Archive for August, 2009
Google Voice + Gizmo5 + Siphon = iPhone App Calls
(VOICETALK.ORG) — Imagine receiving free calls to your Google Voice number on your iPhone anywhere in the world —or at the most — for outgoing calls just a few cents per minute. Now that Gizmo5 has enabled support for Google Voice, this is now made possible on the iPhone. While there is no native Gizmo5 app for the iPhone, you can configure Siphon which is available via Cydia for jailbroken iPhones.
Here are the steps to perform this operation, and don’t worry — it doesn’t involve any high tech wizardry or jumping through hoops of fire. To perform this gravity defying feat, you’ll need the following:
- WIFI or a broadband data plan like 3G or EDGE
- Google Voice account (invites take about a week)
- Gizmo5 account (account setup is free)
- Jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch
- Siphon App via Cydia
Steps
1) Login to gizmo5
2) Enter your Google Voice phone number in the My Account section and click the ON radio button then Save. Don’t modify the settings in the lower sections such as Call Forwarding (no forwarding / none) or else the validation in step 4 may not work.
3) After installing Siphon from Cydia, go to your Settings on the iPhone and look for the Siphon section. Enter the following configuration data:
Username: Gizmo5 SIP Number
Password: Gizmo5 Password
Server: proxy01.sipphone.com
Under Network Settings, set “Siphon over EDGE/3G” to ON.
4) Login to Google Voice to verify your Gizmo5 number by going to Settings (top right corner) > Phones (tab). For the Phone Type, select Gizmo in the drop down box. Make sure Siphon is open on your iPhone. Pick up the call when you receive it on your iPhone and enter the verification code.
After validation, you can receive incoming calls for free or make outgoing calls at 1.9 cents per minute after the first 3 minutes which are free plus your recipients will see your Google Voice number in their caller ID.
Optional: If you have Google Voice already forwarding to your iPhone, in order to receive calls via Siphon you would need to disable your GSM number within the Google Voice settings since the iPhone will answer using the GSM provider first. This is simply done with unchecking the check mark.
The blue GSM button on the Siphon dial pad is to use your normal mobile phone carrier’s network while the green SIP button is for your VOIP usage through Gizmo5.
NOTE: There are other Jailbroken iPhone apps that can enhance your experience. (1) Backgrounder can keep Siphon running in the background to get free incoming calls.
Google Voice Immediately Available for Military
(VOICETALK.ORG) — In a brilliant patriotic move, the company with a credo of ”do no evil” is now allowing immediate availability of Google Voice to military personnel.
The Official Google Blog had a special guest blogger, Sergeant Dale Sweetnam, to announce a special Google Voice invitation that grants access within a day vs. the average wait time of a week or up to a month for civilians.
Sweetnam states, “I flew in Black Hawks over Balad and Baghdad working to generate news coverage about my fellow soldiers. The whole experience was physically and emotionally draining, but it was especially difficult when I called home at the end of the day and nobody was there to answer.”
Intended Use
The Google Voice service is probably not meant for live calling on the battlefield such as, “Sorry dear, I’m in the middle of bombing attack, can we discuss Bonnie’s poor grades at a later time?” The service is intended more for when a soldier gets back to a tent with Internet access so he can check voicemail and respond from a computer — SMS might actually be best.
Assistance with Account Creation
Many soldiers may find that their account cannot be created outside of the United States borders since Google restricts foreign IP addresses. Military personnel might need assistance from family or friends within the confines of the United States to complete the account providing the intended area code for use.
References
See the Official Google Blog for a special link to military personnel with valid .MIL email addresses.
Google Voice Competitor 3jam Arises
(VOICETALK.ORG) — 3jam, a San Francisco startup, has announced open beta of a new service that competes directly with Google Voice. 3jam began its debut within the SMS niche back in June 2008 with SuperText technology to route messages to a computer or mobile device, but they have apparently shifted gears with the voice routing business model.
Many of the features duplicate that of Google Voice including call-forwarding, visual voicemail, voicemail transcription, and SMS to email. A few things different include:
- Number portability which is currently proposed but not offerred by Google Voice.
- VOIP forwarding to Skype and other IM voice services such as Yahoo Messenger.
- International availability
- Service Charge
As noted above, a major difference separating 3jam from that of Google Voice is the premium service charge. The site promotes for “as little as $4.99 per month” with a 12 month committment, a 3 month bundle for $5.99 or pay per month at $8.99. Texting plans start at $5 a month.
FCC Questions Apple & AT&T About Google Voice Rejections
(VOICETALK.ORG) — Both Apple and AT&T are getting a little heat in regards to fair trade practices. Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sent letters to Apple and AT&T questioning the rejection of the official Google’s iPhone application for Google Voice and the prompt removal earlier this week of two previously available App Store submissions GV Mobile and VoiceCentral. Apple was asked if they acted alone or if there was any influence by AT&T, the exclusive wireless provider for the iPhone.
A Google spokesperson said earlier this week that they would continue to pursue other possible technologies that would possibly involve the web browser to deliver the Google Voice service to the iPhone.
The head of the FCC’s wireless division, James D. Schlichting asked in the letter:
Did Apple act alone, or in consultation with AT&T, in deciding to reject the Google Voice application and related applications? If the latter, please describe the communications between Apple and AT&T in connection with the decision to reject Google Voice.
Chairman Julius Genachowski stated that the FCC “has a mission to foster a competitive wireless marketplace, protect and empower consumers, and promote innovation and investment,” adding, “Recent news reports raise questions about practices in the mobile marketplace.” Both companies have been asked to respond by August 21. It should be noted that the letters are not formal investigations.