Google Voice Talk » Tips

Google Voice + Gizmo5 + Siphon = iPhone App Calls

chi — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:43:16 +0000

(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.

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Gizmo5 Now Charging for Google Voice Outgoing Calls

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Upgrading Grand Central to Google Voice

chi — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:18:04 +0000

(VOICETALK.ORG) — All Grand Central users are being encouraged to migrate to Google Voice upon notification that their account is ready. This is being done in an orderly fashion and each individual is being notified via email and also with a notification on top of their Grand Central account upon login. It seems as if the notification goes out to the more frequent users than those that rarely use their accounts.

There are a few things you should be prepared for before migration especially if you are deeply entrenched into the Grand Central schematics.

Voicemail

All of your stored voicemail will be lost after the migration. So, if you need to save those recordings, then you are encouraged to do so.

Contacts

Make sure you go through your contacts and have them backed up elsewhere. If you’ve added your entire contact list to Grand Central, they will not be migrated to Google Voice. You might see your Gmail Contacts but you won’t have any phone numbers migrated over from Grand Central. You don’t have to perform this manually. Fortunately, there is a feature to export your Grand Central Address Book and Google Voice has a feature to import your contacts list.

User Interface (UI)

The Google Voice layout is vastly different than the Grand Central UI. Remember, this is designed by Google and not made for eye candy. It’ll take a little getting used to but one thing to keep in mind — it’s still in beta.

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How to Get Free Unlimited Calls

chi — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:06:16 +0000

(VOICETALK.ORG) — The phone companies are afraid. They should be. Google Voice will allow their customers to get free unlimited inbound and outbound calls domestically.

Mobile Phones

Many mobile phone services allow for a certain add-on plan that allow customers to call a few select numbers at an unlimited rate – basically free and unmetered (ie. myFaves, My Circle, Friends & Family, Pick 3). If you add your Google Voice number as one of your select “favorite” numbers, then any time you call Google Voice to make an outbound call (option 2), those minutes won’t be counted against you. Since you can use Google Voice to basically call anywhere, you will never have to worry about going over your allotted minutes.

Land Lines

For use with land lines, the same concept applies. You should always subscribe to the lowest available local calling plan. Any outbound calls should be made to your local Google Voice number, then press option 2 to make a call elsewhere. Of course, you’ll usually get unlimited inbound calls which is free with most plans.

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