Have used google voice number for years to have home and mobile phones ring and for voicemail. Easy to switch mobile providers and not worry about trying to transfer phone number etc. Use GV as basic texting, texts are pushed to phone, tablet, PC. But have never used GV to make phone calls over WiFi or Cellular data (not voice minutes). Keep hearing it is possible but don’t know how to setup. Is there a how to ?
Google Voice over WiFi and/or data How To ?
- Thread starter Firtree
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B and C
Well-known member
I don't know about a how to but I use "Hangouts Dialer" (Android). Unknown if there is a IPhone one. It is a straightforward setup. Register it with the email for your GV account.
frater secessus
Well-known member
As John says, it just pretty much works. Google voice is a godsend.
If TMO+Sprint are good enough geographic coverage for you, best way to use it is Google Fi, full gVoice integration with a nice handset.
Nexus 6 can be found for under $100 these days.
Super cheap international use, reasonable PAYG 4G data, goes to full unlimited at $60.
Nexus 6 can be found for under $100 these days.
Super cheap international use, reasonable PAYG 4G data, goes to full unlimited at $60.
B and C
Well-known member
Wifi only AFAIK whether it be free at the local library or a hotspot. I have an old android phone with it installed with no plan on it at all that I use Hangouts Dialer with connected to either of the above or a MD or coffee shop, etc.Firtree said:
No need for WiFi if you have a strong cheap LTE connection, all VoIP will use either.
TextNow is another good alternative, if you stick to free just use it at least once a week to hold onto your number. Low as $9 a month gets you a SIM with either Sprint or TMO's network, but the app can run using the same number across all your screen devices.
TextNow is another good alternative, if you stick to free just use it at least once a week to hold onto your number. Low as $9 a month gets you a SIM with either Sprint or TMO's network, but the app can run using the same number across all your screen devices.
To everyone: I am not an expert in this but I can relay some of my experience to others. Be careful and test beforehand to see if using Google Voice will use your cell plan minutes. Don't go by what your cell carrier representative tells you because most of them haven't a clue, yet they will act as if their word is truth.
I tested it out on an iphone and the call I made using GV went to some unknown number first and asked me to enter my number so I hung up. I noticed that my cell plan was charged for the call so it was no advantage to use GV over internet.
I have an old GSMA phone without any cell service on it. But I can connect to WiFi and make a call using only Google Voice... for free over the internet.
Next, Hangouts works differently on a GSMA phone than on a CDMA phone. One will allow a call in Hangouts only to other Hangouts members. The other allows Google Voice calls to anyone using Hangouts.
I hope others who are more effective at explaining things than I am will do some quality educating of the rest of us on this Thread.
Thanks
I tested it out on an iphone and the call I made using GV went to some unknown number first and asked me to enter my number so I hung up. I noticed that my cell plan was charged for the call so it was no advantage to use GV over internet.
I have an old GSMA phone without any cell service on it. But I can connect to WiFi and make a call using only Google Voice... for free over the internet.
Next, Hangouts works differently on a GSMA phone than on a CDMA phone. One will allow a call in Hangouts only to other Hangouts members. The other allows Google Voice calls to anyone using Hangouts.
I hope others who are more effective at explaining things than I am will do some quality educating of the rest of us on this Thread.
Thanks
Pretty sure Hangouts is on the way out.
I have several gVoice accounts, but don't use it for outbound anymore.
Best would be to research here, following links and taking notes
https://lifehacker.com/tag/google-voice
https://www.google.com/search?q=google-voice+OR+gvoice+howto
and these threads at HoFo https://www.google.com/search?q=site:howardforums.com+google-voice+OR+gvoice
And if that isn't enough, post a Q there in an appropriate subforum.
More techie https://www.google.com/search?q=site:dslreports.com+Google-Voice+OR+gvoice
____
Or just use TextNow for free and user-friendly VoIP
I have several gVoice accounts, but don't use it for outbound anymore.
Best would be to research here, following links and taking notes
https://lifehacker.com/tag/google-voice
https://www.google.com/search?q=google-voice+OR+gvoice+howto
and these threads at HoFo https://www.google.com/search?q=site:howardforums.com+google-voice+OR+gvoice
And if that isn't enough, post a Q there in an appropriate subforum.
More techie https://www.google.com/search?q=site:dslreports.com+Google-Voice+OR+gvoice
____
Or just use TextNow for free and user-friendly VoIP
Google Voice start beta testing for calling via wifi or data with Googlevoice app.
If you want to take part in this:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/voice/aI7m1PrV21Y
Go to this website and apply for it.
I started the beta test last month and it works great up till now. I don't have to keep Hangouts app anymore.
Also, GV app is much better than that of Freedompop. So from now on, you could have totally free cell: GV app+ Freedompop data
If you want to take part in this:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/voice/aI7m1PrV21Y
Go to this website and apply for it.
I started the beta test last month and it works great up till now. I don't have to keep Hangouts app anymore.
Also, GV app is much better than that of Freedompop. So from now on, you could have totally free cell: GV app+ Freedompop data
frater secessus
Well-known member
RMtnMik said:
My understanding (from hofo and others): for the first call to any given number, Voice will make a cell call to figure out the mapping between their bank of numbers, your actual number, and your GV number. After that, any calls to that number will go over pure data (if available).
This is new behavior, I think. I've used a Google number for many years and had not experienced it before.
ChrisFix
Member
Not sure if anybody cares about this, but I thought I'd try to clarify how Google Voice and Hangouts are actually quite different...
GV always uses carrier minutes and requires an active cellular voice account on the phone you're using. It routes all outgoing voice calls through a Google Voice "gateway" or "access" number, and it uses your phones voice plan to do that (i.e. your carrier minutes).
There is a beta of a new version of GV that will change that, and provide an option for true data voice calling, but that's strictly beta and limited for now.
Hangouts Dialer is a VoIP service, and only uses data for voice calling - that data can be your cellular data or wifi...it doesn't care as long as there is a data connection to the internet. Hangouts Dialer is great and works well. It connects with your full contact list and works almost exactly like your phones main dialer. It requires a GV number to work, but never uses carrier minutes, and doesn't require a carrier voice plan.
GV always uses carrier minutes and requires an active cellular voice account on the phone you're using. It routes all outgoing voice calls through a Google Voice "gateway" or "access" number, and it uses your phones voice plan to do that (i.e. your carrier minutes).
There is a beta of a new version of GV that will change that, and provide an option for true data voice calling, but that's strictly beta and limited for now.
Hangouts Dialer is a VoIP service, and only uses data for voice calling - that data can be your cellular data or wifi...it doesn't care as long as there is a data connection to the internet. Hangouts Dialer is great and works well. It connects with your full contact list and works almost exactly like your phones main dialer. It requires a GV number to work, but never uses carrier minutes, and doesn't require a carrier voice plan.
