Phone Calls Over WiFi
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So, for example, while in Bulgaria yesterday, I had unlimited 3G data service with nearly perfect coverage all on my standard US cell phone. I didn't have to do anything, it just "worked" when I entered the country. The speed is good and the limit is simply... unlimited.
If I wanted to buy local data service, which is just a SIM card away, I last priced it out in Moldova just because I was interested. And 4G monthly service there is $8/mo to buy a SIM card charged up to pop into your existing device.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@JaredBusch said
It can do that also, but that is not the core implementation of GV. GV has always been a forwarding service.
That's why I was wondering if you just turned off your cell service, would GV just use WiFi?
I don't see how they could block that, but I have read this does not work.
I have no idea what they do with existing accounts, but the GV web page is entirely blocked in the EU. I can't even look at it for information.
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@scottalanmiller said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@JaredBusch said
It can do that also, but that is not the core implementation of GV. GV has always been a forwarding service.
That's why I was wondering if you just turned off your cell service, would GV just use WiFi?
I don't see how they could block that, but I have read this does not work.
I have no idea what they do with existing accounts, but the GV web page is entirely blocked in the EU. I can't even look at it for information.
Seems to be available here in Germany: www.google.com/voice
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@scottalanmiller said
I have no idea what they do with existing accounts, but the GV web page is entirely blocked in the EU. I can't even look at it for information.
But once you have a working account, is there any reason it wouldn't work?
I read an article aimed at travelers. It basically said to "borrow" a number to get it set up, then just remove the number.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@scottalanmiller said
I have no idea what they do with existing accounts, but the GV web page is entirely blocked in the EU. I can't even look at it for information.
But once you have a working account, is there any reason it wouldn't work?
I read an article aimed at travelers. It basically said to "borrow" a number to get it set up, then just remove the number.
No reason to assume that it would work. Could it? Certainly. But there is no reason to make that assumption. It's blocked in much of the world. Is it likely to work where it is blocked?
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@scottalanmiller said
No reason to assume that it would work. Could it? Certainly. But there is no reason to make that assumption. It's blocked in much of the world. Is it likely to work where it is blocked?
But it's blocked for non-US users.
I would be a US user, just using WiFi in a non-US place.
But, I make no assumptions, and that is the reason I started this thread.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
But it's blocked for non-US users.
That's not what I said. It is blocked for non-US locations. I'm a US user and I am blocked.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
I would be a US user, just using WiFi in a non-US place.
Right, just like me.
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@scottalanmiller said
That's not what I said. It is blocked for non-US locations. I'm a US user and I am blocked.
Are you saying you already have an account, and just cannot access it?
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@scottalanmiller said
That's not what I said. It is blocked for non-US locations. I'm a US user and I am blocked.
Are you saying you already have an account, and just cannot access it?
I already have a US Google account and with it I cannot set up a GV account. So I can't say for sure if GV is blocked or not. But what I know for sure is that your assumptions are incorrect - that the location of the account does not grant automatic service. It is the location of the service in question at the time of service that grants access.
The question is... does a service activated in the US continue to work where service activation is blocked? No one seems to know.
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@scottalanmiller said
The question is... does a service activated in the US continue to work where service activation is blocked? No one seems to know.
Yeah, that is my question, I guess.
Figured this forum of non-US livers and travelers would know.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@scottalanmiller said
The question is... does a service activated in the US continue to work where service activation is blocked? No one seems to know.
Yeah, that is my question, I guess.
Figured this forum of non-US livers and travelers would know.
It came up a few months ago and we tested and discovered that in Greece the site was blocked completely and it said "for US users only", even though I was already a US account holder. So the assumption, based on that, leans towards that it is blocked completely outside of the US. But it's not definite. But you should assume that it does not work or will not work reliably.
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@scottalanmiller said
It came up a few months ago and we tested and discovered that in Greece the site was blocked completely and it said "for US users only", even though I was already a US account holder. So the assumption, based on that, leans towards that it is blocked completely outside of the US. But it's not definite. But you should assume that it does not work or will not work reliably.
OK, big black "X" on GV, then.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
@scottalanmiller said
It came up a few months ago and we tested and discovered that in Greece the site was blocked completely and it said "for US users only", even though I was already a US account holder. So the assumption, based on that, leans towards that it is blocked completely outside of the US. But it's not definite. But you should assume that it does not work or will not work reliably.
OK, big black "X" on GV, then.
At least until someone tests it in several unlikely locations. I'd give it no better than a 40% chance of being a reasonable option.
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This is where something like Voip.ms to a US PBX turns into nearly magic. You are just an extension and no service but your own personal PBX will ever know that you are not in the US. The PBX completely isolates you from detection so you get to use US only services exactly as if you were in the US, 100% reliable (as long as you have a data connection.)
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I've used Google Voice in Canada before... although I could have still been pinging US towers. I was in Niagara.
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I found out today the AT&T has WiFi calling with the iPhones.
As always, always learn something unexpected with a ML thread.
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I create sub-accounts with VOIP.MS and register my cell phone with their service directly via CSipSimple andoid app, no PBX required. It will work over WiFi or cell data.
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@BRRABill said in Phone Calls Over WiFi:
I found out today the AT&T has WiFi calling with the iPhones.
As always, always learn something unexpected with a ML thread.
Suck.. No Android support.
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I was asking for a general case (for more information) but in the specific case that got me thinking about this, all the users in the traveling family have iPhones.
I think they can turn on the Wifi Calling and be set. I just want to confirm texting is free as well. But it should be. (As long as it is to US numbers.)
Of course, as @scottalanmiller reminded me, it doesn't help in the case of an emergency (or if there isn't Wifi), but it's certainly a pretty cool feature to finally come to AT&T.
