O Canada! > Canadian > Canadian Chat > Is anyone using Google Voice+ on their cell phone?

Is anyone using Google Voice+ on their cell phone?

I've not used Google Voice, but there's a free app called Dell Voice (ironically) that gives you a free local phone number, and you have unlimited local and long distance with it.

I've used it bunch of times, works pretty well.

reply to RobThompson
Google Voice is not available in Canada outside of Calgary, and the hoops you need to jump through to make that practical just aren't worth it.
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Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org

reply to RobThompson
Well if you have a iPhone you can always use the Talkatone app to make GV/Gtalk calls. Feature is also available on Android. Not sure about other platforms but there is a good chance there would be.

Other than that there are other more circuitous methods to access GV.

reply to RobThompson

Re: Is anyone using Google Voice+ on their cell phone?

i got a very good cellphone plan to begin with, so there is no need for me to use google plus, but if you have a very basic plan and a good data package, i dont see why not, but then u gotta live with having 2 numbers, convincing people to call u on your google voice number instead of your cell number. it might get a bit confusing.
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Happiness is like peeing your pants... Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its Warmth!!

reply to RobThompson
I use Google Voice. I have a US number and I don't care. It allows me to send and receive SMS for free, is well integrated with my phone and is ad-free. I will never pay for SMS, it's a matter of principle.

In short you only need to register from a US IP address. Either ask a friend there to do it for you, do it while you travel, or use a proxy.

During the registration you will need to provide a temporary US number from which you can answer and get a pin number. Many people use ipkall for that, but again, it's simpler if you know a friend in the US.

For calls I agree it's not worth it. VoIP.ms is cheap enough that I don't care.

reply to RobThompson
Speaking of Google Voice etc.... an associate of mine is heading off to Malaysia in a couple of days and I need to be able to reliably reach him on his iPhone and vice versa.

Any inexpensive ways to do that for a week?

reply to MaynardKrebs

reply to zorxd
Anveo phone numbers allow SMS. An Anveo DID only costs $2.00 USD per month.

Rob.

reply to RobThompson
Hey there. I read your post last week and decided to see if it was possible, and I managed to figure it out after reading a few guides online.

What you have to do is get an SIP account from iptel.org. Use a valid e-mail. The phone number it asks you to enter when you register can be any number, it doesn't matter. Take note of your SIP address. It will be in the confirmation e-mail. It's username@iptel.org.

Once that's done, you need to get a US number from ipkall.com. When you sign up, it will ask you for your SIP number and SIP proxy. For your SIP number, enter just the username you have on iptel. If my SIP address is username@iptel.org, then I would enter username. When it asks you for SIP proxy, enter iptel.org.

Next step is to use hidemyass.com or any US based HTTP and SOCKS4/5 (they can be two different proxies) to login to Google Voice and sign up for a phone number. If the proxies worked, it should be obvious how to obtain the number.

During the process of obtaining the GV number, it will ask you for a call forwarding number. You want to enter the phone number you signed up for from ipkall. It should be a normal PTSN phone number. Check your e-mail from ipkall. Before you continue, read on.

You need to get a SIP app on your phone. There are lots to choose from. This whole thing will work with any phone that can support an SIP application. In that SIP application, add your SIP account from iptel.org. Your SIP application will ask you for your username, password, and proxy server. Enter your full username from iptel into the username (from my previous example, I would enter username@iptel.org). Enter your password. And finally, enter iptel.org into the proxy server field. Connect with the account.

Go back to Google Voice, and continue with the process. After entering your ipkall PTSN number, continue. You will see a 2-digit confirmation number. GV will call you on your ipkall number, which will ring your iptel account in your mobile SIP application. Pick up the call, and enter your confirmation code when it asks. You should now have a GV number.

You are now essentially done. When you want to place an outbound call on your mobile phone via Google Voice, go to the GV mobile interface. When you enter the number you wish to connect to, it will ask you whether you want to place the call through GV or through the call forwarding number you entered during registration. Choose the call forwarding number. What happens next is amazing.

As long as your SIP application is open on your phone, you will receive an inbound IP call. Answer the call, and it will initiate an outbound IP call to your destination number. When they pick up, you will be connected.

Good luck! If there are any questions, ask and I'll do my best to help.

gotIt, what an amazing post!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to research and then create it.

I will give it a try.

Thanks again,

Rob.

No problem, and you're welcome!

There is a relevant xkcd to every situation.

After seeing that comic, I always post solutions when I have them.

reply to RobThompson
I use GV in the US for my cell phone for voicemail only.
It transcribes my voice mails and emails them to me.
When I was in Canada 2 years ago we could not sign up my friend with his Canada number.
I think GV can be registered for canada if you can get a temp voip 403 (alberta) phone number to set it up with. I dont know if that still works.

Dell Launches Dell Voice, similar to Google Voice, but for Canada
»digitaljournal.com/article/319365
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reply to RobThompson
Just realize that the more you bounce a VoIP stream around, the more you proxy and VPN it, the higher the latency is going to be, and the less usable it will be.
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Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org

I have been using the GV plus FreePhone (area code 403) plus Voice+ (or its predecessor) for over a year and it works perfectly - the call quality is excellent.

The problem is that GV setup no longer allows a 403 area code phone number to be used, atleast, it didn't the last time I tried for a friend.

My whole quest is to find 'the' way to get the lowest cost, highest voice quality with the most minutes for my, and my friends, cell phone(s) - I just can't believe how expensive this cell phone stuff can be!

I am now testing Guapaz's suggestion of SipDroid direct to my Anveo voip service (I use an Obi ATA & Anveo for our home phone). I haven't made many cell calls yet but so far, so good.

Anyway, thanks for your help and your super quality post on GV, iptel & ipkal.

Rob.