Using Google Voice from overseas
 

I'm sure this has been answered -- I did do a search here as well as on google's forum and most replies are over one year old.

I only recently discovered that one can now call directly from gmail account using their google voice number without having to use/go through either a linked landline or mobile number.

So I told my son in Taiwan to try calling home using google voice directly via his pc. No luck. When he calls, our phone at home rings but can only leave a message. When I call his GV, same - can only leave voice mail. And of course, he gets an email alert. Interesting, text messages can be sent back and forth.

Can someone confirm whether it's possible to make a call back stateside when overseas?

Don't think you can, but not sure exactly. If he is going to be there a while you should look into this device from Obihai. Huge thread going on about it over at SlickDeals. Pick it up on Amazon for $50

http://voxilla.com/2011/01/24/how-to...alls-free-2512

yes
 

i have used it successfully from england via the hotel wi-fi and my gmail page.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/...5d63274d&hl=en
says only some european and north america, etc, but it is worth a try.

If you have an Android phone, checkout SipDroid (free from the Android Marketplace). It has great integration with Google and permits VOIP in and out calls over Google Voice. For inbound, be sure to forward the calls to your GoogleTalk account. The program is free and includes a VPN which can help where you have firewall problems.

I've used the browser client sucessfully from abroad. I had a vpn running, but I THINK it worked without the VPN too.

If you have iPhones, try skype. Free mobile to mobile or pc calls.

Yes it does. I've done it from the UK, France, Italy, India and Germany. Ill try Asia and Australia next month.

Thanks, I ll try this.

Appreciate if you'd keep me updated on Asia when you try next month. So far it's not working from Taiwan.

In Israel I go to voice.google.com and get:


Google Voice is not available in your country.
Thanks for visiting Google Voice. We're not yet open for users outside the US, but are planning to expand our service to additional countries in the future.

If you are using Gmail on your Mac you can make free calls back to the US. Generally, if your computer detects that you are not in the US, it will disable the ability to call directly from Gmail. Here is what you need to do in order to make little phone icon appear on your Gmail account again: Go to hotspotshield.com and download a little program that will hide your location (your IP address). After installing Hotspot Shield you will be able to make calls from your Gmail account to the US for free. You will also will be able to stream US specific/region restricted video services such as Netflix and show episodes from NBC/CBS/ABC/FOX.

I would recommend uninstalling hotspotshield after you come back to the US. It does come with some annoying ads. Use AppZapper from http://appzapper.com/. It's free for the first couple of zaps.

I was lucky enough to get BlackBerry unlimited international data plan that ATT was offering at one time. I just tether to my Mac and my Gmail is my phone! Also I have Skype and the whole internet too for that matter. Love it!

Install Talkatone on your iPhone or other compatible mobile device and you can use Google Voice anywhere in the world where you have wifi signal. It works over 3G as well, but if you're data roaming, that wouldn't be a good idea.

Thanks, this is helpful, and using VPN makes sense to mask location.

My Google Voice works fine from many countries. I'm in Indonesia, and it works fine. Worked good in Paraguay, and either Hong Kong or China, can't remember which. I'll be going to SIN, BKK, HKG and mainland China and will try these locations.

I've tried using Hotspot Shield for locations that didn't work, and could never connect with the person.

Cant find it on Android market. Sipdroid didnt work for me at all.

Maybe I'm not using it right. How are you accessing Google Voice?

I only know of one way to access it. Through my gmail account. Has a tab that says, "Call Phone". Click on it, and enter the phone number. In countries that it doesn't work in, it doesn't show up in gmail.

What's the diff between this and skype?
 

Sorry to intrude, but how is this google VOIP service different from skype?

I've had no problem using it from a lot of countries -- most EU countries, many Asian countries and most countries in the Americas. More often I do this without a VPN (to the US), but sometimes with a VPN.

Accessing it via Gmail account or -- less often -- google.com/voice after being logged into the Gmail account has worked pretty well for me.

In a variety of places overseas I use Google Voice in conjunction with Vonage or something like it and have usually had no problems whatsoever.

Skype to skype is free, but non skype numbers say dialed from the UK to the US will be charged. With GV, you can call anyone in the US and Canada.

Thanks
 

I just added Talkatone to my IPod Touch and it works perfectly. I was wondering how do I make it so my home/cellphone registered numbers ring into my phone and not access my voicemail when it says"to access your account please enter your pin". I want to only be able to access my voicemail on my IPod Touch and deregister my cellphone etc.

This is going to save me tons of money so I can check my voicemails on my cell and call overseas. I still have $10.00 credit and will buy more for international calls. For US and Canada I'm glad the calls are free. I can speak to anyone with my IPod Touch free of charge.

Thanks for showing me this easy app its a savior. I won't use Skype as they charge for a Skype In phone number as well as for every call. Here I only pay for overseas calls.

this is an updated sipdroid + google voice how-to for an android phone. if you have a google apps account, you cannot use it for set up at least, you have to use a regular google account first, then go into pbxes.org and change it to your google apps account.
http://androidforums.com/android-app...-sipdroid.html

I can use my Google Voice from Philippines, HK and Singapore calling US with no problem at all. But you can not apply or sign up with Google Voice if you are outside US, you can only use them for calling US and Canada via Gmail.

For other international calls, I use Onesuite on my PC or in my Android phone using CsipSimple.

paid
 

One can use google voice to call other locals, just have to pay (rates similar to skype) I recently used GV in the browser to make calls TO INDIA from WITHIN INDIA

GV not working in Thailand.

Doesn't seem to be in Android Market but got it on my MacBook.


Seems nice so far; we'll see how it does in Europe.

Can you elaborate what you mean by "through my gmail account" and where exactly is the tab and "Call Phone"?
When I logojn to my gmail, I do not see any tab of any kind. I am located in the USA.
Thanks.

In Gmail, look at the panel to the left of your messages. It should have entries at the top for "Mail, Contacts, Tasks." The entry for Google Voice is in this panel but may be hidden. If you see a listing in this panel with your name, click the plus sign to the right. A menu should expand and be renamed "Chat." A "Call Phone" entry is one of the entries on the menu I see.

If you don't see it then, you probably have to go into the "Settings" menu to enable Google Voice in Gmail. Click the settings icon (the gear in the upper right hand corner), select "Mail Settings," and then select the "Chat" tab. There should be an entry there for "Call Phones" with two choices. Click the radio button for "Enable outbound voice calling with Google Voice."

Save your changes and return to Gmail. There should now be a "Call Phone" entry under "Chat" in the left panel. If not, repeat the steps in the first paragraph.

Google Voice appears working now in Bangkok. Previously not available (I tested as late as June 2011)

I made several successful outbound/inbound test calls using 2 different providers (True, Loxinfo) on 08/12/2011. YMMV.

June 2011, GV in Singapore no issues (I believe this is no surprise as Singapore is not on GV's "not supported" list)

Can you clarify what you mean by the listed providers? I assume GV worked via your computer and wifi, and not 3G, right? Thanks :)

Yes. To be specific, I used my laptop and a fixed-line based internet connection provided by the hotels (wifi and LAN) I was staying at. I did an IP address lookup and the providers used were True, CS Loxinfo and NTT (I was moving around hotels). In all cases, the geolocation of each IP address was Bangkok, Thailand and also in all cases, GV worked. I made test calls inbound and outbound.

In the past (as late as June 2011) I could not access GV when IP geolocation was identified as Thailand. I could only get GV working by using VPN to geoshift my location to the US or Europe.

If you like I can test out GV with 3G (TrueMove) in the next couple of days and report back.