Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with VOIP and cell

Forwarding from SIP to landline, no monthly fee?

Philosopher Dirtbike — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 23:22:33 -0800

How can I forward a sip address to a landline, with only a fee for the call itself? I recently started using VoIP.ms for my phone needs, and I like all the features and the price. The only thing it lacks is a connection to a particular block of mobile numbers in the Netherlands. When I call the numbers usin VoIP.ms, the call is denied. Their engineers tell me that they have no plans to add a connection to this block of numbers.

Now, of course, my mobile number is in this block. I only forward my home number to my mobile briefly a few times a year, but I'd like to be able to do it. So, I figure I can get an account with a VoIP provider that DOES connect with that block of numbers, and forward from VoIP.ms to the other provider via a SIP address, which then forwards to the mobile. That way I keep my setup with VoIP.ms, which I like, while being able to forward calls to my mobile..

I tried callwithus.com, and I can do this with them, but they require setting up a pseudo-DID which costs (on top of the call) $2 setup and $0.50 a month. It's the monthly fee that gets me - that means I have to keep putting money into their account just to forward to this number a few times a year, all for what amounts to a database entry.

I don't mind paying for the call itself, but there must be a free/no-recurring-fee way to solve my problem. Any ideas are appreciated.

4G VoiP tablet instead of Cell Phone?

Squid Voltaire — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:06:59 -0800

My T-Mobile contract expires in a couple months, and I'm considering ditching smartphones entirely and getting a tablet, instead. Anyone have any experience with this? Especially VoIP experience. I have a few months to see what happens, but right now it looks like I might get a Dell Streak, no voice plan, and the $50 unlimited data plan (which is a non-contract plan).

(I know the Streak isn't as fancy as, say, the Xoom... or the G-Slate that can shoot 3D movies!?!? but it is small enough to fit in my pocket, and they are not).

My primary question is whether I'll miss the voice plan. Currently I just call, you know, pizza delivery folks and my mother once a week (awwww!) so I don't use it often. However, if I switched over to Skype or Google Voice or something, would the pizza guy still be able to get in touch reliably? Would my dear mother get an earful of static?

Oh, and is there a VoiP solution for text messaging? I'd hate to miss out on that...

Let me know if there are other obvious problems with this idea, as well--it really hadn't occurred to me until I saw the tablet in the store today.

(Other unknowns--there's no reason why the Streak shouldn't update to Honeycomb... but I guess it might not. And, of course, I'd be dealing with AT&T, so there's that, although I wouldn't have a contract).

Prepaid iPhone data plan in Mumbai?

jesseendahl — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:40:15 -0800

Hi, I will be living in Mumbai for 11 weeks next summer. I have an unlocked iPhone 3G. What is my best bet in terms of carrier and plan for the cheapest and most reliable data access? I plan to do local calls over the cell phone voice network and international calls via Skype on the iPhone. Thanks in advance!

Cheap smartphone that will make Skype calls over Wi-Fi?

redteam — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:28:02 -0800

Can anyone recommend a cheap smartphone that can make Skype calls over Wi-Fi? I don't want to use the smartphone on the cell phone network (though I might if I can get a cheap one that will work with AT&T). I just want one that will be able to make and receive Skype calls over my home and office wifi networks. I would prefer that the phone actually run Skype's official software, and not some alternative. Basically, I want a cheaper alternative to one of those Belkin or Netgear wifi phones.

The Skype calls must be able to use the phone's built in microphone and speaker - like a normal phone call. I mention this because some of these phones will run Skype but only with a headset or only over the speakerphone or some nonsense.

I will try and find any recommended phones on Craigslist in Los Angeles, if that matters.

How do I streamline my phone service so people can get me?

Thrillhouse — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:33:02 -0800

Help me streamline my phone needs. How can Google Talk help me in real life? Okay, my questions is more of a "What can this do for me" than a "How can I make this work."

Here's my problem- and I'm sure its the same problem a LOT of people have: My cell phone works like CRAP at home (I have a house in the Boston suburbs). People call and end up leaving a message on my cell, even though its right there in my pocket. I have a home phone but most people call the cell first and the home phone is more for the type of people who don't call cell phones like my parents or my kids school. We use it exclusively when we're home to call out, though.

What I would like is some means of getting cell phone calls at home, whether it be through Google Voice or some other method. I'm an at-home parent so if I'm not at home I'm out with the kids- no work number. People don't call my wife on her cell phone so this is more MY problem than hers.

What can I do to make this work? Google Voice seems interesting but I can't seem to wrap my head around how it all works. Plus, I'd prefer not to have to give out ANOTHER number, ya know?

Any guidance would be GREATLY appreciated.

Oh, and I'm on Verizon for home and cell but will likely be switching cell to AT&T this summer when the new iPhone comes out.

Long distance cell phones between Hamilton and Peterborough

ndicecco — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:16:38 -0800

My girlfriend and I are going to different universities in the fall - hers in Peterborough, mine in Hamilton. What should we do about long distance phone calls? Since the cell phone world seems to change every year, I didn't find any previous posts that were very helpful.

Neither of us have ever had cell phones... so it may be time that we left the stone age. It would be nice to have a phone we could take with us, considering that we both have very active lifestyles. The drawback, of course, is that cell phone companies in Canada are apparently evil.

Based on the research I've done so far, the Telus Share plan looks like our best option. Should we be wary? Are there better options?

I think Voip would be the cheapest way to go, since the basic idea is unlimited long distance between us (it would be nice to call our parents in Toronto and Vancouver once in awhile too)... but I have no idea where to go to set that up in either Hamilton or Peterborough.

Other things to know:

-she doesn't care about what phone she uses. I would like something I could sync with my Mac. The iPhone hits Canada in July...
-local outgoing calls would be minimal: 100 minutes/month each should suffice
-texting between us would be nice, but not necessary
-local texting doesn't really matter

Any advice on long distance plans, cell phone companies, voip, or even landlines would be useful.

Travel questions to europa

stratastar — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:34:22 -0800

Eurotrip questions Redux: Have read previous posts and researched but need some specific advice for two issues: Eurorail and Pay as you go cell plan! Guys, I'm in need of the hive mind. I'm scheduled to leave for Paris, France on the 10th of July so I have less than 3 weeks. My travel route is the following, with parentheses denoting the amount of days spent in each city/locale: Paris(3.5)-->Amsterdam(2.5)-->Berlin(2)-->Prague(2)-->Munich(1)-->Florence(2.5)-->Rome(3.5)--Genoa (1)-->Cote d'Azur (2-3)-->Marseille/Provence(3)-->Barcelona(1)-->Ibiza(1)-->Valencia(1)-->Madrid(2)-->Barca(2.5)-->Bordeaux(1)-->Paris(1)-->HOME!
Whew.

1st question:

I read this thread about the eurorail and the general consensus was that the value of the eurorail depends on the breadth and travel specification. I've also read contradictory recommendations on lonleyplanet forums as well as eurorail information sites. Some say the eurorail offers more flexibility, especially incase one gets lost. Others say that there are hidden fees involved, so the "all-inclusive" concept is more of a sham than anything.

With the extent of cross country and multi-city travel, is the eurorail a good value for me? I'm on a tight budget and their website quotes $775 for the 1 month for me (as I am under 25). What am I to believe and can anyone give me advice tailored to my itinerary? Deal or no deal?

--------------

Second question: I am taking my cellphone (n82 Eurospec) with me for photo/music/gps/voip calls. I will need a paygo SIM card probably from a site in Paris when I fly in. I'm looking for a data centric plan, as I will be able to make VOIP calls through the n82's SIP clientel when in a 3G/WIFI area. What is a reasonable rate for 1 month of high data (the GPS should be exhausting our data usage) and some light cell call/txt usage, in case I need to call some people I meet? Where can I get this in the Parisian metropolitan area? Can I get it before hand and bring the SIM with me before I fly out?

Thanks so much!

Cheap international cell phone calls using VoIP

monkeystronghold — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:09:55 -0800

Is there a good (and cheap) way to maintain phone communication between US and European cell phones using VoIP or other services, so that neither party needs to make international phone calls? I'll be moving to Sweden in August, but I'm going to keep working remotely while I'm there. My work requires that I be tied to a laptop during normal working hours, but also that clients be able to call me and that I am able to call them back. These calls need to happen at all hours, even when I'm not online. I don't expect that a cell phone plan in Europe would be cost effective for incoming and outgoing international phone calls.

Does anyone have an interesting solution involving a European mobile phone plan, Skype, Vonage, Grand Central, and/or other services that will:

1. allow people in the US to call me at what seems like a US number on my cell phone in Europe

2. allow me to call people at US phone numbers from either the computer or a cell phone