I am also curious how it would work. I have read that the texts work as long as you have wifi/3g coverage and they are free of charge, but I don't have any personal experience to confirm this.
 
Texts using Google Voice are free because they use your data connection. The only downfall is the inability to currently send media messages. I use GV for texting and do not having a texting plan.
 
so.. other than sms with media.... and some call quality... there is no real down side????

so for $70/month and taxes.... i can have it all??
 
Aypse said:
No, I have never used it for texting and I am also curious how it would work. I have read that the texts work as long as you have wifi/3g coverage and they are free of charge, but I don't have any personal experience to confirm this.
Click to expand...

Yes. I use texting on GV. I just told all of my friends that I changed my number and, I port everything through GV.

This is a handy guide. http://androidforums.com/incredible...-minutes-texts-visual-voicemail-calendar.html

So all of you know--it is tricky to get free calls with GV, but it is possible with a few different methods. I use the Friends and family trick, but you have to have the old GV app for it to work.
 
Taylored said:
Yes. I use texting on GV. I just told all of my friends that I changed my number and, I port everything through GV.

This is a handy guide. http://androidforums.com/incredible...-minutes-texts-visual-voicemail-calendar.html

So all of you know--it is tricky to get free calls with GV, but it is possible with a few different methods. I use the Friends and family trick, but you have to have the old GV app for it to work.
Click to expand...

Aren't the calls outbound free if you use the Google Voice app for outbound dialing (And have a valid data connection)?
 
PSkeptic said:
Aren't the calls outbound free if you use the Google Voice app for outbound dialing (And have a valid data connection)?
Click to expand...

No. Google Voice outbound calls on a cell phone are not VOIP. You call a google access number(which appears on the top of your screen for about 1.5 seconds when you dial out) and that number ports the call. There is a way VOIP can be done through some other programs, but it looks like more trouble than it is worth. The only way to cheat the system is to get the 5 free friends and family numbers and set the Google Voice access number as one of your friends, but this only works for outbound calls and it only works with the old GV app(i have it if you want it) because the new google voice app picks a number at random(Verizon caught on to the scam). You still have to keep an eye on the GV access number if you have the old app because it changes every couple of months.
 
Taylored said:
No. Google Voice outbound calls on a cell phone are not VOIP. You call a google access number(which appears on the top of your screen for about 1.5 seconds when you dial out) and that number ports the call. There is a way VOIP can be done through some other programs, but it looks like more trouble than it is worth. The only way to cheat the system is to get the 5 free friends and family numbers and set the Google Voice access number as one of your friends, but this only works for outbound calls and it only works with the old GV app(i have it if you want it) because the new google voice app picks a number at random(Verizon caught on to the scam). You still have to keep an eye on the GV access number if you have the old app because it changes every couple of months.
Click to expand...

danm!!!! that sounds like a lot of trouble....
 
heh, it sounds worse than it actually is. The real problem is getting the Friends and family option from Verizon. They really only offer it on plans that do not need it. You cannot get it on the bargain plans... though they change the policy all the time. I have it on the 700 minute family share plan.

GV app is best for the voicemail and free texting. Figuring a way to cheat Verizon is just a plus.
 
Google Voice Callback app. Free outgoing calls if you have F&F. It's not horrible to use and you don't have to have any other number listed, just GV.
There is a delay while it calls you/connects but free is free is free.

Texting through GV is great! Works quite well and folks now know to email MMS type things to me. Again, free is good!
 
I have been having an issue since I downloaded GV where every time I place a call the 3G connection drops off (not just slow or anything... It disappears entirely from the status bar). It works fine with wifi, and the 3G comes right back after I hang up the call, but while the phone is connected it's a no go. Has anyone else experienced this before? I have done several google searches and some internal forum searches here as well and come up with nothing. That being said, sorry if this is a duplicate 0.o

I am using Google Voice Build number 0.3.4 (version .04.2.13 is current on the market) if it matters.

Thanks in advance!
 
zackthomas89 said:
I have been having an issue since I downloaded GV where every time I place a call the 3G connection drops off (not just slow or anything... It disappears entirely from the status bar). It works fine with wifi, and the 3G comes right back after I hang up the call, but while the phone is connected it's a no go. Has anyone else experienced this before? I have done several google searches and some internal forum searches here as well and come up with nothing. That being said, sorry if this is a duplicate 0.o

I am using Google Voice Build number 0.3.4 (version .04.2.13 is current on the market) if it matters.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
The Google voice app does not use your mobile data connection once the call has been placed. The reason your 3G turns off is because CDMA cannot run a phone call and mobile data at the same time. The reason your wifi stays on is because it has no relation to the phone part of your phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom