New VOIP option for GV - single app solution: GrooVe IP

[lizm]

Market: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.gvoip

The Developer forum: http://androidforums.com/application-announcements/320717-app-groove-ip-google-voice-voip.html

A discussion on this new app: New VOIP option for GV - single app solution: GrooVe IP - Android Forums

I bought it, only played with it a little bit but it has worked well so far.

 

[tater_salad]

I second this, I saw what the current workaround was 9sipgagte, call back software, and all that and It just wasn't worth the min's I'd lose taking on google voice..

This works well on Wi-Fi but not so well on 3G. It allowed me to be able to totally be able to get rid of my iPhone (I was keeping it around for the GV VOIP software.)

 

[adam97202]

I might give it a try... I wouldn't expect it to be good enough on 3G, but I use GV to call from my laptop all the time using my home Wifi connection.

 

[lizm]

It's very easy to set up if you already have Gvoice. On wifi it works fine, even on 3G is OK.

I bought it primarily to use when traveling abroad, so people can cell my US # and i can call out using wifi.

Well worth $4.

 

[Frozen_Droid]

Any chance you don't have to change numbers when using this? I don't really want to give people a google voice number if they are already familiar with mine.

 

[tater_salad]

You use your existing google voice sign in so you do not need a new number

 

[Frozen_Droid]

You use your existing google voice sign in so you do not need a new number

No. You don't get it. VM gives you a number. Google voice gives you a number.

Can I use my vm number with this or do I have to give out a GV number? Everyone has my number that my service provider gave me and I don't want to give them a different number.

It sounds like I have to give a Google voice number to folks, which is very unfortuante. Can someone confirm/deny?

 

[RMdroid]

No. You don't get it. VM gives you a number. Google voice gives you a number.

Can I use my vm number with this or do I have to give out a GV number? Everyone has my number that my service provider gave me and I don't want to give them a different number.

It sounds like I have to give a Google voice number to folks, which is very unfortuante. Can someone confirm/deny?

No, you don't need to get the Google Voice number, but I would highly recommend it.

I took advantage of GV's number - it's in addition to not a substitute for your VM number.

The advantage of getting a GV number:

1. You can have a number in a different area code than your home area code
2. it's a phone number you can give out if you don't want to give out your real number
3. Google will turn your missed phone messages to text messages and send them to you (along with the actual voice message)
4. don't want to be bothered by a caller, you can easily block them, and they get the message, "The number you have reached is not in service at this time and there is no new listing."
5. did I mention this was free?

And best of all - phone calls made using GV don't use your phone minutes, just your data, and that's unlimited. So you can use the $25 plan and basically have UNLIMITED phone calls! Woo hoo!

 

[Frozen_Droid]

No, you don't need to get the Google Voice number, but I would highly recommend it.

I took advantage of GV's number - it's in addition to not a substitute for your VM number.

The advantage of getting a GV number:

1. You can have a number in a different area code than your home area code
2. it's a phone number you can give out if you don't want to give out your real number
3. Google will turn your missed phone messages to text messages and send them to you (along with the actual voice message)
4. don't want to be bothered by a caller, you can easily block them, and they get the message, "The number you have reached is not in service at this time and there is no new listing."
5. did I mention this was free?

And best of all - phone calls made using GV don't use your phone minutes, just your data, and that's unlimited. So you can use the $25 plan and basically have UNLIMITED phone calls! Woo hoo!

I must not be asking the question properly so let me give it another shot:

Do I have to have friends call my Google voice number in order to use this app to receive free calls? Same thing with sending calls.

Thanks.

 

[ProgramIchiban]

@Frozen_Droid,

YES, you do have to give your friends the GV number for them to use in order to receive FREE calls. You can tell google to forward the GV calls to your VM number but that would be pointless because you end up using your phone minutes.

 

[lizm]

Do I have to have friends call my Google voice number in order to use this app to receive free calls? Same thing with sending calls.

Yeah. But you can call out using the app and not use minutes. The caller ID on the other end will show your Gvoice number though.

 

[Frozen_Droid]

Thanks for the responses! Has anyone actually tried it on the optimus though? I heard there were speaker phone issues or something? How is the quality on wifi vs 3g? I'd really appreciate the feedback before actually buying it!

 

[ProgramIchiban]

Quality is OK. I mean its VoIP so you cant expect too much. Over 3g the quality was still pretty fine but it all depends on your 3g speed/signal. I never use speaker phone so I wouldnt know about the speaker phone thing.

 

[2psps]

Thanks for the responses! Has anyone actually tried it on the optimus though? I heard there were speaker phone issues or something? How is the quality on wifi vs 3g? I'd really appreciate the feedback before actually buying it!

I have it installed on my optimus. The main issues is voice lag. Once you say something the person on the other end won't hear it for about 4 seconds. This happens both on 3g and wifi. I would wait to purchase it until they get it right.

 

[diego1749]

4 second lag is really a lot and would be totally annoying, but a one app solution sure sounds nice. There's a good video on how to do it with multiple apps at freewifiphonecalls.com. I configured my phone that way and there is almost no lag at all. Sound quality is excellent. It is a multi step process, though, so if you fear technology, go with the 4 sec lag.

 

[cutterjohn]

4 second lag is really a lot and would be totally annoying, but a one app solution sure sounds nice. There's a good video on how to do it with multiple apps at freewifiphonecalls.com. I configured my phone that way and there is almost no lag at all. Sound quality is excellent. It is a multi step process, though, so if you fear technology, go with the 4 sec lag.

IME there's ALWAYS been a lag of a few seconds with ANY of the VOIP technologies, but I've never used one of the landline replacement ones... Most people just don't notice apparently or the price is so cheap that they don't mind as they usually also get all the you-pay-extra-for-these-features to AT&T, etc. plus they usually include free LD to Canada and some EU countries and low rates for the rest.

(I was actually shocked to find that VM USA didn't include free to Canada as they never mention it in their printed ads and usually at the least Canada is "free" and that their rate is VERY high for calls to Canada.)

 

[Thorsten]

IME there's ALWAYS been a lag of a few seconds with ANY of the VOIP technologies

I obviously have no way of knowing what you have experienced personally, but a properly working VOIP connection should and does not have any perceivable lag, certainly not several seconds long.

As much as it pains me to admit (being proprietary, Microsoft-owned technology and all), the voice quality of Skype on the V (via a strong Wifi connection) far surpasses any cellphone and most land-line connections I

 

[Jenny Z]

This app saved me.

 

[cutterjohn]

I obviously have no way of knowing what you have experienced personally, but a properly working VOIP connection should and does not have any perceivable lag, certainly not several seconds long.

As much as it pains me to admit (being proprietary, Microsoft-owned technology and all), the voice quality of Skype on the V (via a strong Wifi connection) far surpasses any cellphone and most land-line connections I

 

[Thorsten]

Don't think so

Which is more likely:

1. there is nothing wrong with your specific setup, a lag of

 

[arevir]

How you guys get it to connect when outside the USA using wifi is there and app that fool the location or something like that.
thanks.

 

[ramster]

I did port over my cell # so it could be my main # and then I use the Google Voice and all has seemed to work great! I only buy the $25 option each month and so far the only minutes I have been using is when I get a incoming call and I have not gone over 40 minutes so far each month.

I guess I am missing something in this thread... I don't understand why anyone would buy this app. I only call from my town and talk to folks in my state and throughout the united states... so maybe it would not help me?!?!? Why would I buy that app, what will "GrooVe IP" do for me that I don't already get by using "Google Voice"?

TIA!

 

[tcat007]

The reason I would buy this app (haven't yet until lag issue is resolved) is I get no cell service at home. Would be nice to be able to take calls after 6:00 PM, and also make them on WiFi. I seldom use more than 50 minutes per month, so it's not for saving money for me, it's just the ability to accept calls over WiFi.

I do have a VOIP account with Viatalk, through a PAP2T adapter and TWC Roadrunner (was AT&T last month). I've had it for 5 years and never had a problem. I get no lag. Once in a while a call won't go through, but seldom. I can't see paying $4 if there is more than a 1 second lag... but I might try it.

How difficult (easy) is it to use GrooVe on WiFi, then switch it to "normal-VM" during the day?

 

[Jenny Z]

I use this app because I also have the $25 (300 min) plan, but I talk to my sister really often, and sometimes run out of minutes about a week before I'm due to renew. The next plan up is $40 (1200 min), which is way more than I'd ever use. If they had a plan in between, I'd probably just do that, but since they don't, I'd rather just use a Voip program to make calls so my service doesn't get cut off.

Google Voice uses minutes just the same as calling without it would, unless you use this (or a similar) voip program.

 

[MacFett]

Quality is OK. I mean its VoIP so you cant expect too much.

Don't know if you mean in general or in relation to a smart phone. Because I've had VoIP since 2005 as my primary home phone and unless I tell people or have multiple downloads you can't tell.