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

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.