How does google voice get around using your anytime minutes?

[jarablue]

I just signed up for google voice. I've been hearing how this services won't count against your anytime minutes...how does that work?

Can someone explain? Thanks!

 

[tatonka_Hero]

unless I'm mistaken, it goes over data(3G or 1x) or wifi, rather than using your minutes

 

[Deleted User]

Google Voice is not VOIP. It will use your minutes.

 

[jarablue]

So does it or does it not use your minutes?

 

[tatonka_Hero]

Google Voice is not VOIP. It will use your minutes.

i stand corrected. I don't use google voice, so I really had no idea lol

 

[Deleted User]

So does it or does it not use your minutes?

Google Voice by itself will use your minutes.

Some people around it if they already have VOIP service. Also, if you have free calling to / from a number (like some sort of friends & family plan), you can add your GV number to your list of free number. Then, you will have to get a special dialer to act as a calling card to dial your GV number.

This document goes into it in great detail:

Unlimited Free Calling with Google Voice - Google Docs

 

[Deleted User]

i stand corrected. I don't use google voice, so I really had no idea lol

Well, in the future (and hopefully not in the far distant future) Google Voice will likely be VOIP. They acquired Gizmo5 (a VOIP company) a while back. So hopefully that means that they come out with a VOIP solution.

 

[JB in AZ]

Google Voice by itself will use your minutes.

Some people around it if they already have VOIP service. Also, if you have free calling to / from a number (like some sort of friends & family plan), you can add your GV number to your list of free number. Then, you will have to get a special dialer to act as a calling card to dial your GV number.

This document goes into it in great detail:

Unlimited Free Calling with Google Voice - Google Docs

Actually, you don't need anything special. I have GV, and "favorite 3" (or whatever it is called with Sprint) and made my GV number one of them. So, when I need to call a land line, I just call my GV number from my phone's dialer, (I have a speed dial set up for it). Then when the call is connected, GV answers, and one of the options is push 2 to make a call. I then enter the phone number I want to call followed by #, and the call is connected. Minutes are not counted.

I can give out my GV number to anyone that might call me from a land line, and GV is set to forward that caller to my cell. Slick. There are many other features of GV, but this is how I use it to avoid using minutes. The GV app will not work with this, as it is known to dial (sometimes) random numbers, rather than the one you picked when you signed up with GV. (That may not make sense, but trust me for now)

 

[Shazam613]

Absolutely correct. I saw the same issue with the official GV app from Google. I started using the GV dialer app, which connects via the web (if I'm not mistaken) and I've had no issues since. Believe the app is in the market and is $1.99, but worth it

Actually, you don't need anything special. I have GV, and "favorite 3" (or whatever it is called with Sprint) and made my GV number one of them. So, when I need to call a land line, I just call my GV number from my phone's dialer, (I have a speed dial set up for it). Then when the call is connected, GV answers, and one of the options is push 2 to make a call. I then enter the phone number I want to call followed by #, and the call is connected. Minutes are not counted.

I can give out my GV number to anyone that might call me from a land line, and GV is set to forward that caller to my cell. Slick. There are many other features of GV, but this is how I use it to avoid using minutes. The GV app will not work with this, as it is known to dial (sometimes) random numbers, rather than the one you picked when you signed up with GV. (That may not make sense, but trust me for now)

 

[Deleted User]

Actually, you don't need anything special. I have GV, and "favorite 3" (or whatever it is called with Sprint) and made my GV number one of them. So, when I need to call a land line, I just call my GV number from my phone's dialer, (I have a speed dial set up for it). Then when the call is connected, GV answers, and one of the options is push 2 to make a call. I then enter the phone number I want to call followed by #, and the call is connected. Minutes are not counted.

I can give out my GV number to anyone that might call me from a land line, and GV is set to forward that caller to my cell. Slick. There are many other features of GV, but this is how I use it to avoid using minutes. The GV app will not work with this, as it is known to dial (sometimes) random numbers, rather than the one you picked when you signed up with GV. (That may not make sense, but trust me for now)

If you GV number is part of your pick 3, then you can set GV to show your Google Number when someone calls you. And, enable call presentation so it tells you who is calling. That way you avoid using minutes for incoming calls.

Last month I used 30 minutes out of my 450 any time minutes, so I am not worried about getting around using my minutes ;-)


Edit: your technique is documented in the document above. And, I'm not sure who to give the credit to, I didn't write the document, but it has lots of good info in it.

 

[nodrogkam]

I've been using GV since the first month they began their beta testing. Unless you have pick 3 or some variation of that promotion that lets you set unlimited calling to a specific number, your calls made/received will be deducted from your anytime minutes. Your unlimited nights and weekends are applicable (for everyone with a plan that includes this feature).

 

[Deleted User]

I've been using GV since the first month they began their beta testing. Unless you have pick 3 or some variation of that promotion that lets you set unlimited calling to a specific number, your calls made/received will be deducted from your anytime minutes. Your unlimited nights and weekends are applicable (for everyone with a plan that includes this feature).

Thanks for the clarification. Just to add to this, if you have any mobile anytime and someone calls your GV number from their cell phone, then the call doesn't count against your anytime minutes.

However, the reverse is not true. If you call a cell phone via the GV app, it actually calls a routing number that Sprint considers a land line, so it does count against your anytime minutes.

The above assumes you do not have pick 3....

 

[JB in AZ]

...

This document goes into it in great detail:

Unlimited Free Calling with Google Voice - Google Docs

Above link doesn't seem to work.

 

[Deleted User]

Above link doesn't seem to work.

Sorry. That link was to a Google document. I thought it was shared, but I guess not. I am attaching a PDF of the document to this post.

 

[JB in AZ]

Sorry. That link was to a Google document. I thought it was shared, but I guess not. I am attaching a PDF of the document to this post.

Thanks! Long document, but lots of good info.

 

[Deleted User]

Thanks! Long document, but lots of good info.

No problem. I wish I knew who to give credit to for putting it together. I found it a while back (can't remember where) and since it was a Google document, I see it pop up every now and then in my doc list ;-)

 

[Piiman]

So does it or does it not use your minutes?

depends on what phone is called and where it was called from. If you have a GV number it is separate from your wireless number. If ou call from youur cell or receive a call on your cell it will use minutes.

Also if you have a friends and family type plan you can add the GV number as a friend or family member and then it is free and doen't count against your minutes

 

[misterrunon]

i don't get what the point of google voice is if you end up using your own phone's minutes...

 

[Deleted User]

i don't get what the point of google voice is if you end up using your own phone's minutes...

The point is you only have one number from now on. When someone calls it, you can use your home phone, cell phone, work phone, etc to answer. You have better control over which phone rings and when based on either time of day or who is calling. You get good visual voicemail.

 

[LBPHeretic]

You also get free texting and easy access to said texting on your computer, along with your visual voicemail. Additionally, you get voice transcription of your voicemails that will arrive as a text or email for free.

Finally, you can do what I do and hand out this number to people you are not as familiar with for voice calls and texting. It is better than giving them your real phone number and you have lots of options for blocking harassing calls and text messages.

 

[showbo]

i don't get what the point of google voice is if you end up using your own phone's minutes...

And if you don't have international calling, GV helps a lot with that. Called a buddy in Canada, 20 bucks, we talked for a while. If I would have used GV, free. (I actually called him on my GV number, no answer, he called my GV number back I thought it uses GV, it doesn't) You have to initiate the call for it to work though, if they call your GV number it is not free, from Canada that is.

And great rates from around the world using GV as well, in my opinion of course.

 

[chathuragune]

Sorry. That link was to a Google document. I thought it was shared, but I guess not. I am attaching a PDF of the document to this post.

Regression, you saved me hundreds of dollars on overage charges. I cannot wait to try out Fring app described in detailed provided in the doc.

Thank you again for the great doc.

 

[chathuragune]

I tried just the Fring setup on iphone. It did not work. It only rang and i heard music playing in the background. What am i doing wrong or missing here? Am i missing the setting up of sipgate and linking sipsorcery to sipgate on shown in major step 14?

Can somebody please help. I am trying to get Fring to do free SIP calls in an iphone 4. Can some one please explain what each sip tool and provider does? I am very new to this SIP stuff.

My understanding is Fring for iphone is just like X-lite for PC--a just dialer.
What about sipgate...? I know sipgate provides you with a free phone number that you link to sip address from sipsorcery. Will ipcall free phone numbers work here too?
What about sipsorcery ?