Free Google / Gmail phone calls

[Summer Fun II]

I've been using this for the past 2 days its pretty neat !!

http://www.google.com/chat/voice/

I called all my friends that are out of my home phone local call plan.
My phone bill for long distance calls were killing me.

I'm real happy with it.

.

.

.

I just got off the phone with my buddy that lives in Alaska & it didn't cost me anything !!!.

 

[Gofirstclass]

OK, for this technodummy, how does it work? Do you need to have a home phone? For three years we've done without a land line and only use cell phones.

 

[Summer Fun II]

Nope just download it if you have a Gmail account ??.

Hookup your Mic and start calling your friends or who ever. :smt001

 

[billnpat]

I've been using this for the past 2 days its pretty neat !!

http://www.google.com/chat/voice/

I called all my friends that are out of my home phone local call plan.
My phone bill for long distance calls were killing me.

I'm real happy with it.

.

.

.

I just got off the phone with my buddy that lives in Alaska & it didn't cost me anything !!!.

WORKS FOR ME :thumbsup:

 

[Summer Fun II]

I just got off the Google/Gmail phone with my friend in Fla. . :smt024

 

[Iprof]

I just got off the Google/Gmail phone with my friend in Fla. . :smt024

You could try it with your friend in Canada over the weekend.:grin:

Ken

 

[Dave S]

What device do you use to talk? Do you connect thru a USB port?

 

[Tonka Boater]

It uses your computer's microphone and speakers or you can buy a headset that plugs into your USB port. It's very slick.

 

[Dave S]

Can I use a regular telephone with an adapter like this?

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.aol_refer.false.tpl.detail.msn_refer.false.item.E172365.ref.GPA?cm_ven=GOOGLEPRODUCTADS&cm_cat=Electronics&cm_pla=Computers&cm_ite=E172365

 

[Summer Fun II]

What device do you use to talk? Do you connect thru a USB port?

No !!, Just get a Mic and plug it in and you're good to go.

This goes thru your computer and there is no other hardware is needed. :thumbsup:
This setup is so simple that a caveman can do it. :grin:

Dave do you have a Gmail account ??.

Can I use a regular telephone with an adapter like this?

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...cm_ite=E172365

Now you're talking about Skypes that I know nothing about.

 

[Dave S]

I am primarily looking for a solution to use my fax machine since I don't have land lines anymore. I was thinking about Magic Jack since that also gives you a phone number for incoming. Does this free-bee thru Google give you the ability to receive calls or only make calls?

Dave

 

[Summer Fun II]

I'm sure they'll upgrade it so you can have a number.

I'm waiting for a email reply from them about that. :smt001

Edit

 

[VTSeaRay]

I have Google Voice, and it allows you to have a phone # to receive phone calls. I think it does what you want. I've only played with it, and that was back maybe 6 months ago, when it was in Beta, and there was a wait to get into the program.

I remember it allows you to have multiple phones #'s forwarded into 1 phone.

-VtSeaRay

 

[Summer Fun II]

Yep, I just found this in the help section,

Get these additional features for free (valid US number required):

• One number that rings all your phones.
• SMS online and via email.
• Listen in as callers leave messages and block unwanted callers.
• Ability to record your phone calls.

First, we need you to pick a new Google number. When anyone calls this number, it will ring all of your phones



OK, I got my Gmail phone number. :smt038 . :smt038 :smt038 .

You've successfully set up Google Voice!
As a reminder, your Google number is: (315) ***-****

You can now:

• give out one number that will ring all your phones
• get transcribed voicemails sent to your inbox
• send free text messages & make cheap international calls

To learn more about what Google Voice can do, watch our videos.

 

[AnchorsAweigh]

This is all very similar to Skype which I've been using for years. I call friends in Thailand, Europe, US, South America, and Canada all for free, and we can see each other on our screens. I mostly use it to talk with my folks and to "see" how they are doing.
No matter which you choose it's all too kool.... and free.

 

[Tonka Boater]

This is all very similar to Skype which I've been using for years. I call friends in Thailand, Europe, US, South America, and Canada all for free, and we can see each other on our screens. I mostly use it to talk with my folks and to "see" how they are doing.
No matter which you choose it's all too kool.... and free.

The big difference between Skype and Google Chat is that you can make free calls to landlines with Google Chat. With Skype you can only call other Skype users for free and there is a per-minute charge if you call a landline.

Google Voice does give you a phone number that allows you to receive calls. You can associate all of your other phone numbers with your Google Voice number so when someone calls your GV number it will ring all of your phone simultaneously.

 

[Summer Fun II]

Yep, I just got done talking with my friend Capt.Wally on his tug boat. :thumbsup:

Coastline Girls. http://marinetraffic.com/ais/

 

[Uplate]

Google voice rocks, with all of its features...and Free.

 

[Dave S]

In my case with no land line I will still need something like Magic Jack to handle incoming and outgoing faxes based on what everyone is saying and my own limited research. Plus with Magic Jack I can receive voice calls as well as make them. With Magic Jack you physically plug your fax or home phone into the USB adapter they supply. The annual charge is minimal so that is probably the way I will go.

Dave

 

[Tonka Boater]

In my case with no land line I will still need something like Magic Jack to handle incoming and outgoing faxes based on what everyone is saying and my own limited research. Plus with Magic Jack I can receive voice calls as well as make them. With Magic Jack you physically plug your fax or home phone into the USB adapter they supply. The annual charge is minimal so that is probably the way I will go.

Dave

Is your need to send or to receive faxes? There are online services that give you a fax number and the faxes are converted to pdf's and sent via email. I'm not trying to sound flippant but I didn't know that people still used fax machines. I'm trying to think of scenario where an email or email attachment couldn't replace a fax??

In any case, if you need to connect a physical fax machine then yes, the Magic Jack would be your best solution. Google Talk just allows you to make free US/Canada phone calls and Google Voice just gives you a free universal phone number. Neither will allow you to connect a landline.