google voice

[zandol3t3]

i have a droid and i use google voice to make most of my calls and i realize that i was burning minutes. Isn't google voice free and use data connections to make the call.
can anyone give me any input on that matter and also the bill was very high and i do enjoy the carrier and the phone.

 

[Cory Streater]

It uses data, not minutes. If you are burning through minutes, then you are not using Google Voice.

 

[Examiner19]

Not true, it uses minutes. It calls Google Voice (GV), then VOIP within GV until it terminates at the other phone you are calling.

 

[Cory Streater]

I stand corrected then. So it uses 1 minute per call at most then, right?

 

[Examiner19]

No, the connection from your phone to Google Voice uses as many minutes as the call takes.

 

[Cory Streater]

Gotchya. Okay sorry - I was totally wrong then!

 

[raymond#AC]

is that need connect to internet?

 

[takeshi]

i have a droid and i use google voice to make most of my calls and i realize that i was burning minutes. Isn't google voice free and use data connections to make the call.
can anyone give me any input on that matter and also the bill was very high and i do enjoy the carrier and the phone.

Google Voice is free.

That doesn't mean that it uses data for phone calls. GV is not VOIP. It does not use data for calls.

If you want free calls there are a lot of guides and a lot of threads on various forum sites that can guide you. In a nutshell you can either use a VOIP solution or take advantage of your carrier's calling circle (if offered). For the latter, you need to not only add your GV number but the access number* that GV dials when placing calls to your calling circle. Be aware that the access number can change. You can avoid adding the access number if you can find an app that places all outbound calls via your GV number. Note that this only gives you free outbound calls.

If you really want all inbound calls to be free you need to set GV to display your GV number instead of the callers' actual numbers. I didn't find this to be worthwhile.

is that need connect to internet?

Minutes? No, data is used to connect to the internet.


* On the Droid, the access number that GV is using is indicated on the calling screen when first placing the call. In my case I'm in Houston (713 area code) but is says "Calling via Google Voice 512-xxx-xxxx". My access number has an Austin area code.

I'm not sure what it's like on other Android devices. Worst case, you can check your usage. That number that you're always calling (and getting billed for) is your GV access number assuming that all outbound calls are made via GV.