tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18006403964498916112024-03-13T17:59:12.905-07:00Google Voice in CanadaGoogle Voice Canada SetupUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-14214665076462171662018-04-21T08:11:00.003-07:002018-04-21T08:11:39.167-07:00make my automatically cell call using voipmake my automatically cell call using voip<br />
<br />
I have a cell phone plan that includes 9 hours of national calls, however, international calls are billed at extreme minute-rates. For this reason I use VOIP/SIP for international calls thorugh the built-in SIP option (dialer > menu > settings > call settings > accounts).<br />
<br />
The built-in dialer have 3 options to choose betweeen, and none of them are what I am looking for - Use Internet calling: 1) for all calls when data network is available 2) only for internet calls 3) ask for each call<br />
<br />
It would be so simple to have the dialer check the number called, and if it's an international number (i.e. it starts by +) then use VOIP, otherwise use standard cell calls.<br />
<br />
Unless I am blind I don't suppose there are any way of doing this with the built-in dialer. I frankly don't understand why not, I would have thought this is a fairly common situation in this day and age.<br />
<br />
Is there another dialer that could do this?<br />
<br />
I know I could have two dialers, but it annoys me that something as simple and obvious can't be done automatically.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-80679735240937535702015-08-11T17:44:00.001-07:002015-08-11T17:47:48.242-07:00VoIP SaveS BELL CANADA PHONE BILLThe word ‘<acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym>‘
frightened the hell out of me – it sounded just too damn ‘technical’
for a person like me. I was wrong, and my fear was costing me BIG money!<br />
How does saving around $900.00 per year sound to you?<br />
<span id="more-32"></span><br />
My Bell Canada home phone bill was $93.04 per month. Now, my monthly
phone bill is about $11.50 CDN (less than just the taxes of my Bell
bill) because I use AcroVoices ‘Just-a-Phone’ plan.<br />
A saving of $978.48 per year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKigGufMwAh2Svn-w5TgbwoiaiCubtIC6RY-izT_sPhQRv_ONTSop65I2AVrZF5X_4A7HkcUeflrD758ZnuSul3ZpJtV1xCF_yKSde9rRBdW6eaXFd8YILlzwtyK1uvVjjaEXKr3uAw/s1600/Bills.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKigGufMwAh2Svn-w5TgbwoiaiCubtIC6RY-izT_sPhQRv_ONTSop65I2AVrZF5X_4A7HkcUeflrD758ZnuSul3ZpJtV1xCF_yKSde9rRBdW6eaXFd8YILlzwtyK1uvVjjaEXKr3uAw/s1600/Bills.JPG" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1)</b> For those of you who want a very simple conversion to <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym>, look at <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> plans offered by:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.videotron.com/residential/telephony" target="_blank">Videotron</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wirelesshomephone" target="_blank">Rogers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vonage.ca/" target="_blank">Vonage</a></li>
</ul>
These companies do it all for you, you need to know zero about <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym>, but they <b><span style="color: red;">are not</span></b> all that inexpensive.<br />
<b><span style="color: green;">2) A much less expensive alternative but one that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">does it all</span> for you is:</span></b><br />
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><a href="http://www.acrovoice.ca/" target="_blank">AcroVoice</a> (<span style="color: green;">I recommend that you look at this company</span>)</b></div>
<b><span style="color: green;">AcroVoice will sell you an Obihai <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym> that is already set up and all you have to do is plug it on to your router – AcroVoice manages the <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>
for you. Really simple. Their least expensive plan is $10.95 per month
plus taxes – I’d still save over $80.00 per month, or, over $900.00 per
year! Their support, which I doubt that you will ever need, is AMAZING!<br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: green;">With AcroVoice, you will save a ton of money but you do not need to know anything about <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> – it just works! And, it’s a Canadian company.</span></b><br />
<b>3)</b> For those of you looking for the <b><span style="color: green; text-decoration: underline;">least expensive</span></b> phone solution, and who are willing to set up your own <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym> or <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> phone, look at <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> plans offered by:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://anveo.com/consumer/default.asp" target="_blank">Anveo</a></li>
<li><a href="http://voip.ms/" target="_blank">Voip.ms</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.callcentric.com/" target="_blank">Callcentric</a></li>
</ul>
The difference is, with this third set of <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> suppliers, <b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">you</span></b> must install and set up a small electronic box on your high-speed router. This box is called an <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>. (Analog Telephone Adapter) The purpose of an <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym> is simply to allow you to connect your existing phone to the internet. The set up of an OBI <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym> is really simple. If you do not use an <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>, you would have to buy a <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Voice Over Internet">VoIP</acronym> phone and set that up.<br />
Again, <span style="color: #993300;">don’t be afraid of the ATA</span>,
it’s just a little, harmless electronic box and the excellent support
people at Anveo, Voip.ms or AcroVoice will help you every step of the
way. Once it is set up, you forget it. To see how easy it is to install
& set up an Obi <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>, go <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ3eW3Nx3TI#t=99" target="_blank">here</a>. This video also shows you how to set up Google to make free phone calls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqJi7au09Razh9WrTt22NwxEWNnlxyOzrrWnytYC_eUUlopbxJMRCEoeQWP29-KNUDBnGH0OFla797l0Z6Bvr3IEUWsRnqi6fduQS7F3OfUe3rM9w3nNpMvzA04fXz5FB3LP2xybLCA/s1600/photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqJi7au09Razh9WrTt22NwxEWNnlxyOzrrWnytYC_eUUlopbxJMRCEoeQWP29-KNUDBnGH0OFla797l0Z6Bvr3IEUWsRnqi6fduQS7F3OfUe3rM9w3nNpMvzA04fXz5FB3LP2xybLCA/s320/photo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>‘s
can also be bought on amazon.ca, amazon.com and a million other on-line
stores. They cost between $40 to $80. I use an Obi 110 manufactured by
<a href="http://www.obihai.com/" target="_blank">Obihai Technologies</a>. You can buy one from AcroVoice <a href="https://www.acrovoice.ca/obistore/" target="_blank">here</a>. An Obi 110 delivered to Montreal, including taxes will cost about $75.00.<br />
Edit Oct 2014: Obihai has a number of new <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym>‘s. Most people are now buying the Obi 200.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-28030277140083124852015-08-11T17:34:00.001-07:002015-08-11T17:47:48.226-07:00With google voice can you call for free in US and Canada?When in US, google voice allows free calling to canadian landline and cell phone?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.google.com/voice/rates" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/voice/rates</a><br />
<br />
Is that right, no fees at all?<br />
<br />
So if you have a data plan in US you dont really need international calling plan to call canada?<br />
<br />
Does the google voice app drains a lot of battery?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>****************************************************<br />
<br />
Not to confuse you more, but now on Android phones, there are now two options with Google Voice.<br />
1) In the phone app, it is free to call NA but you will use your local airtime. Make sure you have unlimited or don't go over.<br />
2) In the hangout app, it acts as Skype and uses VoIP to make phone
calls. This doesn't eat the airtime but you need fast & stable
wifi/data to have good call quality.
<br />
<br />
****************************************************<br />
<br />
yes, but people in Canada can't call you if you are in USA<br />
use Fongo APP. you Can call Canada<br />
and people in Canada can call your Fongo #
<br />
<br />
****************************************************<br />
<br />
Anyone in the world can now install the Hangouts Dialer add-on to Google
Hangouts and call phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada for free (rest
of the world is mostly 1 cent per minute).<br />
<br />
If you have a Google Voice number (U.S. only currently), you can link it
to Hangouts to receive incoming phone calls. You can also send and
receive SMS text messages for free via your GV number.<br />
<br />
It works very well over WiFi, not so great over a cellular data
connection because audio streaming suffers from frequent delays of a few
seconds.<br />
<br />
****************************************************<br />
<br />
<br />
For those with a google voice number, it works on the computer as well.<br />
<a href="https://support.google.com/chat/answer/187936?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://support.google.com/chat/answer/187936?hl=en</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-79134737302428481492015-08-06T18:05:00.000-07:002015-08-11T18:12:09.136-07:00Using an Obi ATABuy an Obi, watch these two videos and you’ll be making free phone calls using Google Voice in minutes!<br />
<span id="more-1066"></span><br />
The examples are for an Obi 202 but the steps are the same for any Obi model.<br />
Video # 1 – Connecting an Obi <acronym class="c2c-text-hover" title="Analog Telephone Adapter">ATA</acronym> to the internet:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/iydg5lY1UA8?rel=0&showinfo=0" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Video # 2 – Setting up Google Voice on an Obi ATA:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/skHQ7raypXc?rel=0&showinfo=0" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
What could be easier?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-14510572765774362792015-07-02T17:29:00.000-07:002015-08-11T17:47:48.221-07:00Google Voice Alternative for Canada ? I have a US ( T-Mobile ) Number that i am using on Roaming. I want to
start using a local Canadian Number to avoid roaming charges, without
compromising a proper US number for texting, Calling etc.. Fongo seems
to be the best option. Any other thoughts ?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
If you able to get data/internet in Canada then you could continue using your Google Voice from Hangouts app. <br />
<br />
Hangout on Android is horrible. You can hear clear, other end cannot
hear you well. Known issue:-( On PC - fine, on phone-does not work. <br />
<br />
I am using GrooveIP (now not though Google, it is through RingoTo). Not perfect, but way better than Hangout.
<br />
<br />
Don't forget magicjack<br />
<br />
Skype is a paid option $3/mth for N Am calling . Text is extra though. Sound quality is good.
<br />
<br />
Voip.ms with a soft phone app. Assuming, of course, you have a smart phone.
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b> This is the best option.
</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-39076612793369340982015-05-19T17:16:00.000-07:002015-08-11T17:35:33.555-07:00Google Voice Canada loophole and Google Hangouts Dialer<b>Google Voice</b> has been available for several years, but it's
U.S.-only. It gives you a free U.S. phone number that can forward calls
for free to any other U.S. number, and includes SMS, voicemail and
optional automatic voicemail-to-text-email transcription. You can pay
for international long distance, but GV itself is free and always has
been. You can sign up for GV using any existing Google account and a
VPN. Just go to <a href="https://voice.google.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://voice.google.com</a>.
But there's a catch: GV has no web phone app, it must link to an
existing valid phone number, and that phone must be a U.S. number.
Google makes a verification call to that number and you must answer and
enter the 2-digit verification code they give you online. They will not
accept a non-U.S. phone number, and you cannot create the GV account in
the first place without an initial U.S. home number. You can use a VoIP
account with a U.S. phone number, but a loophole that existed early on
was that Google accepted 403 as a U.S. area code.<br />
<a name='more'></a>That allowed Canadians
to register with Freephoneline.ca for a 403 number, and in turn use
that as their GV home number. Google fixed the 403 loophole, but they
didn't turn off existing accounts that used 403 as their home number.<br />
<br />
In more recent times Google integrated Google Talk with Google Hangouts and came up with the new <b>Google Hangouts Dialer</b>
that allows you to make free phone calls throughout North America. You
just have to install Google Hangouts and Google Hangouts Dialer on
whatever platform you use (PC, Mac, Android, iOS all supported).
Hangouts does not give you a free phone number for incoming calls, but
they allow you to link your GV number to your Hangouts account, so that
incoming calls to your GV number will ring Hangouts on whatever platform
you are running it on. You can also send and receive SMS that way.
Canadians can get Hangouts and Hangouts dialer no problem, but still not
Google Voice because Google isn't interested in giving out free U.S.
phone numbers to non-residents.<br />
<br />
For those with a google voice number, it works on the computer as well.<br />
<a href="https://support.google.com/chat/answer/187936?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://support.google.com/chat/answer/187936?hl=en</a> <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-34343115560787992992015-04-21T17:04:00.000-07:002015-08-11T17:47:48.235-07:00How to get Google Voice in CanadaAnd to think I had to go through the hassle of putting in my T-Mobile SIM card tonight just to get a Google Voice number. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.androidcoliseum.com/2013/04/how-to-get-google-voice-in-canada.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.androidcoliseum.com/2013/...in-canada.html</a><br />
<u><br />
The following is a very helpful link a commenter provided which has all sort of tips and tricks on IP telephony:</u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thepointster.ca/free-long-distance-set-up-google-voice-in-canada/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.thepointster.ca/free-long...ice-in-canada/</a><br />
<ol class="decimal">
<li> Setting up Google Voice in Canada</li>
<li> Free long distance on your cell phone using mobile minutes</li>
<li> Free long distance on your Android phone using data</li>
<li> Free long distance on your iPhone using data</li>
<li> Get a landline with no monthly costs</li>
<li> Get a cell phone plan for $10 / month with unlimited calling, texting and 50mb of data</li>
<li> Using the Google Voice app</li>
</ol>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I have been trying to verify Canadian numbers with GV but no luck. So, I
just setup the GV along with the VOXOX free US number which can forward
calls to multiple phones including Canadian number. It takes one extra
step but hopefully it will work. Has anyone tried it ?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE 2015</b> ::<br />
<div class="message">
If your cell plan includes free unlimited call to the US, GV still works<br />
I believe that defeats the purpose of using GV<br />
Skype has N. Am. calling at $3/month and you may have a U S # too<br />
I have an ephone 416# (from Comwave) too that used to call any N. Am.#
free too. But it is no longer free (2 cents/min ) and its quality sucks</div>
<br />
How so, please explain? You can no longer add Canadian numbers to
your google account. So, even if you get an American number added, the
google voice relay will forward to that number. What do you do with
that?
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You can use your PAP2T for Google Voice + freephoneline at the same time too.<br />
<br />
You need to register your Google Voice at simonics.com to have SIP account and use it with the second line of PAP2<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol class="decimal">
</ol>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-3941315043920014022015-04-13T18:17:00.000-07:002015-08-11T18:18:19.941-07:00Set up Google Voice in CanadaGoogle Voice Overview<br />
<br />
Google Voice is one of the greatest
innovations in telephony. I am a huge fan of it and I have used it to
pretty much nullify my phone bills, or at least drastically reduce them.
Google Voice fixes many of the annoyances that people have with
telephones now, as well as helps to use current communication technology
to connect us at a very low price.<br />
<br />
Some of the things I hate
doing is checking my voicemail through the phone system and monitoring
how many text messages or daytime minutes I have left. I particularly
hate not knowing if a call is going to cost me long distance charges or
not. I’ll show you how to use some of Google Voice’s features to reduce
your telephone costs in Canada and in the US including getting free long
distance in Canada (even from your cell phone) and getting a telephone
line at home through VOIP (data).<br />
This post will be about how to set up your Google Voice account, even when you are not in the US.<br />
<br />
Some of my favorite features of Google Voice are:<br />
<br />
Free Long Distance calling<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> between US and Canada<br />
Unlimited text messaging<br />
Transcribed voicemail<br />
<br />
You can check out all the great features of Google Voice here.<br />
<br />
Google
Voice is a service that has been designed for people in the US to have
cheaper telephony. As a result, it is not “supported” for use in Canada
and there are some extra steps required to set it up when you are
outside the US.<br />
<br />
The steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
Ensure you have a US phone number<br />
Ensure you have a US IP address<br />
Set up a Google Voice account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
1. Ensure you have a US phone number<br />
<br />
If
you already have a US phone number where you can receive a phone call
or a text message (not a Google Voice number) then you can skip this
step. If you don’t have a US number, then there are a few different ways
to get one.<br />
<br />
My personal suggestion (and the one I will walk you
through getting) is through Voxox. Voxox is a service that will give you
a US based number for free and will forward any calls or texts from
that number to your email or to a Canadian phone number. If you are in
Canada, I suggest getting this service because having it will open up
some of the other features that Google Voice has.<br />
<br />
When you set up
Voxox, you will need to ensure that you have either forwarded it to a
phone that you will be able to answer or to an email address that you
will have access to.<br />
<br />
Note that it actually doesnt matter what
your Voxox number is. You are not going to be giving this number to
anyone other than Google Voice. The only reason you are getting this
number is to make your foreign (Canadian) phone number look like a US
number. You will ultimately give out your Google Voice number to your
friends and family (see the third step)<br />
<br />
<br />
Go to www.voxox.com<br />
Sign up for a new account<br />
Verify your email address<br />
Verify a cell phone through text messaging / SMS<br />
I have not been able to set up a phone using the web interface so the
only way I have been able to do this is through the desktop<br />
Download and install the desktop software<br />
There are options for Canadian numbers, but make sure to choose a US number (the State doesn’t matter)<br />
Select a free US number<br />
Send all calls to your cell phone<br />
Turn off the voicemail and other general settings<br />
Turn off text message forwarding<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Ensure you have a US IP address<br />
<br />
To
set up a Google Voice account, Google needs to think you are physically
in the US. You can check the IP address you are using by going to
http://www.iplocation.net/. If the country is United States, you can
skip this step. If you are not in the US and need to trick Google into
thinking that you are, you can use many services, including private VPN
services and IP blockers. The one that I will walk you through is
HotSpotShield, which is a free download available here and will give you
a US IP address.<br />
<br />
See the screenshots for a walkthrough on the steps you need to take to set this up.<br />
<br />
<br />
Check your IP location<br />
If it is not United States, you will need HotSpotShield<br />
Download and install HotSpotShield<br />
Choose the appropriate settings<br />
Confirm your IP location is United States<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Set up your Google Voice account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
You
can set up a new Google account or tie it to an existing Google (gmail)
account. Once you have logged in to your Google account and navigated
to voice.google.com, you will be directed to accept the terms and
conditions and then verify your phone number. The phone number that you
verify will have to be the US based number that you set up in step 1.<br />
<br />
Once
you have verified your phone number, you will be prompted to choose
your Google Voice number. Most people likely won’t care what area code
they get and if you don’t then I suggest choosing a number that spells
out your name or matches the last 4 of your current phone number or is
somehow easy to remember or is just a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
Pointster’s
Pointer – Select your phone number type as Home number. This way texts
sent to your Google Voice number will come to your cell phone via the
app (data) instead of via text message. Your replies to text messages
sent from your phone will show your cell number, while messages sent
from the app will show your Google Voice number.<br />
<br />
NOTE: I was unable to get this to work using Google Chrome. I strongly suggest using Firefox or Internet Explorer for this piece<br />
<br />
From a US IP Address (see step 2), go to voice.google.com<br />
Sign in to your Google (gmail) account, or sign up for a new one<br />
Get a new Google Voice number<br />
Verify your number by giving a US phone number<br />
Your US phone number will be the Voxox number that was set up in step 1<br />
Select type as a Home number<br />
Select a number you like<br />
<br />
Congratulations!
You now have a US based phone number and more importantly, access to
all the features of Google Voice. The whole process should take you
about 10 minutes. Without any changes, any calls to your Google Voice
number will ring on your cell phone.<br />
Recap:<br />
<br />
Get a US phone number from Voxox<br />
Get a US IP address using HotSpotShield<br />
Sign up for and verify your account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
Set
up your Google Voice account now and in the next post I’ll show you how
to use Google Voice to get free long distance on your cell phone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-81580300212586443252015-02-19T17:13:00.000-08:002015-08-11T17:47:48.249-07:00Google Voice closed the 403 CANADA loopholeI see that Google Voice will no longer allow call forwarding to the 403
area code (my Freephoneline number). I got a notice last month that I
would have to re-verify the number by May 15, and Google won't let me do
it, reports it as an out-of-country number. The existing forwarding
still works, but only for another week.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
They plugged it for new sign-ups, but left it in place for those of us
who managed to set it up originally. I could forward GV to the
Freephoneline 403 number, and then forward it anywhere else in Canada
from there.<br />
<br />
Is your Canadian number being dropped? I have had the google voice
number dropped in one of my accounts due to inactivity. The rationale
provided was that they want to free up dormant numbers for others to
use. I just had to add one back. Ever since losing the number, I
regularly use hangouts dialer to make a call to reset the clock. As for
my own Canadian numbers, I am not aware that they are threatened in any
way. They are my numbers and dormancy doesn't affect google. BTW, the
Canadian numbers I have registered are 416 and 647 area code.
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-46379617521865287982014-06-03T22:30:00.004-07:002015-08-11T18:20:37.767-07:00Google Voice guideThis guide contains a complete end-to-end update of our 2013 Google Voice guide, chock full of new ideas, completely new articles, and amazing tips.<br />
<br />
You'll learn how to port your landline to Google Voice, how to set up phone handsets, how to integrate Google Voice into your iPhone and Android experience, how to set up a multi-line office, how to get the most out of using Google Voice and SMS, and even how to use Google Voice effectively and safely in your car, and lots more.<br />
<br />
So brew up a cup of coffee or your favorite tea, grab a few snacks, and prepare to discover how plain 'ol phone calls are about to be transformed into something virtually indistinguishable from magic.<br />
What is Google Voice?<br />
<br />
Let's get started with a quick overview of the service itself. Google Voice provides a number of unique features that will transform how you receive and make phone calls and text messages.<br />
The Google Voice number<br />
<br />
To me, the single most valuable feature of Google Voice is its ability to separate your phone number from your phone service. This is a big step beyond number portability, and here's why.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
With Google Voice, you can choose your own, unique Google Voice telephone number that's linked to your Google account. Calls that come into that number can be routed to any number of phones, regardless of their service providers.<br />
<br />
When a call comes into your Google Voice number, it can be routed to your cell phone, your office phone, perhaps your Skype phone number, and more. If you're staying at a friend's house for a while, you can route the Google Voice number to your friend's home line. If it's time for you to upgrade your mobile phone and you get a new number, you can then route your Google Voice number to that new number.<br />
<br />
No matter where you physically get your calls, you just need to give out that one Google Voice number. In future articles, I'll explain why that was so important to me.<br />
<br />
By the way, the Google Voice number applies to SMS messages as well. Just give out one number and your texts will find you at the destinations you specify to the Google Voice dashboard. Very sweet.<br />
<br />
Filtering and screening of incoming calls<br />
<br />
Google Voice allows you to filter incoming calls, much like you'd set up rules and filters in your email.<br />
<br />
Do you get regular solicitation calls from scammers and spammers? Just block their numbers. Do you get calls from that old boyfriend or girlfriend yo<br />
u'd rather not talk to again? Just send their calls to voicemail. Do you want your current love interest to get a very special voicemail message when he or she calls? Just record and assign a message to one, specific number.<br />
<br />
The filtering in Google Voice has substantially reduced the number of junk calls we get here at Camp David, and has made it possible to manage the incoming call flow far better than we were ever able to do before.<br />
<br />
Google Voice also offers call screening, where a caller must introduce himself or herself before the call is put through to you. That way, you have an even better way of knowing who you're going to be talking to before you pick up your phone.<br />
Voicemail, transcription, and email<br />
<br />
As I mentioned before, Google Voice offers the ability to record individual voicemail messages and filter calls to voicemail. You can set up Google Voice to send your messages to your email account as well.<br />
<br />
Google Voice will also transcribe your voicemail messages and send the transcribed message to your email account. There's one thing you need to know about Google Voice transcription: it's not that good. As a result, while you'll generally get an idea of what the call is about, sometimes the transcriptions add in a level of hilarity not originally intended by the caller.<br />
<br />
When it comes to Google Voice, all your base do belong to us.<br />
Call recording<br />
<br />
Google Voice has an odd little feature that allows you to record your call. Originally, this wasn't optional and all callers would occasionally hear "Call Recording On."<br />
<br />
I do a lot of government-related work, and there's nothing more disconcerting than hearing "Call Recording On" and then trying to explain to the party on the other end that it's just Google listening in, not the NSA.<br />
<br />
While it can be a useful feature, it's not the most reliable. Fortunately, you can turn it off.<br />
Free calling and texting<br />
<br />
A few years ago, this was the big draw of Google Voice, at least in the U.S. With Google Voice, you can place calls and send texts to phone numbers using the Google Voice network and not have to pay any charges.<br />
<br />
Back when voice calling and texting services were metered, that was a big thing. Now that most of us have all-you-can-eat calling and texting plans, this isn't nearly as important a feature as it was back in the day.<br />
How to get Google Voice<br />
<br />
Getting a Google Voice account is very simple. First, you need a Google Account. This could be your existing Gmail account, but I actually recommend you create a completely separate account for your Google Voice activity. I'll tell you more about why in later articles.<br />
<br />
Once you have your Google account, go to Google.com/voice and you'll be given the opportunity to pick your Google Voice number and bind it to your smartphone. I'm not going to go into detail about setting up a new Google Voice number, because that's well documented on the Google site. Instead, the articles in this series will help you maximize your use of Google Voice.<br />
<br />
In fact, the next two articles in our series discuss how to port your existing phone number to Google Voice -- and whether or not it's a good idea to do so.<br />
Our updated 2014 Google Voice guide<br />
<br />
All of these topics and more will be discussed in depth in the other articles in the series. Be sure to visit each article. You'll be amazed at what you can do with this powerful service.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-52461926719518506722014-03-28T22:28:00.000-07:002015-08-11T17:04:10.450-07:00Google Voice on Your iPhone or Android SmartphoneHow to Use Google Voice on Your iPhone or Android Smartphone<br />
<br />
Google
Voice allows you to make phone calls using a Google Voice number, as
well as to send and receive free text messages, and to manage your
voicemail as if it were just another part of your email. If you already
have a Google Voice number (or if you would like one), Google Voice is a
useful app to own. Here's how to set it up on your smartphone or
tablet.<br />
<br />
Step 1: Install Google Voice<br />
<br />
Google Voice is a
free app. Open your device's native app store and search for Google
Voice, or go to the appropriate Web-based store page to grab and install
Google<br />
<a name='more'></a> Voice for Android or Google Voice for iOS.<br />
<br />
Google Voice
is supported on most Android and iOS devices, including tablets. On
Apple devices, Google Voice requires iOS 3.0 or later.<br />
Step 2: Set Up Google Voice<br />
<br />
Before
you start using Google Voice, you must have a Google Voice number
linked to your Google account. To obtain a number, go to the Google
Voice page to create one and link it to your Google account.<br />
<br />
Android:
Once you've installed Google Voice, tap the app to open it. The Welcome
screen will tell you a bit about the app. Google Voice lets you replace
your default voicemail with Google Voice voicemail, make phone calls
using your Google Voice number, and send and receive free text messages
through the app.<br />
<br />
Press the Next button, and the app will prompt
you to sign in to Google Voice via your Google account. Afterward,
Google Voice will walk you through the setup process.<br />
<br />
First you
need to choose whether to make calls using Google Voice. Note, however,
that calling with Google Voice isn't the same as calling with other
voice chat apps such as Skype. When you make a call through Google
Voice, all that really happens is that the party on the other end sees
your Google Voice number instead of your mobile phone number. You can
elect to use Google Voice for all calls, no calls, or only international
calls, or you can instruct Google Voice to ask you each time you make a
call.<br />
<br />
<br />
Next, Google Voice will ask you to set up voicemail.
It will prompt you to dial a special number to configure your phone
(just click the link, and it will automatically dial); then, you may
choose whether to use Google Voice voicemail or your phone carrier's
voicemail. The benefit of Google Voice voicemail is that it will provide
a transcription (though not necessarily an accurate transcription) of
every voicemail you receive. This feature allows you to read through
your voicemail instead of listening to it.<br />
<br />
If you don't want to set up Google Voice voicemail, you can skip this step.<br />
<br />
Lastly,
the setup process will take you to your Google Voice Inbox. Here you'll
see all transcribed voicemail, as well as any text messages sent to
your Google Voice number.<br />
<br />
iOS: Google Voice for iOS is different
from Google Voice for Android, because Google Voice is confined to an
app in iOS, whereas in Android it's integrated with the entire phone
operating system. Once you've installed Google Voice for iOS, tap the
app to open it. The app will prompt you to sign in using your Google
account.<br />
<br />
<br />
Once you've signed in, the app will prompt you to
add your phone number to your Google Voice account. If you add your
phone number, you will be able to receive Google Voice calls on your
mobile device. You may also decline to add a phone number.<br />
<br />
The
setup process will then take you to your Google Voice inbox, where
you'll see all of your Google Voice voicemail and text messages.<br />
<br />
You'll
find four tabs in the Google Voice iOS app: Inbox, Dialer, Quick Dial,
and Settings. You can make phone calls and send text messages using your
Google Voice phone number. Phone calls will still count as phone calls
on your mobile plan. Text messages, in contrast, will come from your
Google Voice account (which is essentially a glorified Gmail account),
so they will not count as text messages on your mobile plan.<br />
<br />
In
the Quick Dial tab, you can add favorite contacts and see recent calls.
In the Settings tab, you can add phone numbers to your Google Voice
account, add to your Google Voice balance, and turn on Click2Call.<br />
<br />
Though
Click2Call is a strange feature, it is useful in certain situations.
With Click2Call, you can use a Wi-Fi or data connection to initiate
phone calls on a nearby phone or computer. Such a function can be handy
when you have a non-smartphone (associated with your Google Voice
account), an iPod Touch, or an iPad (or an iPhone without a wireless
plan), and you want to make a phone call via your Google Voice number.
The only way to initiate a phone call from a non-smartphone is to use
Click2Call from a smart device.<br />
Using Google Voice<br />
<br />
Google
Voice is a practical application--if you know how to use it. However, it
isn't a free-calling app (though if you use the desktop client, you can
make free calls to U.S. numbers); it's just a way of streamlining your
phone numbers and voicemail.<br />
<br />
Google Voice uses your mobile
device's minutes plan to make phone calls (if you don't have a minutes
plan, you can't make calls), so it doesn't offer a way around carrier
charges. Google Voice is useful if you want to read your voicemail just
as you do email, send text messages for free, and consolidate your phone
numbers. The ability to call using your Google Voice number is
particularly convenient if you are a small-business owner and you don't
want to give out your personal number to customers, or if you have
multiple phones.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-30243181354524539192014-03-06T22:36:00.000-08:002015-08-11T17:04:10.443-07:00Set up Google Voice in Canada – Free Long DistanceGoogle Voice Overview<br />
<br />
Google Voice is one of the greatest
innovations in telephony. I am a huge fan of it and I have used it to
pretty much nullify my phone bills, or at least drastically reduce them.
Google Voice fixes many of the annoyances that people have with
telephones now, as well as helps to use current communication technology
to connect us at a very low price.<br />
<br />
Some of the things I hate
doing is checking my voicemail through the phone system and monitoring
how many text messages or daytime minutes I have left. I particularly
hate not knowing if a call is going to cost me long distance charges or
not. I’ll show you how to use some of Google Voice’s features to reduce
your telephone costs in Canada and in the US including getting free long
distance in Canada (even from your cell phone) and getting a telephone
line at home through VOIP (data).<br />
This post will be about how to set up your Google Voice <br />
<a name='more'></a>account, even when you are not in the US.<br />
<br />
Some of my favorite features of Google Voice are:<br />
<br />
Free Long Distance calling between US and Canada<br />
Unlimited text messaging<br />
Transcribed voicemail<br />
<br />
You can check out all the great features of Google Voice here.<br />
<br />
Google
Voice is a service that has been designed for people in the US to have
cheaper telephony. As a result, it is not “supported” for use in Canada
and there are some extra steps required to set it up when you are
outside the US.<br />
<br />
The steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
Ensure you have a US phone number<br />
Ensure you have a US IP address<br />
Set up a Google Voice account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Ensure you have a US phone number<br />
<br />
If
you already have a US phone number where you can receive a phone call
or a text message (not a Google Voice number) then you can skip this
step. If you don’t have a US number, then there are a few different ways
to get one.<br />
<br />
My personal suggestion (and the one I will walk you
through getting) is through Voxox. Voxox is a service that will give you
a US based number for free and will forward any calls or texts from
that number to your email or to a Canadian phone number. If you are in
Canada, I suggest getting this service because having it will open up
some of the other features that Google Voice has.<br />
<br />
When you set up
Voxox, you will need to ensure that you have either forwarded it to a
phone that you will be able to answer or to an email address that you
will have access to.<br />
<br />
Note that it actually doesnt matter what
your Voxox number is. You are not going to be giving this number to
anyone other than Google Voice. The only reason you are getting this
number is to make your foreign (Canadian) phone number look like a US
number. You will ultimately give out your Google Voice number to your
friends and family (see the third step)<br />
<br />
<br />
Go to www.voxox.com<br />
Sign up for a new account<br />
Verify your email address<br />
Verify a cell phone through text messaging / SMS<br />
I have not been able to set up a phone using the web interface so the
only way I have been able to do this is through the desktop<br />
Download and install the desktop software<br />
There are options for Canadian numbers, but make sure to choose a US number (the State doesn’t matter)<br />
Select a free US number<br />
Send all calls to your cell phone<br />
Turn off the voicemail and other general settings<br />
Turn off text message forwarding<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Ensure you have a US IP address<br />
<br />
To
set up a Google Voice account, Google needs to think you are physically
in the US. You can check the IP address you are using by going to
http://www.iplocation.net/. If the country is United States, you can
skip this step. If you are not in the US and need to trick Google into
thinking that you are, you can use many services, including private VPN
services and IP blockers. The one that I will walk you through is
HotSpotShield, which is a free download available here and will give you
a US IP address.<br />
<br />
See the screenshots for a walkthrough on the steps you need to take to set this up.<br />
<br />
<br />
Check your IP location<br />
If it is not United States, you will need HotSpotShield<br />
Download and install HotSpotShield<br />
Choose the appropriate settings<br />
Confirm your IP location is United States<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Set up your Google Voice account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
You
can set up a new Google account or tie it to an existing Google (gmail)
account. Once you have logged in to your Google account and navigated
to voice.google.com, you will be directed to accept the terms and
conditions and then verify your phone number. The phone number that you
verify will have to be the US based number that you set up in step 1.<br />
<br />
Once
you have verified your phone number, you will be prompted to choose
your Google Voice number. Most people likely won’t care what area code
they get and if you don’t then I suggest choosing a number that spells
out your name or matches the last 4 of your current phone number or is
somehow easy to remember or is just a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
Pointster’s
Pointer – Select your phone number type as Home number. This way texts
sent to your Google Voice number will come to your cell phone via the
app (data) instead of via text message. Your replies to text messages
sent from your phone will show your cell number, while messages sent
from the app will show your Google Voice number.<br />
<br />
NOTE: I was unable to get this to work using Google Chrome. I strongly suggest using Firefox or Internet Explorer for this piece<br />
<br />
From a US IP Address (see step 2), go to voice.google.com<br />
Sign in to your Google (gmail) account, or sign up for a new one<br />
Get a new Google Voice number<br />
Verify your number by giving a US phone number<br />
Your US phone number will be the Voxox number that was set up in step 1<br />
Select type as a Home number<br />
Select a number you like<br />
<br />
Congratulations!
You now have a US based phone number and more importantly, access to
all the features of Google Voice. The whole process should take you
about 10 minutes. Without any changes, any calls to your Google Voice
number will ring on your cell phone.<br />
Recap:<br />
<br />
Get a US phone number from Voxox<br />
Get a US IP address using HotSpotShield<br />
Sign up for and verify your account at voice.google.com<br />
<br />
Set
up your Google Voice account now and in the next post I’ll show you how
to use Google Voice to get free long distance on your cell phone.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-91349711746749610282011-12-01T16:10:00.001-08:002015-08-11T18:19:35.225-07:00Google Voice Canada FREE Outgoing/Incoming<b>Google voice in Canada</b> is possible. If you are wondering how to get the service in Canada, AND how to make <b>Free</b> unlimited outgoing and incoming calls from Google voice. Then, look no further! I have been holding off on this article because I wanted to try a couple of methods first and see which one is the fastest one… and make sure that you don’t get any extra carrier charges. The way I explain it is the simplest way so far, and has been followed successfully by many (see comments below) if you have other ideas or are having trouble using Google Voice in Canada, then please post a comment.<br />
<span id="more-3271"></span><br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Important:</b></span> Google Voice is not “officially” available in Canada. This shows you how <span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">to register and use a Google Voice number by using a “glitch” in Google Voice service by signing up with a free 403(alberta) number. This will </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Enable you to make unlimited calls to US and Canada for FREE <b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">when you use</span></b> the <a href="https://www.google.com/voice/m">mobile site</a> from your cell phone, or Google voice App to initiate calls. This means, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">you should have an unlimited incoming plan to take FULL advantage of this</span>. Please re-read that and understand it to avoid any long-distance charges. Read comments below, or ask if you are not sure. </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Now, let’s dig into the fun part!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First Step:</span></b> Log in with your Google account, there is no need for an invite.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">First time you try to login to Google voice in Canada, there will be an error message saying that it’s not available in your country. To bypass that you will need to install <a href="http://www.hotspotshield.com/">hotspotshield</a> so you can get a US IP address (Don’t worry, it’s free and you can uninstall the program later.) Please check that you have a US IP by clicking here. Great now you are able to log in!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Second step:</span></b> Get a free 403 number</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Head over to <a href="http://www.freephoneline.ca/">freephoneline</a>; they will be able to provide you a free Alberta number. Google Voice allows for Alberta numbers is some kind of glitch. The set up is pretty straight forward on Free Phone line, but here is a Quick Guide: Once you set up the account, log in to your account and go to the forward tab. From there choose Follow me and forward to a Canadian Cell or home number (Your personal number where you want it to ring). Also remember to download their program for authentication purposes of Free Phone Line and Google Voice. Again, you can uninstall the program later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Third step:</span></b> Google voice setup</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Setting up the account is pretty straight forward. There will be steps for authentication; you don’t need to worry about the last one to set up for voice mail. You will be able to click “cancel” at the last step to finish the set up (don’t worry about the provider just click cancel). Make sure the 403 number you got is setup in Google voice as the number that rings, and that you set up your free US Google voice number under settings.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fourth step:</span></b> Testing your Google voice number</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Dial your GV number and see if you receive the call on your Canadian mobile! If so, congratulations !! If not, then troubleshoot the GV settings. Most people forget to set the 403 number as the one that rings, or forget to setup their GV US number. Read comments for troubleshooting guide, or ask a question if you get stuck.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Final step:</span></b> FREE calls to the US and Canada</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Now you’re probably wondering gee, that’s all great but HOW do I make unlimited calls to the US and Canada for FREE with the Google voice service? Easy! Nothing too special, simply log in to Google voice with your mobile device here to initiate a call. The other alternatives are that you download the Google Voice Callback Free App (Android Phones Only). Once logged in click on CALL and dial the number, once you press the call number Google voice will call your cell phone and connect you through. OR you can make call straight from the computer, by logging in to Google voice. This is where you need to make sure you have unlimited incoming from your service provider, to be able make calls all over Canada and US for free.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">update Aug 2014</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b>MagicJack Plus</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="http://magicjackcanda.blogspot.com/">http://magicjackcanda.blogspot.com</a></div>
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-85250229697026875162011-12-01T16:04:00.001-08:002015-08-11T18:20:06.509-07:00A way to get Google Voice to work in Canada. It does require you to snag a MagicJack, but that’s literally all you need to make this happen. Some of you might be a bit nervous about buying and using a MagicJack up in Canada, but we’ve been using it for a few months now up in our super-secret Canadian satellite office and have not had a single issue. And no, this Google Voice trick doesn’t require you to have the physical MagicJack plugged into your computer at all times. In fact, once you get your MagicJack set up and activate call forwarding, you can throw the little bugger in the trash if you want. Hit the jump to learn how to get your Google Voice on north of the border.<br />
<br />
Before we begin, we should note that this tutorial assumes you already have a Google Voice invite. If not, it’s not that hard to find someone on the internet willing to let you take one off their hands for a few bucks or even for free. We should also note that <a href="http://www.magicjack.com/1/index.asp">MagicJack is offering a free trial right now</a> so you really have no reason to avoid trying this out. Alright, here we go:<br />
<ol>
<li>Plug in your MagicJack, install the software and get your US number</li>
<li>Activate your Google Voice account using your MagicJack’s phone number and pick yourself a snazzy new Google Voice number</li>
<li>Go to my.magicjack.com, enable Call Forwarding and have your MagicJack forward all calls to your Canadian cell phone number (or land line, if you still have one)</li>
</ol>
Done. That’s it. No joke. Now you can use Google Voice.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
If you are a BlackBerry or Android user who’s hoping to use the official Google Voice app, you won’t be able to initiate calls because your phone first has to dial out to a US number. Google is wise to the fact that a lot of people will be using various workarounds and has barred Canadian numbers from initiating a GV call this way. The app still works for sending and receiving SMS as well as checking your voicemail, but as far as calls are concerned you really don’t have a choice but to hit up the web portal from your computer at google.com/voice or from your mobile at google.com/voice/m. A minor inconvenience, we would say.<br />
As for fees, the standard Google Voice fees apply, but we’re happy to report that you will not have to pay a single cent to MagicJack for any long distance calls you make. This is because all it is doing is forwarding calls from your US-based GV number to your Canadian-based cell or land line, and all calls to the US and Canada are included in the yearly MagicJack subscription.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">update Aug 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">
</span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-31416739962130395792011-03-01T16:21:00.000-08:002015-08-11T18:21:20.932-07:00Making Google Voice Work in CanadaSo, I admit that I have been completely absorbed by the Googleplex. And… I kind of enjoy having a Google-centric life, actually. So when I moved to Canada and faced giving up my Google Voice, I cringed and cried and wept piteously.<br />
And I did NOT leave denial and move into acceptance! Instead, I plotted and schemed and conspired to bend Google .. <b>itself!</b> … to my will! Muhahahaha! They called me mad at the Sorbonne… mad, I tell you – MAD!<br />
So! After a few hours of research, I had some good leads. After a couple of false starts and some experimentation, I found what seems to be the optimal (and cheapest!) solution.<br />
While you can definitely adapt this method to your own needs, bear in mind it was originated for my own situation: having a US cell phone with a Canada/US calling package and an unlimited Canada/US data plan ($147/mo from Verizon on my DROID). That being said, onward to the good stuff!<br />
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<h2>
Getting a Google Voice number</h2>
Since I already had Google Voice from when I was living in the US, I didn’t have to spoof my IP to be able to register an invite. If you’re reading this in hopes of copying my set up, there are plenty of tutorials on how to use public web proxies like <a href="http://hotspotshield.com/" target="_blank">hotspot shield</a> to make it look like you’re in the US. And the method I’m going to describe DOES let you register with Google Voice without having to get an US ph#.<br />
<h2>
The 403 area code hack + FreePhoneLine.ca</h2>
There is some quirk in GV that lets it accept 403 numbers, so I went to <a href="http://www.freephoneline.ca/" target="_blank" title="FreePhoneLine.ca, Canada's new free digital home phone service">FreePhoneLine</a> and registered for a 403 area code number (Calgary). They also have a Skype-like softphone you can download and install if you like that sort of thing, but I didn’t bother as I don’t need it. (plus it was Win or Mac only anyway)<br />
I then went into the “followme settings” for my account, and set the FollowMe mode to “Always Forward” and added my local landline’s 780 phone number as the FollowMe number. To make sure GVoice picked up for vmail and not FPL’s native service, I set the “Number of seconds [to ring before going to vmail]” to 72. GV vmail picks up after 30s.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This actually didn’t work the first few times and I had to contact tech support. They did a reset on their end that they said should work. I tested, and no joy. However, when I retested it after changing “Number of seconds” to 70, it suddenly worked.Hopefully it will continue to do so.<br />
I then proceeded to register my 403 number directly in Google Voice. Which was sweet! I wasn’t sure til then that this hack hadn’t been blocked by Google. Calling my GV# worked beautifully, ringing my Canadian landline and US cell phone no problem.<br />
<h2>
Fooling GV into ringing when my 780 ph# is called</h2>
Getting a 780 ph# that people could call and ring my Google Voice number was a bit more tricky. I went to <a href="http://www.didww.com/" target="_blank" title="DIDww, Your gateway to the world">DIDww</a> and got myself a 780 area code DID (basically a virtual ph#). I then created a “mapping” (basically a definition of how an incoming call should be handled). I tried several methods to loop the ph# back to my FPL number, but eventually gave up and just defined it as PSTN (a regular telephone line) and forwarded it to my GV#. This costs me $19.95/mo, but so would a regular landline so no real loss there. It’s actually a little better than a landline, as I get free calling anywhere in the US and Canada.<br />
The only real downside to this method is that my DIDww ph# acts like a landline. (ie), if someone texts that ph#, I won’t get their text. Still, a very minor bobble in my book as most people get international texts for free with the mobile plans here in Edmonton anyway. And if people just reply to my texts, then they’ll never notice.<br />
<h2>
The real beauty of it</h2>
The best part of all this is that with DIDww’s virtual phone numbers, I can have a <i>local phone number</i> in any part of North America (and quite a few other places besides) for just $19.95/mo each. This means that if I leave Edmonton and move to, say, Vancouver, my friends can still call my 780 ph# and have no <b>long distance charges</b> on their phone bills! After I move, I just get <i>another</i> DIDww virtual number for a Vancouver area code for local calls from my new friends and clients for $19.95/mo.<b> BEAUTY!</b><br />
I can also get a ph# in Van from some telco (actually not necessary, but I use it for testing phone systems) and then forward my FPL ph# to it to get Google Voice calls on my new landline, just as I had done in Edmonton – easy as pie!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800640396449891611.post-26956633657933655182011-01-01T16:18:00.000-08:002011-12-01T16:33:48.754-08:00Google Voice unlimted incoming and outgoing callsSo to sum up to achieve unlimted incoming and outgoing calls, once would need the following:<br />
For unlimited incoming to work:<br />
- A plan from the cell company that includes unlimited incoming calls (use your voice plan)<br />
For unlimited outgoing to work:<br />
- a google voice account (uses your data plan)<br />
And the part about hotspot shield and the freephoneline account is only needed to activate a google voice account from Canada using an alberta number and you need to configure your followme setting to your cell phone number to pass the google voice authorization.<br />
Would this be right?<br />
Would there be anyway to receive also the incoming calls over voip for those of us who dont have an unlimited incoming feature?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0