My xperia has android 2.1 and google voice won’t work. I use to for the free txts but to make a call it starts with google voice but then uses the phone dialer to call.

I know there is a call back app, but that defeats the purpose of not wanting to use any airtime. Anyone know a fix to this?

Go to Android market. Buy the "Groove IP" for $3.99. Set up. Make free calls. Use anywhere you have internet access. No cellular network required.

Google's, Google Voice app DOES NOT make VoIP calls and is supposed to "use minutes."

Really? I thought the Voice app allows you call without using airtime?

Thanks, I'll look into Groove IP.

No, the Voice app just lets you make calls through Google Voice, but it actually dials a separate GV number to do so. The Voice app will let you text over Wifi, however.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/...b61fa700&hl=en This was the problem I was having ( like the others in that thread) and I thought it was something to do with the app.. I can receive calls on the GV number, but each time I dial out the phone dialer takes over and I�m dialing with my number.. I thought GV connects to the Internet to dial out, thus not using your airtime.

I didn�t know GV was setup to use airtime mins.

If you use gmail and sign into gChat, you can call local and some international numbers free of charge. Just plug a headset into your computer and you're set. Very much like SkypeOut, only free!

Yep I believe this is the only way and it only became available recently - i haven't tried it yet.
I've been using GV for international calls from US for almost two years on my droid (with mostly acceptable quality including to OZ) but it was completely useless overseas.
I'd suggest getting skype although skype app on android devices is pretty awful to be honest. If you have ipod, ipad or any other wifi enabled apple devices with skype just use them.

I will have to check that app out. When I first started using GV I couldnt find a good app to do that so I just stuck with SIP. I really just wanted people to be careful and not think just because they are using GV that they are using the internet and find a hefty bill waiting for them a month later. Thanks again for the app info.

Specifically. To make outgoing calls with Google Voice you can go into settings, select "More", select settings, select "Settings", select "Making Calls", and chose whether it should use your Google Voice to make calls or not. I personally choose "Ask every time I make a call". THIS WILL NOT MAKE THE CALL AS 100% VOIP AND IT WILL STILL USE MINUTES AND IT WILL NOT WORK IN AUSTRALIA. The main effects if you use Google Voice to make the call is it will use Google Voice's international long distance FROM the US to a foreign country (not the other way around), the receiving phone will see your Google Voice number as caller ID, and you will be able to avail other Google Voice features for the call. It still relies on your cellular network to make the call and will not work without using plan minutes on your cellular network.

To receive incoming calls you must log into your Google Voice account on-line, click on "Your number" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and under "Phones" "Forwards calls to:" check the box for your cell phone number, home number or both and if your regular number for the phone you are using is not on the list, add it with the "Add another phone" link and go through Google's validation process. THIS WILL NOT MAKE THE CALL AS 100% VOIP AND IT WILL STILL USE MINUTES AND IT WILL NOT WORK IN AUSTRALIA UNLESS YOU ARE ROAMING AND THEN WOULD PROBABLY COST $$$$$$$$$$ IN ROAMING CHARGES. (If it is even possible to roam in Australia with Verizon which I don't think it is)

To make 100% free VoIP calls with Google Voice, to and from any US number using only data and not using the cellular network other than for 3G Data if you aren't connected to WiFi. Which will work in the US over 3G or WiFi, and internationally on WiFi where you have no cellular connectivity (or if you had a GSM phone that could use local overseas 3G from a prepaid SIM).

First get your Google Voice account working and properly validated in the US as above.

Then go to Android Market and buy the app "GrooVe IP for $3.99" (it's worth it). https://market.android.com/details?id=com.gvoip

Run the app. Log into your Google Voice account with your regular Google Voice logon and password.

In Settings of the "GrooVe IP" app I use the following settings. Check "Allow 3G/4G calling". Check "Accept calls on answer". Under "Built-in dialer preferences" I select "Ask every call". "Dialer Prefix" I leave blank. Under "Audio Setting" start with defaults but if your calling parties complain of an echo or low volume you may have to lower the "Speaker Volume" or or raise/lower the "Microphone Gain". Echo may be a problem if you have not found the sweet spot for these settings but this is how you solve that problem. Check DTMF Feedback. In troubleshooting. I check "Outgoing Audio Processing" and "Incoming Audio Processing" because I was getting some audio choppiness without them. If your phone shuts off Wifi when the screen goes blank (mine doesn't but some do, I don't know for yours) check "Keep Screen On". Otherwise leave it unchecked. Other settings can be left at defaults. Under "Miscellaneous" I leave all notifications on. "Autostart" checked so it runs every time you turn the phone on. I set the default Area Code to my normal Area Code. All else to defaults.

If it is set up right you should see a green "GV" icon in the upper right hand side of the screen.

LOG BACK INTO your Google Voice Account on-line. Click on "Your number" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and under "Phones" "Forwards calls to:". Uncheck your cell phone number. Check "Google Chat". GrooVe IP is emulating a Google Chat client so calls will be forwarded to GrooVe IP this way. If you leave your cell phone number checked it may grab the call before GrooVe IP get's it.

Now try calling your GV number. GrooVe IP should get the call and you should be able to answer normally. Now try calling from your cell phone with the normal dialer. If you are prompted to "Call with Google Voice" or not you can select either if using GrooVe IP. After that you should get a GrooVe IP or Mobile Network prompt. Select GrooVe IP. The call should then be made using ONLY data and NOT using any plan minutes or using the cellular network. The receiving party should get caller ID from your Google Voice number and it should be transparent to them.

This 'should' work in Australia on local 3G (probably not an option with a Verizon Phone) or with WiFi (should work with a Verizon phone). I have personally used this in Hong Kong, Korea, the Philippines, and Japan but can't say I've tried it in Australia or ever even been to Australia but if you have internet it should work. All calls to/from the US are 100% free and completely independent from the cellular phone network thus no "minutes" and no roaming, no cellular connectivity of any kind required so long as you have data. You do not need any funds in your Google Voice account unless you are calling non US numbers. It is free to/from US numbers.

Call quality and reliability is VERY GOOD, IF(!!!) you have a good quality, fast data connection with low latency. If the data connection is slow you may get lag or it may break up or it may miss incoming calls. This is a function of the quality of the data connection and there is no workaround but to have a good data connection. On-line in you Google Voice account under "Your number:" then under the "Calls" tab under "Missed Calls" it is a good idea to check "Place missed calls in the inbox" and check "Send missed calls to my email". This way you will get a notification from the official Google Voice app on your phone and/or an e-mail if you miss a call due to poor internet connectivity so you know to call back.

There are other ways to accomplish this as well but this is the "easy way". Once it is all set up it is fairly transparent and if you have a good data connection it "just works".

How does it avoid roaming charges when in foreign countries (and not on wi-fi)?

You must have a high speed Internet connection one way or another to transport the data to make the VoIP work. I guess to further break it down............ the data comes at what ever terms data comes with. International data roaming is almost always a huge rip-off and every world traveler I know either wisely disables international data roaming altogether or else has an expense account to pay for it. In the case of the OP's scenario with a Verizon phone, there is probably no good wireless data option other than WiFI and they are probably stuck to WiFI or getting a different phone. People with compatible GSM phones would probably want to get a local prepaid 3G data SIM. There is a whole huge thread sticky at the top of this forum about that so no need to revisit how to get international 3G data..

In the Philippines unlimited prepaid 3G with a Smart Buddy SIM was like $1.25 a day and for that I could make and receive unlimited free calls to/from any US number using GrooVe IP and my Google Voice account.

To be specific...... the calls are free. Data costs you whatever data costs you. May be free on WiFI, may be $1.25 a day with some prepaid local SIM card, may be a gazilion dollars if you use international data roaming.

I downloaded the Talkatone app to my iPod Touch several months ago based on a comment about the app on Lifehacker. The comment said it integrated well with Google Voice.

I was in Australia for several weeks in April/May and it worked fine for my needs, but since I was using an iPod Touch I only had access to wifi, and didn't have to worry about roaming charges. Hopefully, you have an iPod Touch, too??

The most interesting thing to me, was that I was not charged for any calls I made back to the US (presumably since GV can only be used "in the US" it didn't know I was calling from outside the country.) It did, however, charge my Google Voice account for calls that I made to Australian numbers.

Talkatone is the I-Phone world equivalent of the Android App GrooVe IP so if Talkatone works in Australia on an I-Phone or other I-Gadget, GrooVe IP should work on an Android device in Australia. I saw a while back that Talkatone was being ported to Android as well but I have not followed it's development.

So I switched carriers from Tmobile to Verizon. Having a dickens of a time sending my calls placed to my mobile telephone number (now Verizon number) to Google Voice for voice mail. I've tried everything online and nothing's working. Any suggestions?

A fairly simple Google search will tell you how to set this up for free. Using a combination of Google Voice, GV Callback, SipDroid, and IPKall you can make and receive free calls using your GV number anywhere you have internet access. I've enjoyed this since I frequent places without cell service, but with a wi-fi connection, and I've used it out of the country quite reliably.