Google Voice quality vs Verizon

[borderless]

I've been playing around with google voice vs verizon cell.

Has anyone done any controlled tests on the voice quality of Google Voice vs. just using the native Verizon voice?

When you initiate a call via Google Voice does it use your voice minutes or is it 100% over the data network?

 

[dasilvetz]

I've been playing around with google voice vs verizon cell.

Has anyone done any controlled tests on the voice quality of Google Voice vs. just using the native Verizon voice?

When you initiate a call via Google Voice does it use your voice minutes or is it 100% over the data network?

Not controlled tests by any means, but in my testing they both sound the same..

And no, unfortunately calling over Google Voice uses your voice minutes..

 

[CRPercodani]

Unless you have a Gizmo5 and SIPDroid account it will use your minutes so at this point I don't see any real reason to use it unless you have given your GV # to a lot of contacts.

 

[ohvzwguy]

Not controlled tests by any means, but in my testing they both sound the same..

And no, unfortunately calling over Google Voice uses your voice minutes..

no way to test this, but can you add your google voice number to your friends and family?? Does GV always use the same number when dialing out?

 

[CRPercodani]

Yea the friends and family trick should work, but like tmobile did with myfaves vzw may do the same thing and block GV #'s from it.

 

[Thumper]

And no, unfortunately calling over Google Voice uses your voice minutes..

There is a setting in the GoogleVoice app to use the phone or GoogleVoice for all call, no calls, or international calls. I would think that if you set it to use GoogleVoice it would use data not minutes.....but I have not tested this. I just use GoogleVoice to freak out my family and friends with their personal mailboxes. My mom about had a coronary when my voice mail greeted her by name.

 

[aquastorm]

Google Voice does not place your calls over VOIP all it does is places your call using your Google Voice number so call quality is going to be the same. Google Voice is not a VOIP service at this time but with their acquisition of Gizmo project this week that is probably going to change soon.

 

[jamesdean]

no way to test this, but can you add your google voice number to your friends and family?? Does GV always use the same number when dialing out?

You can add your GV number to F&F and with proper configuration of your GV account "not the GV app" can make and receive unlimited calls without using any plan minutes. The trick is to set up GV to show your GV number on incoming calls so as to remain in the F&F. The downside to this is that when a call comes in it will only show your GV number so you do not know who is calling until you answer and then GV will announce the callers name before you decide to take the call or send it to VM.

The GV app works more seamlessly but the problem is that it does call an access number to complete the call and that number will change at random so it is a constant battle to keep up with that and change your F&F number each time the access number changes.

The alternative is to call your GV number and make your outbound calls through that. I just edited my contact list so that is now automated.

With a little configuration GV works great and again can be used to make and receive unlimited calls without using any plan minutes.

The free calling is a great feature but GV does so much more besides that. It is a complete call management system allowing your contacts to only have one number to reach you at. It will ring up to 5 different numbers at the same time and can be configured to behave differently for each caller, I.E. your family may ring your cell and home while your customers may ring your cell and office and your friends may only ring your cell.

 

[karimarie]

There is a setting in the GoogleVoice app to use the phone or GoogleVoice for all call, no calls, or international calls. I would think that if you set it to use GoogleVoice it would use data not minutes.....but I have not tested this.

Nope--if you set it to GV, it will still use your Verizon minutes. GV calls into a local exchange that then performs as a VOIP to route the call to the other person.

 

[Watashi]

I really like what I'm reading about GV, I can't wait to get my invite.

 

[landis73]

Same, no invite for me yet. Send in my email to google. Still waiting for access.

 

[Howie]

Yea the friends and family trick should work, but like tmobile did with myfaves vzw may do the same thing and block GV #'s from it.

Wonder how that is legal. If the FCC is investigating Google for doing that and Google isn't a telcom....

 

[karimarie]

Wonder how that is legal. If the FCC is investigating Google for doing that and Google isn't a telcom....

TMobile's not blocking the # from being used entirely, it's just blocking it from the friends+family list, so that all GV calls aren't free.

 

[Howie]

TMobile's not blocking the # from being used entirely, it's just blocking it from the friends+family list, so that all GV calls aren't free.

ahh, gotcha.

 

[Thumper]

Same, no invite for me yet. Send in my email to google. Still waiting for access.

I sent in my request on a Wednesday, and got my invite by Friday....same day I got the Droid actually, not sure if that had anything to do with it LOL