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Free VoIP Calling Using Google Voice + Sipdroid

PSkeptic: Google won't likely start charging for inbound calling per se, but they will eventually start charging a recurring fee for you to have a dedicated Google Voice phone number which can receive phone calls. Google has to pay the phone company for each such Google Voice number. (It's about $10-$12/year last time I looked into it.) So eventually Google will start charging a recurring fee of probably at least that amount. More likely, I'd guess that they'll start charging around $19.95/year for unlimited domestic long distance (and inbound calls) like Magic Jack, except that they'll have cooler features than Magic Jack, like voice-to-text and easily assigning the phone to ring at multiple, easily configurable locations. Google's service may well be worth the price that they'll eventually charge, so I wish they'd quickly figure it their pricing and announce it.

They do not have to pay for inbound calling. The originating telco pays the termination fees...

As for the DID block, it's pennies per number when bought in blocks of 500 and greater. My company pays $0.22 per DID.

Most likely, they'll stick with the model they have now: Make money by injecting ads. Remember, Google is partnering with a major Telco provider already (Bandwidth.com).
 
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I managed to get sipdroid installed in my phone, I get a green light in my status bar...

I can dial a number by opening the phone's stock dialpad (ie, not using the sipdroid screen). I'm immediately prompted by a Google Voice window: "Call with Google Voice" and "Call without Google Voice".

I select "Call with Google Voice" and then hear a recording:

"The number you have called cannot be completed as dialed. Please try your call again later."

The call then terminates. (I thought I'd try to get outgoing working before I worried about incoming calls...)

Any idea what the problem could be?

[edit] I saw a thread somewhere that said your pbxes password had to be the same as your Google Voice password? I can't seem to change the pbxes password. I go to Setup/Personal Data, and put the new password in twice--hit "submit & start", logout, but then I can't log back in with the new password... it seems to revert to the old one.

[2nd edit] I deleted my account at pbxes, uninstalled and reinstalled sipdroid, and when I try to recreate an account, it says "Trunk is already in use by [me]." [facepalm] How can I delete that trunk, when the account doesn't exist?!

[3rd edit] Now I'm *really* confused: I was just able to make an outgoing call--without a working sipdroid/pbxes.org account--using just Google Voice! I don't understand how making a call like I did just now (via Google Voice) differs from making a call via Google Voice and sipdroid/pbxes.org...and why, therefore, I'd need a working pbxes/sipdroid? Can anyone 'splain?
 
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I managed to get sipdroid installed in my phone, I get a green light in my status bar...

I can dial a number by opening the phone's stock dialpad (ie, not using the sipdroid screen). I'm immediately prompted by a Google Voice window: "Call with Google Voice" and "Call without Google Voice".

I select "Call with Google Voice" and then hear a recording:

"The number you have called cannot be completed as dialed. Please try your call again later."

The call then terminates. (I thought I'd try to get outgoing working before I worried about incoming calls...)

Any idea what the problem could be?

[edit] I saw a thread somewhere that said your pbxes password had to be the same as your Google Voice password? I can't seem to change the pbxes password. I go to Setup/Personal Data, and put the new password in twice--hit "submit & start", logout, but then I can't log back in with the new password... it seems to revert to the old one.

[2nd edit] I deleted my account at pbxes, uninstalled and reinstalled sipdroid, and when I try to recreate an account, it says "Trunk is already in use by [me]." [facepalm] How can I delete that trunk, when the account doesn't exist?!

[3rd edit] Now I'm *really* confused: I was just able to make an outgoing call--without a working sipdroid/pbxes.org account--using just Google Voice! I don't understand how making a call like I did just now (via Google Voice) differs from making a call via Google Voice and sipdroid/pbxes.org...and why, therefore, I'd need a working pbxes/sipdroid? Can anyone 'splain?

The thing you need to realize is Google Voice has many uses on your phone. When you make an outgoing call with the regular dialer, you are making a call using Google Voice. This is a regular call over the cell network (NOT WIFI) but it just uses your Google Voice number. This should work fine without SIPDroid or PBXes set up, as long as you have GV set up properly. Now this thread is about using SIPDroid, in combination with PBXes and GV to make wifi calls. You will typically make these calls through the SIPDroid app, not the regular dialer. (There are certain ways you can set it up where you can use the regular dialer - for example by using another app called "Google Voice Callback", but we will ignore this for now to avoid further confusion). So to recap, the PBXes and SIPDroid is not necessary to use Google Voice, but it IS necessary to use Google Voice making a call over Wifi. I suspect what you did was a regular voice call using Google Voice. As for your problems about "Truck is already in use", I am not quite sure... I hope this has explained a few of your questions, at least a little bit. For future reference, if you are trying to get the Wifi calls working you will be best to use the SIPDroid dialer. If you use the stock dialer it will probably be a voice call. If you still do not understand let me know..
 
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I managed to get sipdroid installed in my phone, I get a green light in my status bar...

I can dial a number by opening the phone's stock dialpad (ie, not using the sipdroid screen). I'm immediately prompted by a Google Voice window: "Call with Google Voice" and "Call without Google Voice".

I select "Call with Google Voice" and then hear a recording:

"The number you have called cannot be completed as dialed. Please try your call again later."

The call then terminates. (I thought I'd try to get outgoing working before I worried about incoming calls...)

Any idea what the problem could be?

Make the call using SIPDroid, not Google Voice.

[edit] I saw a thread somewhere that said your pbxes password had to be the same as your Google Voice password? I can't seem to change the pbxes password. I go to Setup/Personal Data, and put the new password in twice--hit "submit & start", logout, but then I can't log back in with the new password... it seems to revert to the old one.

The SIPDroid and Google passwords do NOT need to be the same.

[2nd edit] I deleted my account at pbxes, uninstalled and reinstalled sipdroid, and when I try to recreate an account, it says "Trunk is already in use by [me]." [facepalm] How can I delete that trunk, when the account doesn't exist?!

For this, you'll have to message one of the admins over on pbxes.org forums. They can take care of it there.

[3rd edit] Now I'm *really* confused: I was just able to make an outgoing call--without a working sipdroid/pbxes.org account--using just Google Voice! I don't understand how making a call like I did just now (via Google Voice) differs from making a call via Google Voice and sipdroid/pbxes.org...and why, therefore, I'd need a working pbxes/sipdroid? Can anyone 'splain?

If you make a call using Google Voice, you will still use your cell minutes. Using pbxes.org, you just use data.
 
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Thanks. Those explanations make sense. In an attempt to deal with the "Trunk in use" problem, I've been trying to delete my pbxes account and re-create it. Last night I think the pbxes site was having issues...because the account didn't seem to delete properly? I've tried it again...

One thing I'm still confused about: Does the pbxes account have to have the same password as my google voice account? I notice there's a password field when the trunk get's set up... In other words can the pbxes account have it's own password (in order to login etc) as long as the trunk password is the same as the google voice password?

Does it make sense what I'm asking?

'preciate the help so far!
 
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Thanks. Those explanations make sense. In an attempt to deal with the "Trunk in use" problem, I've been trying to delete my pbxes account and re-create it. Last night I think the pbxes site was having issues...because the account didn't seem to delete properly? I've tried it again...

One thing I'm still confused about: Does the pbxes account have to have the same password as my google voice account? I notice there's a password field when the trunk get's set up... In other words can the pbxes account have it's own password (in order to login etc) as long as the trunk password is the same as the google voice password?

Does it make sense what I'm asking?

'preciate the help so far!

No, as Pskeptic said they can be different passwords (he said sipdroid but he meant pbxes)
 
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No, as Pskeptic said they can be different passwords (he said sipdroid but he meant pbxes)

Okay. I just got it working! :D (I think a large part of the problem I was having last night was due to pbxes.org website issues, ie my account not deleting properly. [facepalm] )

I just now logged into pbxes, deleted the trunk, then deleted my account from the pbxes website. I then used the SIPDroid app on the phone to create a new account--and I put my Google Voice password in the 'password' and 'confirm password' fields. That set up a new pbxes account with the Google Voice password as both the ACCOUNT password AND trunk password.

If I understand you correctly, I can change the pbxes account password to something different--but the trunk password always needs to be the same as my Google Voice account.

ps. (I confirmed that the two test calls I made last night via Google Voice DID use some cell minutes. I wasn't clear on the use of the two different dialers: Voice vs SIPDroid.)

Now that it's working, how concerned to I need to be about whether or not Virgin Mobile (Sprint) 'allows' or 'doesn't allow' VOIP? In other words, if it's 'not allowed', what are the odds that I could get the stink-eye (or worse) from my cell provider?

Now that I've figured out how to MAKE calls, I'll have to tackle RECEIVING calls... :\
 
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Okay. I just got it working! :D (I think a large part of the problem I was having last night was due to pbxes.org website issues, ie my account not deleting properly. [facepalm] )

I just now logged into pbxes, deleted the trunk, then deleted my account from the pbxes website. I then used the SIPDroid app on the phone to create a new account--and I put my Google Voice password in the 'password' and 'confirm password' fields. That set up a new pbxes account with the Google Voice password as both the ACCOUNT password AND trunk password.

If I understand you correctly, I can change the pbxes account password to something different--but the trunk password always needs to be the same as my Google Voice account.

ps. (I confirmed that the two test calls I made last night via Google Voice DID use some cell minutes. I wasn't clear on the use of the two different dialers: Voice vs SIPDroid.)

Now that it's working, how concerned to I need to be about whether or not Virgin Mobile (Sprint) 'allows' or 'doesn't allow' VOIP? In other words, if it's 'not allowed', what are the odds that I could get the stink-eye (or worse) from my cell provider?

Eh about the pw business... I'm a little confused about it now myself so prolly best to wait for pskeptic to reply back or someone else more knowledgeable about that.

In regards to your cell provider, making a call over WiFi using SIPDroid/GV is completely separate from your cell provider, and they should be none the wiser to your "shenanigans" :) (they probably call it shenanigans and trying to gyp them out of their well-deserved money, I call it legitimate use of technology). Over 3G, they may be able to figure out that you are using a VOIP service but I don't believe it violates any ToS and they typically do not monitor data usage unless someone is using a significant amount of data every month. (For example, I have heard that VZ might monitor someone's data usage if they are using over 5 GB of data per month). I'm not sure if Sprint does anything about it or not. If you are only using SIPDroid/GV to make calls over WiFi, then you don't even have to worry about the cell provider not approving. I know many people who use 3G connections to make VOIP calls over SIPDroid (the beauty of this is you can make unlimited calls without using your minutes up) without a problem. Of course that is on VZ and I don't know if it varies for Sprint or other companies.

EDIT: It's very simple to receive calls now! Just call your Google Voice number from any phone and it will ring on SIPDroid and you can pick up. Go ahead, try it! :)
 
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It's very simple to receive calls now! Just call your Google Voice number from any phone and it will ring on SIPDroid and you can pick up. Go ahead, try it! :)

Well, that sounds like a "yay!".

I guess if SIPDroid is not 'connected' (ie, I have no WiFi at the time) then the incoming call would just go through the cell network? In other words WiFi=on: SIPDroid answers; WiFi=off: 'regular' answers?
 
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Well, that sounds like a "yay!".

I guess if SIPDroid is not 'connected' (ie, I have no WiFi at the time) then the incoming call would just go through the cell network? In other words WiFi=on: SIPDroid answers; WiFi=off: 'regular' answers?

You would need to make sure that you have GV set to forward calls to your cell phone too, not just Google Chat (You do this on the GV website under settings, not in the GV app on your phone). Of course there are problems with this as you will end up with two things ringing on your phone when someone calls your GV number - regular phone app and SIPDroid. I know there is a way to make it so, if someone calls your regular cell number it will first ring your cell phone, and then forward to your GV number (VOIP) if you don't answer. So basically you can let ppl call your regular cell number and if you answer the first set of rings (from the phone app), it is a voice call, and if you let it ring all the way through 4 times (or if you decline the call), it will start ringing SIPDroid (this is, of course, only if you have a WiFi or 3G connection). I am heading to work right now but if you can't figure out how to set it up right I will probably be able to help later on. Gl!
 
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Okay. I just got it working! :D (I think a large part of the problem I was having last night was due to pbxes.org website issues, ie my account not deleting properly. [facepalm] )

I just now logged into pbxes, deleted the trunk, then deleted my account from the pbxes website. I then used the SIPDroid app on the phone to create a new account--and I put my Google Voice password in the 'password' and 'confirm password' fields. That set up a new pbxes account with the Google Voice password as both the ACCOUNT password AND trunk password.

If I understand you correctly, I can change the pbxes account password to something different--but the trunk password always needs to be the same as my Google Voice account.

ps. (I confirmed that the two test calls I made last night via Google Voice DID use some cell minutes. I wasn't clear on the use of the two different dialers: Voice vs SIPDroid.)

Now that it's working, how concerned to I need to be about whether or not Virgin Mobile (Sprint) 'allows' or 'doesn't allow' VOIP? In other words, if it's 'not allowed', what are the odds that I could get the stink-eye (or worse) from my cell provider?

Now that I've figured out how to MAKE calls, I'll have to tackle RECEIVING calls... :\

Yes, your google voice password can be different than your pbxes password (Mine is).

Now, if VOIP is allowed over your carrier's network... It's a sticky question, answerable only by reading your TOS. Will they "catch" you, if it's not allowed? They could. Would they? Doubtful, unless you are gobbling up data.

Well, that sounds like a "yay!".

I guess if SIPDroid is not 'connected' (ie, I have no WiFi at the time) then the incoming call would just go through the cell network? In other words WiFi=on: SIPDroid answers; WiFi=off: 'regular' answers?

Well, depending on how it's configured, either SIPDroid AND your cell phone will ring (Annoying), or just SIPDroid, or just your phone. I don't know of any way to make it route to your phone if SIPDroid isn't answered, without getting a second trunk (SO, pbxes can route your call).

You would need to make sure that you have GV set to forward calls to your cell phone too, not just Google Chat (You do this on the GV website under settings, not in the GV app on your phone). Of course there are problems with this as you will end up with two things ringing on your phone when someone calls your GV number - regular phone app and SIPDroid. I know there is a way to make it so, if someone calls your regular cell number it will first ring your cell phone, and then forward to your GV number (VOIP) if you don't answer. So basically you can let ppl call your regular cell number and if you answer the first set of rings (from the phone app), it is a voice call, and if you let it ring all the way through 4 times (or if you decline the call), it will start ringing SIPDroid (this is, of course, only if you have a WiFi or 3G connection). I am heading to work right now but if you can't figure out how to set it up right I will probably be able to help later on. Gl!

Spot on :)
 
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I know there is a way to make it so, if someone calls your regular cell number it will first ring your cell phone, and then forward to your GV number (VOIP) if you don't answer. So basically you can let ppl call your regular cell number and if you answer the first set of rings (from the phone app), it is a voice call, and if you let it ring all the way through 4 times (or if you decline the call), it will start ringing SIPDroid (this is, of course, only if you have a WiFi or 3G connection). I am heading to work right now but if you can't figure out how to set it up right I will probably be able to help later on. Gl!

Spot on :)

In lieu of that setting you refer to:
I know there is a way to make it so, if someone calls your regular cell number it will first ring your cell phone, and then forward to your GV number (VOIP) if you don't answer.

I've only experienced a race condition.

Behaviors I've experienced:

1. sipdroid/VOIP rings first (this seems to be prevalent if screen is on):

a) answer within 2-3 seconds, VOIP call success.
b1) if don't answer within 2-3 seconds, goes to VM call, then if dismiss, goes to VOIP call which quickly ends itself. Fail.
b2) if don't answer within 2-3 seconds, goes to VM call, then if let ring, it rings for about 8 times, during which I've sometimes seen the VOIP call quickly display a hangup, then the screen goes back to showing the ringing VM call. Fail.


2. VM/minutes rings first (this seems to be prevalent if screen is off):

a1) dismiss call quickly: no sipdroid answer. Call is still ongoing on calling phone, but just have home screen on Optimus. Other times, it goes to voicemail a short time after the home screen shows. Fail.
a2) dismiss call quickly: sipdroid screen shows, I answer. But then quickly thereafter sipdroid hangs up by itself. Fail.
b) let ring: rings 6-8 times, then get home screen, and calling phone gets voicemail. Fail.

So in my tests, I'm only able to force an incoming call to VOIP if the screen is on when the call is made, and I'm quick on the draw in answering. I'll be lucky if that's 1% of the time.
 
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Anyone have a problem in Sipdroid where they try to make a call and they are told that they do not have any credits to place this call? I hardly ever use this thing and have not used it all this month. I go thru pbxes.org.

Calls placed with Google Voice itself are working fine.

Yeah, I got that the other night. It went away after a minute. I have no idea why it popped up. You get 2000 minutes/month with the free account.
 
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I called a friends answering machine yesterday (via SIPDroid) and left a message she said was clear as a bell. I just called her now and she said I was breaking up--she sounded great on my end. Is this just the vagaries of the internet--or are there settings I could tweak...?

My friend is still complaining a blue streak about my voice quality on her end when I call her via sipdroid. When I call myself (ie, call my landline via my android/sipdroid, it sounds okay (slight static, but no jittering). Is there anything I can try that might improve my call quality??
 
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In lieu of that setting you refer to:


I've only experienced a race condition.

Behaviors I've experienced:

1. sipdroid/VOIP rings first (this seems to be prevalent if screen is on):

a) answer within 2-3 seconds, VOIP call success.
b1) if don't answer within 2-3 seconds, goes to VM call, then if dismiss, goes to VOIP call which quickly ends itself. Fail.
b2) if don't answer within 2-3 seconds, goes to VM call, then if let ring, it rings for about 8 times, during which I've sometimes seen the VOIP call quickly display a hangup, then the screen goes back to showing the ringing VM call. Fail.


2. VM/minutes rings first (this seems to be prevalent if screen is off):

a1) dismiss call quickly: no sipdroid answer. Call is still ongoing on calling phone, but just have home screen on Optimus. Other times, it goes to voicemail a short time after the home screen shows. Fail.
a2) dismiss call quickly: sipdroid screen shows, I answer. But then quickly thereafter sipdroid hangs up by itself. Fail.
b) let ring: rings 6-8 times, then get home screen, and calling phone gets voicemail. Fail.

So in my tests, I'm only able to force an incoming call to VOIP if the screen is on when the call is made, and I'm quick on the draw in answering. I'll be lucky if that's 1% of the time.

What I have been able to set it up to do is...
When I get a call on my cell number (not GV number), it will:
1) Ring my cell phone (cell connection) (I can choose to answer or decline)
2) If I decline or let it ring it rings SIPDroid as a VOIP call.

I think it has something to do with the fact that I have my phone set up for Google Voice Voicemail. So I have GV set to forward calls to Google Chat (this is for the SIPDroid/PBX call to work). Anyways, when someone calls my cell number, and it rings 4 times and I don't answer (or I decline call), it automatically rings through to my GV number (aka Google Voicemail), but because I have GV set to forward to Google Chat, it rings SIPDroid and I can answer as a VOIP call. It has about 4 rings under SIPDroid too. So basically, I can choose whether I want a call to be VOIP or cell service at the time I am receiving it. No need to have screen on or off or anything fancy like that. Also, if I happen to be somewhere where I do not have cell service (but I AM connected to wifi), my phone obviously does not ring and it directs to the GV number, which rings SIPDroid. It's a win-win. I don't even have to rely on people knowing my GV number right now, they can just call my regular cell number. The only downside is, if I ever want to make outgoing VOIP calls it will display my GV number instead of cell number. Maybe I have my settings tweaked in some special way for this to work, but I don't know what I could have changed to make it work like this. Anyone else have it working like this for them?

Riffdex - I have read this entire thread with great interest, especially your posts, because I am experiencing the same problems you described. Did you finally get gv-sipandroid to work? If so, how???

PMed.
 
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I think it has something to do with the fact that I have my phone set up for Google Voice Voicemail. So I have GV set to forward calls to Google Chat (this is for the SIPDroid/PBX call to work).

Ack! I may be out of luck. I didn't set it the way you did on installation of the Google Voice app, and I don't think I can change it now.

Google instructions say "To change which voicemail service to use, use the Settings application."

Then says, "For more information, see Call settings."

But my LG Optimus V shows none of those Call settings. When I tap "Call settings" in the Settings app, this phone only shows a subcategory "Other call settings", and lists only four settings:
- Excuse Messages
- Plus Code Dialing
- TTY Mode
- DTMF Tones.

My guess at this stage is that Virgin Mobile decides what to allow to be set under Call settings, and doesn't allow retro-setting of "Voicemail service" on the Optimus V.

If that guess is true, then word to the wise for new sipdroid users with Optimus Vs: On Google Voice installation, select Google Voice as your voicemail service. Then you can get incoming calls to your VM number to optionally use sipdroid/Voip, as riffdex describes above in this thread.

(At some point I may gamble and see if just resetting or re-downloading Google Voice will be enough. For now, I'm just too tired from the effort it took to get sipdroid, Google Voice, pbxes, and Google Voice Callback working harmoniously.)
 
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Ack! I may be out of luck. I didn't set it the way you did on installation of the Google Voice app, and I don't think I can change it now.

Google instructions say "To change which voicemail service to use, use the Settings application."

Then says, "For more information, see Call settings."

But my LG Optimus V shows none of those Call settings. When I tap "Call settings" in the Settings app, this phone only shows a subcategory "Other call settings", and lists only four settings:
- Excuse Messages
- Plus Code Dialing
- TTY Mode
- DTMF Tones.

My guess at this stage is that Virgin Mobile decides what to allow to be set under Call settings, and doesn't allow retro-setting of "Voicemail service" on the Optimus V.

If that guess is true, then word to the wise for new sipdroid users with Optimus Vs: On Google Voice installation, select Google Voice as your voicemail service. Then you can get incoming calls to your VM number to optionally use sipdroid/Voip, as riffdex describes above in this thread.

(At some point I may gamble and see if just resetting or re-downloading Google Voice will be enough. For now, I'm just too tired from the effort it took to get sipdroid, Google Voice, pbxes, and Google Voice Callback working harmoniously.)

While I am not familiar with Virgin Mobile, I think you are misunderstanding what you need to do to set up Voicemail. What I did to set up voicemail was I went to the GV website www.google.com/voice, clicked settings at the top right, choose voice settings, and you should have your phone listed as one of the phones (you needed to add it to activate Google Voice), and next to it click "Activate Google voicemail on this phone". Then it will determine what carrier you have (in this case Virgin Mobile) and what steps you need to do to set it up to forward correctly. I believe that only AFTER you do this step, will you have the correct options under settings. This way you can easily switch between Google vm and the regular vm if you ever need to. As least this is how I understood it. If that does not work, reinstalling the GV app couldn't hurt. I definitely think there's a way for you to set it up, but you might need to end up starting from scratch like you were saying if you can't get it figured out.

EDIT: Also, about reinstalling the Google Voice app... theoretically, it should not affect your SIPDroid/PBX/Global GV settings. When I say Global GV settings I am referring to the settings you can change by going to "www.google.com/voice". This SIPDroid/PBX setup should be completely separate from the Google Voice app so you should be good to go if you decide to do that.
 
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