Google Voice Overage Charge watchout

[trife]

I just bought the evo and was reviewing my bill before it came.

ALL my calls are not coming in from my google voice number. They are coming in from some routing number. For those of you with fav's, sprint @ home, or verizon friends You will be billed as all numbers calling from the new number. So even if your wife calls you on another sprint phone it will bill it like she's calling from some landline somewhere.

I added my google voice number to sprints @ home, but that number doesn't show up on the bill. My first reaction was to add the new number to @home, but googling I found that these numbers have been subject to change for people all over the country. Not only that but I cant change the number in my online account preferences? I have to call in to change it which im not entirely sure they'll do.. "oh you have an @home number 600 miles away sir?"

I only know one person who uses a landline so normally i wouldn't care but every call made and received is a landline i can't take advantage of anymobile.

Are my choices to leave sprint, or leave google voice? Gotta figure this out before my 30 day return contract is up.

 

[UncleMike]

In the several months I used Google Voice before switching to an unlimited minutes plan, the "gateway" number that Google Voice used never varied. I know some users have reported that the number changed on them, so it is worth keeping an eye on it. Google Voice should report the number that it's calling as it makes the call, so if the number it displays remains the same, then you're okay for outgoing calls. If you're incoming calls appear to be from your Google Voice number, then you're okay for these calls too.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Trife: happy you noted that. We talked in that thread, and I believe you're right. The gateway routing number is showing.

So... I am gonna change the Sprint@home number to the routing number. FYI, this number hasn't changed in 2+ years.

I think part of the problem is in the way the GV app handles the calling. On our Tmo BBs, we used an app called GVDialer (the same app that caused the FCC investigation when Apple refused to approve it). That app used one number (the actual GV number). When the "official" GV app came out, folks found out you needed two myFave spots for routing numbers to get free calls.

GVDialer is now defunct (the Apple nonsense killed em) but I hear it became the app now called Flex Dialer for Android.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Question... in theory, calls in to your GV number should come up free. Are they?

 

[trife]

Question... in theory, calls in to your GV number should come up free. Are they?

As long as the number you see on your phone is the (916) and thats the one added to your plan it should work. That number is all over my bill and not my (661) gv number.

Also I'm not sure we can change this for atleast a month. thats the way the fav's and stuff works i think.

here is the problem @ home only allows for 1 number so when i dial out its my gv number but when incoming its this (916) number. This means either way im billed for every incoming, or every outgoing call as it being a landline. Or when you make an outgoing call it uses data to set up the call? I might have to take this to google voice forums.

 

[trife]

Ah ha!?

Think I got this figured out. In google voice settings I had display google voice number when I call. but didn't have it as display when i get a call. gotta see if that works.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Ah ha!?

Think I got this figured out. In google voice settings I had display google voice number when I call. but didn't have it as display when i get a call. gotta see if that works.

Yes, you need to make sure that your GV number is selected.

I am certain mine is (I will check shortly) but the routing number still shows.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Okay... a lot of this is hypothesis. Plus, I am quite confused with Sprint's billing system. Tmo used to give us updated categorizations of our minutes (IOWs, I knew which calls were MyFaves, regular, Nights and Weekends) before billing. Sprint does not seem to offer this on the fly; only after billing.

Anyway, i was concerned when I saw the access number appear for the outgoing calls. I assume those are billed. I am also assuming the incoming calls are free with the the Sprint@home add-on. It seems the Google Voice app does dials out in such a way that does not maximize the add-on.

So I am trying the Flex Dialer app in App World. As I said before, I used its predecessor on my BB. It seems to work the same way, and it seems to be free. It calls out to the GV number, and automates the dial-out. Since it calls your GV number, which is your Sprint@Home number, every call out should be free.

 

[trife]

keep me updated. i got gv set to use gv as in and out numbers. its free but i never know who's calling

 

[DroidGnome]

If I might ask a request.. should someone figure it all out.. please post a thread and ask a mod to sticky it with "Google Voice Q&A" or something.

I've been trying to follow this for MONTHS before my evo and I can't seem to get a straight answer.. everyone has conflicting opinions as to whether you can even use google voice anymore and take advantage of the Mobile Anytime from sprint.

The last I heard, the only way it was possible was to use Fav3/5 or @Home, but Sprint no longer seems to offer those options.

I didn't use to worry about my minutes as I had about 1300 from a SERO plan, but now that I switched to a normal for my Evo I'm down to 900 (I used just over 1k each month). I'm hoping that at least my own outbound will be free if I don't use GV to call out.. but EVERYONE I know has been using my GV number for quite sometimme.. I was an old GrandCentral user before it became Google Voice. I'd rather not have to tell people to use a different number. (That was the whole point of getting GrandCentral).

Once the first bill arrives and someone knows definitively what types of calls both ways will and will not be charged, and whether or not there are any loopholes.. please feel free to post

 

[Tre Lawrence]

keep me updated. i got gv set to use gv as in and out numbers. its free but i never know who's calling

You should be good for call-ins. Let me know how calls you initiate work on GV. I don't think the official app works right for call-outs, hence the routing number. Flex Dialer works for the call-outs (I hope). It will help you preview who is calling in if the person is in your address book. You can then hit 1 (to answer) or 2 (to let ring thru to Voicemail).

If I might ask a request.. should someone figure it all out.. please post a thread and ask a mod to sticky it with "Google Voice Q&A" or something.

I've been trying to follow this for MONTHS before my evo and I can't seem to get a straight answer.. everyone has conflicting opinions as to whether you can even use google voice anymore and take advantage of the Mobile Anytime from sprint.

The last I heard, the only way it was possible was to use Fav3/5 or @Home, but Sprint no longer seems to offer those options.

I didn't use to worry about my minutes as I had about 1300 from a SERO plan, but now that I switched to a normal for my Evo I'm down to 900 (I used just over 1k each month). I'm hoping that at least my own outbound will be free if I don't use GV to call out.. but EVERYONE I know has been using my GV number for quite sometimme.. I was an old GrandCentral user before it became Google Voice. I'd rather not have to tell people to use a different number. (That was the whole point of getting GrandCentral).

Once the first bill arrives and someone knows definitively what types of calls both ways will and will not be charged, and whether or not there are any loopholes.. please feel free to post

I am a Grandcentral veteran too... I have the same issue. I have been using GV as my main number for quite a while, which is why I have been looking for a cost-effective way to keep using Google Voice.

First... you can still get Sprint@home. Trife and I got it in the last week. I got it via chat... that easy.

Adding your GV number as your Sprint@home number takes care of your calls in. Flex Dialer Lite takes care of your calls out. Google Voice numbers act like landlines. I have turned off the "built-in, official" Voice app and use Flex Dialer.

I'll wait for the new bill to come out and report back here.

 

[DroidGnome]

Adding your GV number as your Sprint@home number takes care of your calls in. Flex Dialer Lite takes care of your calls out. Google Voice numbers act like landlines. I have turned off the "built-in, official" Voice app and use Flex Dialer.

How exactly does this work? Do I need to change GV settings so that my GV number shows up as caller ID? I'd hate to do that as I'd never know who's calling. I'd rather pay a higher fee than have blind calls (I have to screen my calls or i'd never get off the phone).

 

[Deleted User]

How exactly does this work? Do I need to change GV settings so that my GV number shows up as caller ID? I'd hate to do that as I'd never know who's calling. I'd rather pay a higher fee than have blind calls (I have to screen my calls or i'd never get off the phone).

If you set GV to display your GV when someone calls you, you can have GV announce to you who is calling. Then you can choose to accept the call or send it to voice mail (and listen in).

 

[Tre Lawrence]

How exactly does this work? Do I need to change GV settings so that my GV number shows up as caller ID? I'd hate to do that as I'd never know who's calling. I'd rather pay a higher fee than have blind calls (I have to screen my calls or i'd never get off the phone).

If you set GV to display your GV when someone calls you, you can have GV announce to you who is calling. Then you can choose to accept the call or send it to voice mail (and listen in).

Droifgnome, I hear you...

Regression is right; you can toggle the Call Presentation feature. When a GV call comes in and you answer, it'll anounce who is calling if they are in your address book. You can then decide to listen or send in to voicemail. It even lets you listen in to the voicemail and you can jump in at anytime.

If you have enough minutes, you may not even bother with this; I am considering forgoing the saved minutes and letting the "true" caller ID come through.

 

[r3dDaWn]

I'm going to have to bookmark this thread, as I'm new to Sprint/Evo, and wish to know if I can use my GV for inbound/outbound calls, without being charged.. So I hope you guy's report how your bills come in, so we know exactly how to get this truly working without being killed over minutes being used on our Sprint Calling Plans..

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Seems to be working so far. Just have to make sure the official Voice app is toggled OFF.

 

[xinlu]

For the outgoing part at least, you can use callback apps (quite a few on the Market, and I'm going to shamelessly recommend my own, called Google Voice Callback FREE ), and set the callback number to your cellphone number. In that way, every time you call out from, say, your Contacts app, your phone will not dial out; instead, Google Voice will call you back, then connect you to your original dialed number when you pick up the call from Google Voice. That mean all your phone's carrier knows is that you received a call from you Google Voice number, NOT that you dial to another number

 

[Tre Lawrence]

For the outgoing part at least, you can use callback apps (quite a few on the Market, and I'm going to shamelessly recommend my own, called Google Voice Callback FREE ), and set the callback number to your cellphone number. In that way, every time you call out from, say, your Contacts app, your phone will not dial out; instead, Google Voice will call you back, then connect you to your original dialed number when you pick up the call from Google Voice. That mean all your phone's carrier knows is that you received a call from you Google Voice number, NOT that you dial to another number

That is exactly what is needed for outgoing, in theory. Will give it a try.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

For the outgoing part at least, you can use callback apps (quite a few on the Market, and I'm going to shamelessly recommend my own, called Google Voice Callback FREE ), and set the callback number to your cellphone number. In that way, every time you call out from, say, your Contacts app, your phone will not dial out; instead, Google Voice will call you back, then connect you to your original dialed number when you pick up the call from Google Voice. That mean all your phone's carrier knows is that you received a call from you Google Voice number, NOT that you dial to another number

Okay, tried it, and I like it.

I prefer it to Flex Dialer. I'll report back on billing.

 

[bamaredwingsfan]

I know that google voice calls deduct from your minutes, but what about SMS's does text messages deduct from your text messages or is SMS free on google voice?

 

[Deleted User]

I know that google voice calls deduct from your minutes, but what about SMS's does text messages deduct from your text messages or is SMS free on google voice?

That depends. If you use the GV app on your phone, text messages are treated as data, so they do not count against your carrier's text messages. However, there is an option in GV to forward text messages to your phone via SMS (thus using your carrier's text messages.

You can configure this in the settings on the GV website. Before I had an Android phone I used this. However, now I can just use the GV app to send / receive text messages and have it all count as data.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Okay... so far, it seems to work perfectly.

Incoming calls GV (which all GV calls-in and calls-out are all categorized as) show as Sprint@Home calls.

So... using the software in this thread along with S@H service can help one manage minutes greatly.

 

[bluprint]

Guys I have a question about this thread, if all incoming and outgoing calls can appear to the provider (in my case soon-to-be verizon) as my GV number and thus save minutes, what about caller ID? Does it always appear for incoming calls that my GV is calling me or is there a way to still see the original caller? For example, if my brother dials my GV number can I see on my phone (assuming I have a smartphone like Droid) that it is actually my brother making the incoming call?

 

[Deleted User]

Guys I have a question about this thread, if all incoming and outgoing calls can appear to the provider (in my case soon-to-be verizon) as my GV number and thus save minutes, what about caller ID? Does it always appear for incoming calls that my GV is calling me or is there a way to still see the original caller? For example, if my brother dials my GV number can I see on my phone (assuming I have a smartphone like Droid) that it is actually my brother making the incoming call?

You can have it display either number:

1. Show incoming calls as coming from the number they originated from. IE, you will see your brother's number. However, Verizon also sees it as your brother's number.

2. Show incoming calls as your GV number. If you select this, you can enable call presentation. When you answer, GV will say "your brother" is calling, to accept press 1, etc.

From what you state, I believe you would want to go with option 1. You get to have your GV as the incoming number, but still know who is calling you. You won't see your brother's number, but you will hear his name (or whatever name you put in Google Contacts).

 

[Deleted User]

Sorry, it is called "Call Screening" not "Call Presentation". Go to GV website --> Settings --> Calls.