using GMAIL CALL from compiuter

[Donald]

Has anyone tried this? It seems to work fine except the caller is from Calif and lot of people don't expect that and do not answer. I used it with the laptops mic & speaker and I needed to be at just the right distance or it would break up. Maybe a headset?

Basically I was using my cell as a WIFI hot spot and needed to do a few conf. calls while my internet was working. My phone cannot do that.

 

[LeakySeals]

I haven't. But Skype has conferencing, call forwarding, etc. Been using Skype for years as my home phone. There are several cordless devices that run Skype straight from the router, no PC.

Try loading on your PC, see what happens. Does your phone support the Skype app?

 

[rjundi]

I have a google voice number for my business (free) that uses the same technology. I use this # for unlimited free calling to canada & us and it allows the usage of gmail like you are. The # is what I give out for business purposes. Basically Google Voice is a forward to any phone or computer/gmail. It also lets you call out with your housephone by making the connection, eg it rings your phone then starts dialing out when you pick up.

 

[dparm]

There is no desktop app for Google Voice. They don't allow that.

 

[kschachn]

I don't use Google Voice from my computer, but I have several accounts connected through Obihai devices (one is my home phone and two are business lines). All work very well considering it is more or less free. I ported my home landline number to GV (via a disposable cell phone) and the two business numbers are new. We also have a traditional landline for the business, the GV numbers are used as unpublished day-to-day contact lines.

Check out the Obihai devices if you are interested.

 

[javacontour]

No but there are apps for smart phones and even the iPad. We used Google Voice over wi-fi to call back home during our Italy trip.

I used GrooveIP on my Android phone. I think the iPhone/iPad app is TalkaTone or something like that.

Originally Posted By: dparm
There is no desktop app for Google Voice. They don't allow that.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dparm
There is no desktop app for Google Voice. They don't allow that.

But the Google Voice interface is built into Gmail, so if you have gmail open in your browser, you can receive and make calls through google voice.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: dparm
There is no desktop app for Google Voice. They don't allow that.

But the Google Voice interface is built into Gmail, so if you have gmail open in your browser, you can receive and make calls through google voice.

This has me curious being a Skype user. Looks to me like its basically the same as Skype. Gmail to Gmail its free, but when you hop off and start calling landlines, the carrier fees kick in.
http://gizmodo.com/5654683/how-to-replace-your-landline-with-google-voice

There is a live chat plugin, would appear this is an enhancement for Gamil to Gmail phone calls
https://www.google.com/chat/video/

So...If all the people your conferencing with are attached to Gmail voice, should work both ways...If they are on office phones or cellphones, there is a fee if you call them. If they call you it may remain free, a test will confirm.

 

[LeakySeals]

To expand a little on why I think Skype and Google Voice are basically the same. Skype to Skype - Free. Google Voice to Google Voice - Free. From the article google gives out free phone numbers, but charges $10 a month to call landlines. $120 a year. Skype charges a yearly fee for the number and a monthly fee to connect to landlines. $30.00 a year for the number + $2.99 = $66 a year.

 

[javacontour]

I've never paid a penny to call or get calls on Google voice. Domestic calls to any number on Google Voice are free. You only pay if you are making international calls.

Even when I was in Italy using the hotel or restaurant wi-fi, calls to the US "looked" like domestic calls to Google Voice, I.E. free.

I called my mom, my daughter, my MIL, American Airlines, all free, none were a Google Voice number.

 

[dparm]

Google Voice can make and receive calls within North America for free, even to landlines and cell phones. I use it all the time for that.

 

[LeakySeals]

So much for that article.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: dparm
There is no desktop app for Google Voice. They don't allow that.


You use the browser with Gmail to use your desktop.

There is a third party Android app that I use on my Nexus 7 tablet to use Google Voice to make calls. I think they would allow a desktop app if anyone bothered to develop it.

 

[Donald]

To toss in some more info, Vonage has a voice app I could have used on my smartphone. I do not think you need to be a Vonage customer. But I am. Oddly when I called someone the caller id was that of my cell phone. Vonage says the sound is in HD.

How to get a Google number to receive? Is that free.

 

[Quattro Pete]

https://www.google.com/voice/

click the little "SIGN UP" button in the top right corner.