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I am thinking about just keeping the data plan on tmobile and canceling the voice plan and text plan and use gv to make calls and texts. What you guys think?
If someone texts you, they will charge you. Get unlimited data and text, I think that's better. I wouldnt just rely on data. No data means your phone is an expensive brick.
leyvatron said:
If someone texts you, they will charge you. Get unlimited data and text, I think that's better. I wouldnt just rely on data. No data means your phone is an expensive brick.
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i said keeping the data..and just the data no voice service. is that possible?
You can I am thinking about this myself you would need to set up a SIP account and something at pbx.org
Google Voice is not a VOIP service. Google Voice forwards calls dialed to your GV number to some other phone number(s), be they cell, land or sip/voip lines.
Your solution would only work if you have an active and functional sip/voip connection up and running on your phone full time.
GV text messages will work on data only accounts, though.
distortedloop said:
Google Voice is not a VOIP service. Google Voice forwards calls dialed to your GV number to some other phone number(s), be they cell, land or sip/voip lines.
Your solution would only work if you have an active and functional sip/voip connection up and running on your phone full time.
GV text messages will work on data only accounts, though.
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i have vonage for home phone service is that good?
2012iawait said:
i have vonage for home phone service is that good?
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No, that won't work. Your problem is that the phone has to have some way for the Google Voice server to send it a phone call. This is done by sending it to a phone number (or a gmail web account on a laptop/sesktop with the appropriate browser plug-in).
The phone number can be any phone number (land, cell, voip, sip, whatever).
If you cancel your voice service on the phone, the only way GV has to contact the phone is the data connection, which means you'll need a working SIP account.
The Nexus S does support SIP calling out of the box (but I'm not sure if it's over WiFi only). The setup for it is done in Settings, Call settings, Accounts. You'll need a server and account info. Then tell Google Voice to forward calls to that account, and they should forward to the phone that way (in theory).
Note the warning that having the phone receive internet calls (SIP) comes with a warning that it "reduces battery life." The reason for this is that to ensure you don't miss a call, a full time data connection will have to be maintained; this will be a serious battery drain on the phone I believe.
The point I was trying to make was that Google Voice is not really a VOIP solution the way traditional VOIP services are. It's more like one than it used to be now that you can actually make and receive calls from a web browser, but that won't work on the cell phone, especially for the incoming.
I may try setting up a SIP account on my phone to test this out sometime this week; but frankly, T-Mobile's 3G service is so spotty, especially inside buildings, that it would never serve as an acceptable voice service replacement. YMMV.
I use Google Voice with a data plan but no text plan. I do have a voice plan. You need to give out your GV number to everyone for texts, and then you can block texts through T-mobile and not worry about charges. GV doesn't support picture messaging and if someone sends you a picture message at your GV number it just disappears into the aether and doesn't notify you or the other person that it wasn't received.
There are ways of using GV without paying anything (detailed on this forum). Using a gizmo5 account allows for free incoming calls, and using an app to have your outgoing calls "call you back" on your gizmo5 account allows for free outgoing calls.
I have to disagree about the battery life and GV not being a true VOIP solution. With the addition of a SIP carrier of some kind (preferably gizmo5 for free calls) then it works well. Battery life is fine having my phone constantly registered with gizmo5 servers over data to accept incoming VOIP calls. No need to use a web browser.
But I have to agree with distortedloop about needing a high quality data connection. Unless you spend all your time near a 3g tower you're going to find plenty of times when you have no 3g data and therefore no good calling. You don't want to use VOIP over EDGE. It is nice that when I'm at home or office where I have my own reliable WIFI that I can use my cell without using any minutes. But I wouldn't trust it to be available when your car breaks down on some rural road.
Belarios said:
I use Google Voice with a data plan but no text plan. I do have a voice plan. You need to give out your GV number to everyone for texts, and then you can block texts through T-mobile and not worry about charges. GV doesn't support picture messaging and if someone sends you a picture message at your GV number it just disappears into the aether and doesn't notify you or the other person that it wasn't received.
There are ways of using GV without paying anything (detailed on this forum). Using a gizmo5 account allows for free incoming calls, and using an app to have your outgoing calls "call you back" on your gizmo5 account allows for free outgoing calls.
I have to disagree about the battery life and GV not being a true VOIP solution. With the addition of a SIP carrier of some kind (preferably gizmo5 for free calls) then it works well. Battery life is fine having my phone constantly registered with gizmo5 servers over data to accept incoming VOIP calls. No need to use a web browser.
But I have to agree with distortedloop about needing a high quality data connection. Unless you spend all your time near a 3g tower you're going to find plenty of times when you have no 3g data and therefore no good calling. You don't want to use VOIP over EDGE. It is nice that when I'm at home or office where I have my own reliable WIFI that I can use my cell without using any minutes. But I wouldn't trust it to be available when your car breaks down on some rural road.
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I agree with this.
GV is something I wouldn't rely on 100%.
I have the cheapest voice plan with unlimited data and text. When I make calls, I use GV and when I receive I have my voice. That works for me and I pay 67 a month.
So, yeah, I used 5GB and got throttled to 2G speeds by TMO. I'm not really complaining since this wasn't a normal month for me. What does suck, however, is that now when I get a Google Voice call, it keeps cutting out during the conversation which is really, really bad. This is because the 2G connection simply doesn't provide enough bandwidth for GV to work well. (When I'm not on wifi and using the throttled 2G.) I know there isn't really anything to be done about it, just pointing out that it sucks.
Word ^^^^
You'll just have to wait until you get a computer, then you can listen to it.
c00ller said:
You'll just have to wait until you get a computer, then you can listen to it.
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He's talking about phone calls over google voice it looks like, not voice mails. This would most likely be the reason he hit the limit.
Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using xda premium
lawalty said:
Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
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Its only that expensive if you want unlimited minutes to land lines. Their base plan is $70 and has unlimited calling to any mobile (not just sprint, but any mobile phone) along with unlimited text and data. Its actually a really good deal, but CDMA/WiMax sucks so bad... I really don't think I can pay more for worse speed and locked devices lol.
brfield said:
He's talking about phone calls over google voice it looks like, not voice mails. This would most likely be the reason he hit the limit.
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Oops, my bad! That is certainly a bummer.
Yep, I'm talking about voice calls through Google Voice. The thing is - I'd be willing to pay like $30 to get another 5GB of high-speed data until my next billing cycle, but there is no way to do that, I'm just stuck! (The data this month was definitely an exception - I'm typically around more like 2.5 GB for the month.) The funny thing is (as Lawalty mentioned) that I've been watching Sprint closely and am seriously considering switching to them in 2012. I guess I'm not the only one.
Originally Posted by lawalty
Damn! I'm soooo tempted to chuck t-mobile and go with sprint's truly unlimited plan. Its just way to much money though! $99.99 (before tax) + $10 4g speed upgrade - man that can break me!
Its only that expensive if you want unlimited minutes to land lines. Their base plan is $70 and has unlimited calling to any mobile (not just sprint, but any mobile phone) along with unlimited text and data. Its actually a really good deal, but CDMA/WiMax sucks so bad... I really don't think I can pay more for worse speed and locked devices lol.
I haven't ever gone over my 5 GB cap, but i'm looking to get away from T-Mo bcause of their impending merger with the Evil Empire. I originally left AT&T and took my iPhone (original 2G) to T-Mo cause I was fed up with AT&T's crappy coverage and high fees, so I certainly don't want to give them any more of my monies.
I just haven't found a plan similar to T-Mo's Flexpay on any other carrier. I don't want a 2 year contract. That was the thing I loved most about T-Mo, I never had a contract with them, and sometimes I skip whole months without paying for service, but I still get to keep the same plan. Plus, they pro-rate the cost of my monthly bill.
If I could find something like that with Sprint or Verizon, then I would certainly switch.
I had flexpay and it was a pita! Eventually had to make a new account just to upgrade! Now they think I've only been with then a year when I've been with them 7! Oh well.
You must be using GV + SIP to make VOIP calls instead of 'regular' use of GV, which uses a cellphone connection and so your minutes. I've used GV on T-Mobile for business for years, thousands of minutes a month, and with negligible impact on data usage. GV only uses data to login to my GV account and to download the voicemail audio files.
T-Mo's unlimted voice, text, and data (1st 2GB unthrottled, plenty for me) for $50/mo is by far the best deal available.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
Crashdamage said:
You must be using GV + SIP to make VOIP calls instead of 'regular' use of GV, which uses a cellphone connection and so your minutes. I've used GV on T-Mobile for business for years, thousands of minutes a month, and with negligible impact on data usage. GV only uses data to login to my GV account and to download the voicemail audio files.
T-Mo's unlimted voice, text, and data (1st 2GB unthrottled, plenty for me) for $50/mo is by far the best deal available.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
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I should have clarified that - my data usage was not due to GV, I went over the 5GB limit due to tethering during an internet outage at home for a couple of days. GV seems to still use some type of control connection or something that causes the calls to cut out frequently when you are on a really slow connection. (My speed tests while I've been throttled have always shown less than 64kbps.) I'm not sure how it works, I just know that GV worked great for me until I got throttled.
Makes no sense. I often make perfectly good GV calls out in the boonies with no data connection at all. GV uses a standard cellphone connection like any other call. Your data speed has zero to do with call quality.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
Crashdamage said:
Makes no sense. I often make perfectly good GV calls out in the boonies with no data connection at all. GV uses a standard cellphone connection like any other call. Your data speed has zero to do with call quality.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
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I'm not sure about that, The Google Voice troubleshooter states:
"If you’re using a mobile device, ensure that your carrier network connection is strong."
Which would indicate to me that you do need a data connection. I've only noticed this on incoming calls, so maybe outgoing calls are different. In any case, later tonight I'll run some bandwidth tests on my router at home and make some GV calls while on wifi to see how much bw it looks like it is using (if any.)
mralexsays said:
I'm not sure about that, The Google Voice troubleshooter states:
"If you’re using a mobile device, ensure that your carrier network connection is strong."
Which would indicate to me that you do need a data connection. I've only noticed this on incoming calls, so maybe outgoing calls are different. In any case, later tonight I'll run some bandwidth tests on my router at home and make some GV calls while on wifi to see how much bw it looks like it is using (if any.)
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Crashdamage is correct.
Google Voice only uses data for two things:
1) text messaging
2) whenever you place an outgoing call, it will ask the Google servers what "Voice" number it should call (instead of whoever's regular number) so that it will display as your Google Voice number on the receiving end's caller ID. If your GV app is updated, it should only have to do this once per person. Once it has that number, it places a call to it through your regular cell phone connection.
Incoming calls don't use the data at all; Google's servers will receive a call placed to your Google Voice number, and they will reroute the call instead through your cell phone connection to your cell number.
The clarity problems you're having have to do with your service provider and the signal strength you have at any given location. It has nothing to do with your throttled data connections. I only get 2G service where I live, and I've never had any problems using Google Voice for making calls.
skmpowdjy said:
Crashdamage is correct.
Google Voice only uses data for two things:
1) text messaging
2) whenever you place an outgoing call, it will ask the Google servers what "Voice" number it should call (instead of whoever's regular number) so that it will display as your Google Voice number on the receiving end's caller ID. If your GV app is updated, it should only have to do this once per person. Once it has that number, it places a call to it through your regular cell phone connection.
Incoming calls don't use the data at all; Google's servers will receive a call placed to your Google Voice number, and they will reroute the call instead through your cell phone connection to your cell number.
The clarity problems you're having have to do with your service provider and the signal strength you have at any given location.
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OK, that's good to know, thanks. It's just weird that someone can call me on GV and it is all cut-out sounding, then call me right back on the regular number and it is fine (same location.)
Possible (but unlikely) GV itself is having some kinda technical problem cleanly routing your calls. But your data connection has nothing to do with it. Also could be a problem with the service of the person calling you. Make sure the issue exists with all GV calls, not just from certain people using your GV number.
From HTC G2 with xda premium.
Yep, ran a few tests while connected to wifi - bandwidth graph on tomato showed no real bandwidth usage during the call. Will have to figure out if my problem lies elsewhere.
So I've got a new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge on AT&T wireless, whom I have been a customer of since the late 90's.
When I try to call my home phone, which is U-verse Voice service (on AT&T), it goes straight to my U-verse voicemail. If I disable "Enhanced LTE Services" under mobile networks/data settings (which also disables HD Voice when I call other AT&T HD Voice-enabled phones) it works fine.
I have tried a calling a few U-verse Voice lines, including my own, with Enhanced LTE Services enabled, and it happens with all of them, so I assume there is a bug of some sort between the hand-off from the wireless to the VoIP network and some confusion causing the problem.
I can call traditional POTS lines and VoIP lines to other providers with zero issues, with Enhanced LTE enabled or disabled.
My wife has an HD Voice enabled Galaxy S5 that can reach my U-verse Voice line with no issues as well, so it seems specific to the Galaxy S7.
I am on baseband version G935AUCU2APD1 and build number MMB29M.G935AUCU2APD1 (the latest, AFAIK).
Any ideas or suggestions on how to get this issue pushed up the line as a bug in the baseband?
SuperSync said:
So I've got a new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge on AT&T wireless, whom I have been a customer of since the late 90's.
When I try to call my home phone, which is U-verse Voice service (on AT&T), it goes straight to my U-verse voicemail. If I disable "Enhanced LTE Services" under mobile networks/data settings (which also disables HD Voice when I call other AT&T HD Voice-enabled phones) it works fine.
I have tried a calling a few U-verse Voice lines, including my own, with Enhanced LTE Services enabled, and it happens with all of them, so I assume there is a bug of some sort between the hand-off from the wireless to the VoIP network and some confusion causing the problem.
I can call traditional POTS lines and VoIP lines to other providers with zero issues, with Enhanced LTE enabled or disabled.
My wife has an HD Voice enabled Galaxy S5 that can reach my U-verse Voice line with no issues as well, so it seems specific to the Galaxy S7.
I am on baseband version G935AUCU2APD1 and build number MMB29M.G935AUCU2APD1 (the latest, AFAIK).
Any ideas or suggestions on how to get this issue pushed up the line as a bug in the baseband?
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You're gonna want to call at&t tier 2 tech support & submit a trouble ticket. It may be a simple fix or a complicated mess but either way that's where it all starts. Call 800-331-0500 from another line if you can in case they want to troubleshoot with you on the line. Tell the rep who answers that you already talked to tech support & they said you need tier 2
I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.
I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.
chitin said:
I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.
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By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.
jjchdc said:
By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.
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I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
acejavelin said:
I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.
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Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.
chitin said:
I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.
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It can... Install the Google Voice app or use the Hangouts Dialer plugin.and it can run completely on data.
thats what i am planning to do when i go to the carribean for a few months. i dont have tmobile but when i get there im going to do google voice on one of my phones and a simcard from there for another. check your prices though because what i found is amazing over there. so which ever works cheapest i may go with, but i have been integrated with google voice for years with sprint
30 Day 10 GB $30.00 a month/US
I own a SM-G935V that I'm using with Tracfone. It's running 7.0/Nougat, patch level 4/1/2017. On another forum, here's what I wrote:
I've run multiple tests on this and it turns out that if I reboot my phone, I do not get reconnected to cell service unless I make an outgoing telephone call.
The reason why I didn't notice this is because I use Google Voice for about 99% of my SMS communication. So here's the test I ran:
1. Reboot phone, wait until it comes back online and I have bars and 4G on my status bar
2. Call my phone from another phone -- goes straight to voicemail
3. Send SMS via phone's SMS -- goes to pending and is never sent
4. Make an outgoing phone call not using Google Voice but my cell network resolves the issue
I've changed the network from Global to LTE/CDMA, but it makes no difference. I've also turned off the wifi and tried to see if I would be denied for data access, but that is not so -- I can visit websites without any issue. But doing that DOES NOT reconnect me to my cell network. So it seems that since I'm using 4G/LTE for data, that authentication is separate from the cell authentication.
I got a response from another user that's experienced the same issue. He said he had no problems with Verizon prepaid SIM but the same exact thing with a Tracfone Verizon-piggybacked SIM. His solution was to push an unbranded firmware on it.
I'd rather not go this route if I can help it since the phone works well and this is the only issue I've encountered. Any suggestions?