1. Google Voice gives you a permanent number that forwards to the phone or phones of your choice.  If you change carriers or move, you don’t have to worry about “porting” your old phone number- you can just change your forwarding phone settings in Google Voice.  Additionally, your Google Voice number can ring your home, work, and cell phones at the same time, and you can answer whichever one you want.  You can block specific numbers, send others to specific phones, and determine what time of day you want each phone to ring.
2. Save money on international calls.  International calls are far less expensive than the exorbitant per-minute fees charged by cellular carriers.  For example, I can use Google Voice to call my sister in Germany for about 2 cents per minute.  AT&T would charge well over a dollar per minute for the same call.
3. Keep your cell/home numbers private.  You can use Google Voice as your outgoing number when you place calls, which gives the advantage of not exposing numbers you want to keep private.  Only your Google Voice number will show up on caller ID when you place calls this way. Google Voice integrates almost seamlessly with Android, so it’s as easy to use as placing a normal phone call once you finish the initial setup.
4. Save money on text messages.  You can send and receive text messages directly from the Google Voice App.  If you don’t have a text plan, or if your text plan only gives you a limited number of monthly messages, this is a good way to maximize your usage while saving on message fees.  Alternatively, you can have your text messages forwarded to your email.  If you have push email set up, you can receive and reply to texts through email without losing any functionality.
5. Voicemail transcription.  Using the Google Voice App, you can read transcriptions of voicemail messages minutes after they are left.  The transcriptions are not perfect, and are sometimes hilarious, but the service is good enough that you can usually see who called and get the gist of what they wanted.

What does this setup guide cover?

1. First, I’ll show you how to set up the Google Voice App so that your outgoing calls display your Google Voice number instead of your cell number, and so you can send and receive text messages through Google Voice.  This setup will give you most of the advantages of Google Voice, but will still use your minutes when you make calls.
2. Next, I’ll show you how to configure your phone’s integrated SIP settings so you can make and receive VoIP calls that  don’t use your minutes.  If your phone is rooted, this will work on the cellular network (3G, 4G, or LTE), but if you’re not rooted, this will only work over wifi.

Disclaimer (Read this before you continue!): The following procedure worked on my HTC Evo Shift from Sprint running Android 2.3, and later on Cyanogenmod 7.  I have not tried it on any other device and I make no guarantees that it will work on yours.  I do not offer any type of tech support.  Also, VoIP calls over a cellular data network won’t use your minutes, but WILL count towards your monthly data usage limit.  If you choose to proceed, you do so at your own risk and agree that I am not responsible for anything that may go wrong as a result, including, but not limited to: overage charges, voided warranties, hardware damage, or your girlfriend leaving because you spend more time tinkering with your phone than hanging out with her.

Still with me?  Good.

Things you’ll need

Hardware

1. An Android phone running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher.  Android 2.3 has VoIP support, and SIP accounts can be configured directly in the Call Settings menu.  For older versions of Android, or if you want to use a non-rooted phone to make VoIP calls over the cellular network, you’ll probably need a SIP client such as Sipdroid or Groove IP.  You can still use these instructions, but you’ll need to find the appropriate configuration settings in your client of choice.

Software

1.  The official Google Voice App, available from the Android Market.  This will enable you to send and receive text messages through Google Voice, and place calls from your phone that show your Google Voice number instead of your cell number on the receiver’s caller ID.

Services

1. A wifi connection or cellular data connection.
2. A free Google Voice account.
3. A free SipGate account.  Your Google Voice account will forward to this service, which integrates directly with your phone’s built-in VoIP settings.

Part One: Obtain the Google Voice Android app

Instructions:

1.  Open the Android Market.  Download and install the Google Voice app from Google Inc.

Part Two: Set up Google Voice and configure the Google Voice app

Instructions:

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

1. If you don’t already have a Google Voice account, go to http://www.google.com/voice and click “Create An Account.”  If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll be asked to set one up at this point.  You will have a choice of area codes, and the chance to enter any number sequences you want in your new phone number.
2. Once you’ve created your Google Voice account, log in and click “Settings” in the upper right corner.
3. Under “Settings,” select “Phones.”  This is where you set up Forwarding Phones, which are the phones you want your Google Voice number to forward to.  When you place a call through Google Voice, you will choose one of your forwarding phones for the call to be connected to.
4. Click “Add phone.”  You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone (Home, Cell, or Work), the number, and a phone name that you select.  At this point, you should enter your cell number.
5. After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.
6. Click “Connect.”  Google Voice will call the phone number.  When you answer, you will be asked to enter the code displayed on the website using your phone’s numeric keypad.  After you have entered the code, you will be told, “Your forwarding phone is set up.  Goodbye.”
7. Open the Google Voice app on your phone. If you have a Sprint Android phone, you’ll be asked if you want to integrate your mobile number with Google Voice. I recommend you skip this for now by tapping “Skip.” You can always change this later if you want.
8. Next, you’ll see “Sign in to Google Voice” and a list of the Google accounts configured on your phone.  Tap the email address connected to your Google Voice account and tap “Sign In.” If it’s not listed yet, tap “Use a different account” and enter your GV account credentials.
9. Next, you’ll see the “Access Request” page. You’ll be notified that Google Voice wants to access your account and asking if you want to allow the request. Tap “Allow” and you’ll be signed in.
10. Next, you’ll see “Set up Google Voice.” This is the part where you decide which calls to make with Google Voice and whether you want GV to be your voicemail provider. Tap “Next.”
11. The next screen is “Making calls with Google Voice.” You’ll be presented with a list of options: “Use Google Voice to make all calls, Do not use Google Voice to make any calls, Only use Google Voice for international calls, or Ask every time I make a call.” Choose an option and tap “Next.”  You can change this setting later if you change your mind.
12. You’ll now be taken to the “Set up voicemail” screen. Tap “Next” to see instructions for configuring your voicemail. If you want Google Voice to handle your voicemail, follow the onscreen instructions to configure it.  Otherwise, tap “Skip.”
13. You may end up on the “Call Settings” page. You can tap the Back button to return to the Google Voice app, where you’ll see the “Inbox synchronization” page. Tap “Finish,” to see your Google Voice inbox. This is where you can play back voicemail messages, view transcriptions, or see texts sent to your Google Voice number.
14. To adjust any of your settings, tap Menu -> More -> Settings. From here you can change activate “Do not disturb” or change your call placement settings. Under “Sync and notifications,” you can decide whether your text messages also go to your phone’s Messages app.

This is all the setup you need to use Google Voice with your Android phone as long as you don’t mind using your minutes.  If you want to make free VoIP calls that don’t use your minutes, follow the instructions below.

Part Three: Setting up your SipGate account

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

Note: Parts Three and Four are optional.  You need them only if you want to make free VoIP calls with your iPhone that don’t use your minutes, or if you want to connect your Google Voice number with an analog telephone adapter for free home phone service.  Also, SipGate is not the only option for VoIP service. If there is another SIP-based VoIP service you prefer, you can configure it using these instructions, but you’ll have to find the necessary configuration information in your VoIP account.

1. Go to https://secure.sipgate.com/register/code.  Enter your cell number to receive a text message with instructions for signing up.  Make sure you choose “SipGate One,” which is free.  Make a note of your SipGate number.  You can always find it again by signing into your account, clicking “Settings” and then “Phone Numbers.”

Note: Your new SipGate number is a normal phone number, and can be called directly from any phone.  Incoming calls are free.  Outgoing calls cost 2 cents per minute at the time of this writing.  Combining your SipGate number with Google Voice allows you to make calls in such a way that SipGate treats them as free incoming calls.

Part Four: Configure your Android phone’s SIP settings

Note: If you’re running Android 2.2 or lower, VoIP is not integrated into your phone settings, and you’ll have to use a third-party SIP client such as Sipdroid or Groove IP. These instructions may still be helpful, but you’ll have to find the appropriate settings in your client of choice.

1. Log into your SipGate account. Click “Settings” on the upper left part of the screen, then “SIP Credentials” on the right.  A popup will appear with your SIP credentials, which you can print if you wish. This will show you the information you need to configure you Android phone’s SIP settings.
2. From your phone’s homescreen, tap Menu, then Settings, then Call Settings. Scroll down to the bottom where it says “Internet call settings.” Tap Accounts, then Add account.
3. Enter your SipGate SIP-ID as your username, and SIP-Password as your password. Under “Server,” enter “sipgate.com.”
4. Uncheck “Set as primary account” unless you want to use this setup for all calls.
5. Tap your Back button. You should now see your SipGate account listed under “SIP accounts” with the words “Not receiving calls” beneath it.
6. Check the box next to “Receive incoming calls.” Within a few seconds, your SIP account’s status will change to “Receiving calls.” Later, if you want to turn off SIP calling to save battery life, just uncheck this box.

Part Five: Set up forwarding from Google Voice to SipGate

1. From your phone’s Home screen, go to Menu -> Settings -> Call Settings. Scroll down to “Internet call settings” and tap Accounts. Make sure “Receive incoming calls” is checked.
2. Log into your Google Voice account on your desktop computer.  Click “Settings” then “Phones.”
3. Click “Add Phone.”
4. You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select. Select “Home” under phone type and enter your 10 digit SipGate number.  (This is the number I told you to write down in Part Three.  If you didn’t write it down, log into your SipGate account, click “Settings” then “Phone Numbers.”)
5. Click “Save.”  After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.  Click “Confirm.”
6. Your Android phone will ring. Accept the call, then tap the dialpad button in the upper right corner below the volume button.  When prompted, enter the 2-digit Google Voice verification code.  You will be told that your phone is now verified.

Part Six: Place VoIP calls on your Android Phone

This is the part where we put all the pieces together so you can make free Google Voice calls without using your cell phone minutes.

SipGate does not charge for incoming calls, but they do charge a per minute rate for outgoing calls.  We’re going to get around this by originating the calls from the Google Voice mobile website so that SipGate will treat each call as a free incoming call.

Note: There are some third-party apps that claim to provide Google Voice callback functionality. I haven’t tried any of them and therefore can’t make any recommendations. Also, Google periodically changes the Google Voice API in ways that break the functionality of these apps, so there’s no guarantee they will always work when you need them. Initiating callbacks through your phone’s browser is probably the most reliable method.

Here’s how you place calls:

1. From your phone’s homescreen, go to Menu -> Settings -> Call Settings. Scroll down to “Internet call settings” and tap Accounts. Make sure “Receive incoming calls” is checked.
2. Tap the Home button.
3. Open your web browser and go to www.google.com/voice/m.  You should save this site as a bookmark or homescreen shortcut.
4. Log in with your Google Voice credentials.
5. Scroll down until you see Quick Call and a text input field.  Tap the input field and type the phone number you want to call.  Tap Call.
6. Your Android phone will ring.  When you accept the incoming call, Google Voice will  place the call you dialed.
7. You can also place calls by tapping Contacts, selecting a contact, and tapping Call.

Part Seven: Additional ways to use Google Voice on your Android phone

Send and receive texts through Google Voice

To send a text message from your Google Voice number, open the Google Voice app, tap Menu, then Compose. If you start typing a contact’s name in the “To” field, a dropdown menu will appear with matching contacts.

In the Google Voice app, under Menu -> More -> Settings -> Sync and notifications, you can choose to receive GV texts with your phone’s messaging app. You may want to choose this option if you spend a lot of time in places with a poor data signal. When you reply to a Google Voice text from your Messaging app, your reply will go through Google Voice and will show your GV number as the caller ID.

Make Google Voice calls without using VoIP

In the Google Voice app, under Menu -> More -> Settings -> Making calls, you can choose which calls should go through Google Voice. Because I still use both my cell number and my GV number, I have my phone set to ask every time I make a call. With this setting, every time I place a call, a popup appears, and I can choose. This is also a good way to prevent butt-dialing.

Any time you choose to place a call through Google Voice, your Google Voice number will show up on the other person’s caller ID.

Use Google Voice as your landline

If you have an analog telephone adapter, you can configure it for use with Google Voice and your regular landline telephone.

Use Google Voice with your iPhone or iPod Touch

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch running iOS 4 or higher, you can configure it as a VoIP phone using Fring.

Use Google Voice with your Windows Mobile phone

If you have a Windows Mobile device (not Windows Phone 7), you can configure it as a VoIP phone using Fring.

Use Google Voice with your Nokia Internet Tablet

If you have a Nokia N-series internet tablet, you can configure it for use as a wifi phone using Google Voice and Gizmo.

Make cheap international calls

Google Voice calls within the continental US and Canada are free through 2012.  You can also make international calls starting at about 2 cents per minute if you buy calling credit with GV.  Log into your Google Voice account at http://www.google.com/voice/ and go to Settings -> Billing -> Add Credit.

Use multiple Google Voice and/or SIP accounts to turn your Android device into a multi-line phone and manage your privacy

I live in a gated condominium community. The gate has a call box that allows me to unlock the gate for visitors from my phone. The call box only calls phone numbers within a certain area code, and I didn’t have a number with that area code when I moved here. To solve that problem, I set up a new Google Voice account with the right area code, forwarded it through a second SipGate account, and set it up as a SIP account on my Android phone. As a side benefit, because the gate phone doesn’t call my main phone number, I can use Google Voice’s “Do not disturb” feature on that line when I’m not expecting someone. That way I can let my friends in, but I don’t have to be bothered by pranksters or someone entering the wrong unit number. Also, because my phone is rooted and can make VoIP calls over the 3G network, I can use it to unlock the gate for myself if I ever forget my key.

1. Google Voice gives you a permanent number that forwards to the phone or phones of your choice.  If you change carriers or move, you don’t have to worry about “porting” your old phone number- you can just change your forwarding phone settings in Google Voice.  Additionally, your Google Voice number can ring your home, work, and cell phones at the same time, and you can answer whichever one you want.  You can block specific numbers, send others to specific phones, and determine what time of day you want each phone to ring.
2. Save money/minutes on calls.  US calls are free.  International calls are far less expensive than the exorbitant per-minute fees charged by cellular carriers.  For example, I can use Google Voice to call my sister in Germany for about 2 cents per minute.  AT&T would charge well over a dollar per minute for the same call.
3. Keep your cell/home numbers private.  You can use Google Voice as your outgoing number when you place calls, which gives the advantage of not exposing numbers you want to keep private.  Only your Google Voice number will show up on caller ID when you place calls this way.
4. Save money on text messages.  You can send and receive text messages directly from Google Voice using your phone’s mobile browser.  If you don’t have a text plan, or if your text plan only gives you a limited number of monthly messages, this is a good way to maximize your usage while saving on message fees.  Alternatively, you can have your text messages forwarded to your phone or email.  If you have push email set up, you can receive and reply to texts through email without losing any functionality.
5. Voicemail transcription.  Using your phone’s mobile browser, you can read transcriptions of voicemail messages minutes after they are left.  The transcriptions are not perfect, and are sometimes amusing, but the service is good enough that you can usually see who called and get the gist of what they wanted.

Disclaimer (Read this before you continue!): The procedure described below worked on my wife’s iPhone 3GS from AT&T running iOS 4.  I have not tried it on any other device and I make no guarantees that it will work on yours.  I do not offer any type of tech support.  Also, VoIP calls over a cellular data network won’t use your minutes, but WILL count towards your monthly data usage limit.  If you choose to proceed, you do so at your own risk and agree that I am not responsible for anything that may go wrong as a result, including, but not limited to: overage charges, voided warranties, hardware damage, or your girlfriend leaving because you spend more time tinkering with your phone than hanging out with her.

Still with me?  Good.

Things you’ll need

In addition to your iPhone, you’ll need two free apps and a couple of free user accounts.  I’ll show you where to get each of these things and how to configure them.

Hardware

1. An iPhone running iOS 4 (3GS or newer).  This setup takes advantage of iOS 4′s new “Fast App Switching” feature and will not work properly on a 3G or older iPhone unless it is jailbroken and running “Backgrounder.”  This method also works on an iPod Touch running iOS 4, but you’ll need a separate microphone for voice calls.

Software

1. Fring.  This is the VoIP client you will use for your Google Voice calls.  You can use another VoIP client if you prefer, as long as it is configurable and supports the SIP protocol.
2. Opera Mini.  This is a web browser.  This method does not work in Safari, so we have to use a different browser.

Services

1. A wifi or 3G connection.
2. A free Google Voice account.
3. A free SipGate account.  Your Google Voice account will forward to this service, which integrates directly with Fring.

Part One: Obtain the required apps

Instructions:

1. Go to the App Store and install Fring and Opera Mobile.

Part Two: Setting up Google Voice

Instructions:

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

1. If you don’t already have a Google Voice account, go to http://www.google.com/voice and click “Create An Account.”  If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll be asked to set one up at this point.  You will have a choice of area codes, and the chance to enter any number sequences you want in your new phone number.
2. Once you’ve created your Google Voice account, log in and click “Settings” in the upper right corner.
3. Under “Settings,” select “Phones.”  This is where you set up Forwarding Phones, which are the phones you want your Google Voice number to forward to.  When you place a call through Google Voice, you will choose one of your forwarding phones for the call to be connected to.
4. Click “Add phone.”  You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select.  At this point, you should enter your cell number.
5. After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.
6. Click “Connect.”  Google Voice will call the phone number.  When you answer, you will be asked to enter the code displayed on the website using your phone’s numeric keypad.  After you have entered the code, you will be told, “your forwarding phone is set up.  Goodbye.”

This is all the setup you need to use Google Voice with your iPhone as long as you don’t mind using your minutes.  If you want to make free VoIP calls, follow the instructions below.

Part Three: Setting up your Gizmo or SipGate account

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

Note: Parts Two and Three are optional.  You need them only if you want to make free VoIP calls with your iPhone that don’t use your minutes, or if you want to connect your Google Voice number with an analog telephone adapter for free home phone service.

Update: Since Gizmo5 is no longer allowing new signups, I recommend substituting a free SipGate account.

SipGate Instructions (You don’t need this if you’re using Gizmo5)

1. Go to https://secure.sipgate.com/register/code.  Enter your cell number to receive a text message with instructions for signing up.  Make sure you choose “SipGate One,” which is free.  Make a note of your SipGate number.  You can always find it again by signing into your account, clicking “Settings” and then “Phone Numbers.”

Note: Your new SipGate number is a normal phone number, and can be called directly from any phone.  Incoming calls are free.  Outgoing calls cost 2 cents per minute at the time of this writing.  Combining your SipGate number with Google Voice allows you to make calls in such a way that SipGate treats them as free incoming calls.

Gizmo Instructions (You don’t need these if you’re using SipGate.)

1. Go to GizmoProject.com.  Click on “Download for Desktop.”  Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the Gizmo softphone client.
2. When you open the softphone program for the first time, you will have two choices: “Log in using an existing account name” or “Register a new account name.”  Select “Register a new account name.” You’ll be asked to pick a username and password, and provide an email address.  Follow the instructions to register your free account.  Don’t opt for any of the paid plans unless you already know you want to.
3. Return to GizmoProject.com.  Click on “Members Sign In” in the upper right corner.  Enter your username and password to sign in.
4. Scroll down until you see “Account Overview.”  Beneath “Account Overview” you should see “Sip Number:” followed by a 11 digit number that looks like a phone number.  Write this number down- you’ll need it to set up forwarding in your Google Voice account.
5. Click the “Google Voice” tab.  Enter your Google Voice number and click “Save.”  This enables Google Voice calling directly through Gizmo.  Your Google Voice number will show up as your outgoing caller ID.  Gizmo limits you to 3 minutes free on outgoing calls, after which you pay 2 cents per minute.  All incoming calls are free, which is why I’m going to show you how originate your calls from Google Voice such that Gizmo treats them as incoming calls.

Note: the Gizmo “Sip” number is not a regular phone number, and cannot be directly called from a cell phone or landline.  In order to take calls from regular phones, you have to set up a forwarding service, such as Google Voice.  For a few dollars per month, Gizmo will give you a regular phone number that forwards to your Sip number.  Google Voice does the same thing for free, and I’ll explain how to set that up.

Part Four: Configure Fring

Fring is a free VoIP and chat client for the iPhone.  This is how you’ll make Google Voice calls without using your minutes.  Theoretically, any VoIP client that uses the SIP protocol should be compatible and can be used in place of Fring.

Update: If you’re configuring Fring to use your SipGate account, follow the instructions below, but substitute your SipGate SIP credentials.  To find them, sign into your SipGate account, click Settings, then SIP Credentials in the rightmost column.  A popup will appear with your SIP credentials, which you can print if you wish.  Use “sipgate.com” as your proxy.

1. Once you’ve installed Fring, you need to configure it with your SIP settings.  To do this, open Fring and select More at the bottom right corner of the screen.  Select Add-ons from the list, then select SIP.  If you’re using Gizmo, then choose “Gizmo” at this point  If you’re using SipGate, choose “Other.”
2. Under “Username” enter your 11 digit Gizmo SIP number.  If you don’t know what this is, go back to Part Two Step 3 for instructions on how to find it.  If you’re using Sipgate, enter your SipGate SIP-ID.
3. Enter your password in the “Password” field.
4. Under “Proxy,” enter “proxy01@sipphone.com” if you’re using Gizmo, or “sipgate.com” if you’re using SipGate.
5. Tap “Subscribe.”

Part Five: Set up forwarding from Google Voice to Gizmo or SipGate

SipGate Instructions

1. Open Fring on your iPhone.
2. Log into your Google Voice account on your desktop computer.  Click “Settings” then “Phones.”
3. Click “Add Phone.”
4. You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select. Select “Home” under phone type and enter your 10 digit SipGate number.  (This is the number I told you to write down in Part Two.  If you didn’t write it down, log into your SipGate account, click “Settings” then “Phone Numbers.”)
5. Click “Save.”  After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.  Click “Confirm.”
6. On your iPhone, Fring will ring.  Accept the call, then tap the dialpad button in the upper right corner below the volume button.  When prompted, enter the 2-digit Google Voice verification code.  You will be told that your phone is now verified.

Gizmo Instructions

1. Log into your Google Voice account.  Click “Settings” then “Phones.”
2. Click “Add Phone.”
3. You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select. Make sure you select “Gizmo” under phone type.  Enter your 11 digit Gizmo Sip number.  (This is the number I told you to write down in Part Two.  If you didn’t write it down, return to Part Two step 3.)
4. Click “Save.”  After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.  Click “Confirm.”
5. On your iPhone, Fring will ring.  Accept the call, then tap the dialpad button in the upper right corner below the volume button.  When prompted, enter the 2-digit Google Voice verification code.  You will be told that your phone is now verified.

Part Six: Place calls using Fring

This is the part where we put all the pieces together so you can make free Google Voice calls without using your cell phone minutes.

Gizmo and SipGate do not charge for incoming calls, but they do charge a per minute rate for outgoing calls.  We’re going to get around this by originating the calls from the Google Voice mobile website so that Gizmo or SipGate will treat each call as a free incoming call.

Here’s how you place calls:

1. Open Fring and leave it running.
2. Press the Home button twice quickly to open the Fast App Switching Menu.
3. Open Opera Mini and go to www.google.com/voice/m.  You should save this site as a bookmark or start page shortcut.
4. Log in with your Google Voice credentials.
5. Scroll down until you see Quick Call and a text input field.  Tap the input field and type the phone number you want to call.  Tap Call.
6. Fring will ring.  When you accept the incoming call, Google Voice will  place the call you dialed.
7. You can also place calls by tapping Contacts, selecting a contact, and tapping Call.

Part Seven: Additional ways to use Google Voice on your iPhone

Send and receive texts through Google Voice

From Safari or Opera Mini, go to http://www.google.com/voice/m.  This the mobile version of the Google Voice web interface.  From there, you can send and receive text messages, and view your call history and voicemail transcriptions.  Placing calls through Fring only works in Opera Mini, but you can send texts and place Google Voice calls directly from your iPhone using Safari.

Make Google Voice calls without Fring

If you want to make a regular cellular call but have Google Voice show up as your outgoing caller ID, open Safari, and go to http://www.google.com/voice/m.  Enter a phone number or select a contact and select Call.  Select Call again when prompted.  Your iPhone will dial a Google Voice proxy number and the call will be routed through Google Voice to the number you dialed.  Your Google Voice number will show up on the other person’s caller ID.

Unlimited calls without using Fring

If you have a plan that includes unlimited calling to certain numbers, you can get unlimited calling to all your contacts by setting your Google Voice numbers as one of your faves, placing all your calls through Google Voice.  For unlimited incoming calls, you’ll need to configure Google Voice to show your GV number as the incoming number on Caller ID when someone calls you.

Use Google Voice as your landline

If you have an analog telephone adapter, you can configure it for use with Google Voice and your regular landline telephone.

Use Google Voice with your Windows Mobile phone

If you have a Windows Mobile device (not Windows Phone 7), you can configure it as a VoIP phone using Fring.

Use Google Voice (including VoIP calling) with your Android phone

Here’s a tutorial for configuring your Android device for free VoIP calls with Google Voice.

Use Google Voice with your Nokia Internet Tablet

If you have a Nokia N-series internet tablet, you can configure it for use as a wifi phone using Google Voice and Gizmo.

Make cheap international calls

Domestic US calls with Google Voice are free.  You can also make international calls starting at about 2 cents per minute if you buy calling credit with GV.  Log into your Google Voice account at http://www.google.com/voice/ and go to Settings -> Billing -> Add Credit.

Did this article save you time or money? If so, please consider making a donation through my secure PayPal link.

Why would I want to use Google Voice with my cell phone?

1. Google Voice gives you a permanent number that forwards to the phone or phones of your choice.  If you change carriers or move, you don’t have to worry about “porting” your old phone number- you can just change your forwarding phone settings in Google Voice.  Additionally, your Google Voice number can ring your home, work, and cell phones at the same time, and you can answer whichever one you want.  You can block specific numbers, send others to specific phones, and determine what time of day you want each phone to ring.
2. Save money/minutes on calls.  US calls are free.  International calls are far less expensive than the exorbitant per-minute fees charged by cellular carriers.  For example, I can use Google Voice to call my sister in Germany for about 2 cents per minute.  AT&T would charge well over a dollar per minute for the same call.
3. Keep your cell/home numbers private.  You can use Google Voice as your outgoing number when you place calls.  This requires some additional software, but gives the advantage of not exposing numbers you want to keep private.  Only your Google Voice number will show up on caller ID when you place calls this way.
4. Save money on text messages.  You can send and receive text messages directly from Google Voice using your phone’s mobile browser.  If you don’t have a text plan, or if your text plan only gives you a limited number of monthly messages, this is a good way to maximize your usage while saving on message fees.  Alternatively, you can have your text messages forwarded to your phone.
5. Voicemail transcription.  Using your phone’s mobile browser, you can read transcriptions of voicemail messages minutes after they are left.  The transcriptions are not perfect, and are sometimes amusing, but the service is good enough that you can see who called and get the gist of what they wanted.

Disclaimer (Read this before you continue!): This is the part where I cover my butt.  Integrating Google Voice with your Windows Mobile phone requires installing and configuring several free third-party software programs. The procedure described below worked on my HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T running Windows Mobile 6.5.  I have not tried it on any other device and I make no guarantees that it will work on yours.  I do not offer any type of tech support.  If you choose to proceed, you do so at your own risk and agree that I am not responsible for anything that may go wrong as a result.

Still with me?  Good.

Things you’ll need

In addition to your phone, you’ll need several pieces of free software, and a couple of free user accounts.  I’ll show you where to get each of these things and how to configure them.

Hardware

1. A device running Windows Mobile.  I have version 6.5 on mine.  I’m under the impression that this should work with previous versions as well, but you may have to use different software or earlier versions of the same software.

Software

1. iDialer-gv from Supware.com.  This app comes in both Google Voice and regular flavors.  Make sure you get the one for Google Voice, which has the “gv” suffix.
2. iContact from Supware.com.  This app integrates your phone contacts with iDialer and provides some additional functionality.
3. iDialer configuration program.  Once you’ve installed iDialer, you use another program to configure it to your Google Voice account and dialing preferences.
4. Fring.  This is the VoIP client you will use for your Google Voice calls.  You can use another VoIP client if you prefer, as long as it is configurable and supports the SIP protocol.

Services

1. A wifi or 3G connection.
2. A Google Voice account.
3. A Gizmo5 account.  Your Google Voice account will forward to this service, which integrates directly with Fring.

Part One: Setting up Google Voice

Note: For this next part, you need a Google Voice account, or an invitation to set up a Google Voice account.  The service is available by invitation only.  If you already have an account or invitation, skip the next paragraph and go directly to the instructions. Update: Google Voice is now open to the public and invitations are no longer required.

Instructions:

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

1. If you don’t already have a Google Voice account, click the link in your invitation email.  Follow the instructions to create your account.  If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll be asked to set one up at this point.  You will have a choice of area codes, and the chance to enter any number sequences you want in your new phone number.
2. Once you’ve created your Google Voice account, log in and click “Settings” in the upper right corner.
3. Under “Settings,” select “Phones.”  This is where you set up Forwarding Phones, which are the phones you want your Google Voice number to forward to.  When you place a call through Google Voice, you will choose one of your forwarding phones for the call to be connected to.
4. Click “Add phone.”  You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select.
5. After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.
6. Click “Connect.”  Google Voice will call the phone number.  When you answer, you will be asked to enter the code displayed on the website using your phone’s numeric keypad.  After you have entered the code, you will be told, “your forwarding phone is set up.  Goodbye.”

Part Two: Setting up your Gizmo account

Note: Parts Two and Three are optional.  You need them only if you want to make free VoIP calls with your cell phone that don’t use your minutes, or if you want to connect your Google Voice number with an analog telephone adapter for free home phone service.

Update: Since Gizmo5 is no longer allowing new signups, I recommend substituting a free SipGate account, available at https://secure.sipgate.com/register/code.  Enter your cell number to receive a text message with instructions for signing up.  Make sure you choose “SipGate One,” which is free.  Once you’ve signed up, download the SipGate softphone, available here.  Using the SipGate Softphone, register and confirm your SipGate number with your Google Voice account.

I recommend using your desktop computer rather than your mobile browser for this part.

1. Go to GizmoProject.com.  Click on “Download for Desktop.”  Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the Gizmo softphone client.
2. When you open the softphone program for the first time, you will have two choices: “Log in using an existing account name” or “Register a new account name.”  Select “Register a new account name.” You’ll be asked to pick a username and password, and provide an email address.  Follow the instructions to register your free account.  Don’t opt for any of the paid plans unless you already know you want to.
3. Return to GizmoProject.com.  Click on “Members Sign In” in the upper right corner.  Enter your username and password to sign in.
4. Scroll down until you see “Account Overview.”  Beneath “Account Overview” you should see “Sip Number:” followed by a 11 digit number that looks like a phone number.  Write this number down- you’ll need it to set up forwarding in your Google Voice account.
5. Click the “Google Voice” tab.  Enter your Google Voice number and click “Save.”  This enables Google Voice calling directly through Gizmo.  Your Google Voice number will show up as your outgoing caller ID.  Gizmo limits you to 3 minutes free on outgoing calls, after which you pay 2 cents per minute.  All incoming calls are free, which is why I’m going to show you how originate your calls from Google Voice such that Gizmo treats them as incoming calls.

Note: the Gizmo “Sip” number is not a regular phone number, and cannot be directly called from a cell phone or landline.  In order to take calls from regular phones, you have to set up a forwarding service, such as Google Voice.  For a few dollars per month, Gizmo will give you a regular phone number that forwards to your Sip number.  Google Voice does the same thing for free, and I’ll explain how to set that up.

Part Three: Set up forwarding from Google Voice to Gizmo

1. Log into your Google Voice account.  Click “Settings” then “Phones.”
2. Click “Add Phone.”
3. You’ll be asked to enter the type of phone, the number, and a phone name that you select. Make sure you select “Gizmo” under phone type.  Enter your 11 digit Gizmo Sip number.  (This is the number I told you to write down in Part Two.  If you didn’t write it down, return to Part Two step 3.)
4. Click “Save.”  After you click “Save,” a message will pop up telling you that the number needs to be verified.  A 2-digit code will be displayed.
5. Make sure the Gizmo softphone you downloaded to your desktop is open and logged in, and your speakers are turned on.
6. Click “Connect.”  Google Voice will call the phone number.  Your Gizmo desktop client will ring.  When you answer, you will be asked to enter the code displayed on the website.  This part is a little tricky, because you have to find and open the dialpad on your softphone.  Look for a button with a triangle with the point facing down.  This is the “Options” button.  Click it and select “Sound Blasts” from the drop-down menu.  This will bring up the dialpad, which you can use to enter the verification code.  After you have entered the code, you will be told, “your forwarding phone is set up.  Goodbye.”

Part Four: Install and configure iDialer and iContact

iDialer is a free dialpad for your Windows Mobile phone that integrates with Google Voice.  After you’ve installed it, you will use a second program to automatically configure it.  iContact integrates your phone contact list into iDialer, and provides additional functionality for Google Voice calling.

During the installation process, you’ll be given the choice of installing each program to your device memory or to the storage card.  I recommend installing to the storage card to save space on your phone’s limited internal memory.

I’ll walk you through the process.

1. Go to http://www.supware.net/iDialer/.  Scroll down to where it says “Download – Google Voice version.  Click on “iDialer-gv.cab.”  Save this file to your desktop.
2. Go to http://www.supware.net/iContact/.  Click on “iContact.cab” and save it to your desktop.
3. Go to http://www.supware.net/iDialer/config/.  You will see a set of 5 dropdown menus, labelled “Service 1″ through “Service 5.”  Under Service 1, select “Standard (Phone)” and give it a name in the “Title” field.  Under Service 2, select “Google Voice (Callback).”  Then enter your 10 digit cell number in the “Callback Number” field and give it a name in the “Title” field.  If you are using a Gizmo5 account, under Service 3, select “Google Voice (Callback),” and enter your 11 digit Gizmo Sip number.  Repeat the process until you’ve entered all your forwarding phone numbers.  Click “Generate Cab.”  When the download dialog pops up, save the file (iDialer-config.cab) to your desktop.
4. Use your USB cable or storage card to transfer the .cab files to your phone.  Use your phone’s File Explorer to navigate to where you saved the files.
5. Run iDialer-gv.cab.  Follow the onscreen prompts to install the program.
6. When installation has completed, find the iDialer icon under your Start or Programs menu, and tap it.  Enter your Google Voice username and password at the prompt.  Then close the program.
7. Open your phone’s File Explorer and return to where you saved the .cab files.
8. Run iContact.cab.  Follow the onscreen prompts to install the program.
9. Run iDialer-config.cab.  Follow the onscreen prompts to install the program.
10. Return to your Start or Programs menu and reopen iDialer.  If you installed all three .cab files, you should now see a dialpad with a row of buttons underneath.  Notice also the green “Call” button at the bottom of the dialpad.  Underneath the word “Call” you should see the name of one of your forwarding phones in small letters.  Use the button that looks like a phone to cycle through your forwarding phone numbers.  Each time you press the button, the phone name on your Call button should change.
11. Make a test call by selecting your cell phone, entering a number on the dialpad, and pressing the Call button.  After a few seconds, the dialpad will close and your cell phone will ring.  When you answer your phone, Google Voice will place the call to the number you dialed, and the person you called will see your Google Voice number on their caller ID.

Part Five: Install and Configure Fring

Note: I recommend installing Fring to your device memory rather than to your memory card.

Fring is a free VoIP and chat client for Windows Mobile.  This is how you’ll make Google Voice calls without using your minutes.  Theoretically, any VoIP client that uses the SIP protocol should be compatible and can be used in place of Fring.

Unfortunately, Fring doesn’t integrate perfectly with your phone’s regular phone speaker.  You have the choice of using speakerphone or a Bluetooth headset.  Also, voice calls take precedence over Fring calls, so if someone calls your cell phone during a Fring VoIP call, your Fring call will be disconnected.

Update: If you’re configuring Fring to use your SipGate account, follow the instructions below, but substitute your SipGate SIP credentials.  To find them, sign into your SipGate account, click Settings, then SIP Credentials in the rightmost column.  A popup will appear with your SIP credentials, which you can print if you wish.  Use “sipgate.com” as your proxy.

1. Go to http://www.fring.com/default.asp.  Click “Download Fring to your mobile,” then follow the instructions to get the install program.  You’ll have to specify what device you are using and choose whether you want to install from your desktop or from a .cab file on the phone.  This part of the process will vary depending on your choices, so I’m not going to give detailed instructions.  If you have any difficulty downloading or installing Fring, here’s a link to the user manual: http://www.fring.com/support/user_guide/fring_user_manual_Windows_Mobile_334.pdf
2. Once you’ve installed Fring, you need to configure it with your SIP settings.  To do this, select the rightmost tab from the 3 tabs at the bottom of the screen.  This is the “Add-ons” tab.  From the list, double-tap “SIP.”  If you’re using Gizmo, then double-tap “Gizmo.”  If you’re using SipGate, double-tap “Other.”
3. Under “Username” enter your 11 digit Gizmo SIP number.  If you don’t know what this is, go back to Part Two Step 3 for instructions on how to find it.  If you’re using Sipgate, enter your SipGate SIP-ID.
4. Enter your password in the “Password” field.
5. Under “Proxy,” enter “proxy01@sipphone.com” if you’re using Gizmo, and “sipgate.com” if you’re using SipGate.
6. Tap “Subscribe.”

Part Six: Place calls using Fring and iDialer

This is the part where we put all the pieces together so you can make free Google Voice calls without using your cell phone minutes.

Gizmo does not charge for incoming calls.  If you’ve configured your account for Google Voice calling, the first 3 minutes of each outgoing call are free.  After that you pay a per minute rate.  We’re going to get around this by using iDialer to originate calls through Google Voice so that Gizmo treats each call as a free incoming call.

Here’s how you place calls:

1. Open Fring and leave it running.
2. Open iDialer.
3. Choose a contact or enter a phone number.
4. Press the phone icon until your Gizmo number is listed in the green Call button.
5. Press the green Call button.  iDialer will close and Fring will ring.  After you answer, Google Voice will ring the person you are calling.

If iDialer doesn’t work properly, you can use the Google Voice mobile interface to place calls.  Go to http://www.google.com/voice/m/.  Under “Settings” tap “My Mobile Number,” select your SipGate phone from the options and tap “Save.”  Now, when you place a call from the mobile interface, it will ring your SipGate/Fring phone before connecting you.

Switching between 3G and wifi

Fring works on AT&T’s 3G network, as well as on wifi.  To switch from one to the other, go to the Buddies (leftmost) tab in Fring, tap “Menu” then “Change Connection.”  To use wifi, select “Search for WLAN.”  To use AT&T’s 3G network, select “MEdia Net.”  Then tap “Connect.”

Part Seven: Additional Options for Google Voice and iDialer

Send and receive texts through Google Voice

From your mobile phone’s browser, go to http://www.google.com/voice/m.  This the mobile version of the Google Voice web interface.  From there, you can send and receive text messages, view your call history and voicemail transcriptions, and originate calls.

Make Google Voice calls without Fring

If you want to make a regular cellular call but have Google Voice show up as your outgoing caller ID, open iDialer, press the phone icon to select a Google Voice callback to your cell phone, then enter the number or select a contact and press “Call.”  iDialer will close, your cell will ring, and the call will go through after you answer.

Unlimited calls without using Fring

If you have a plan that includes unlimited calling to certain numbers, such as T-Mobile’s MyFaves, you can get unlimited calling to all your contacts by setting your Google Voice numbers as one of your faves, placing all your calls through Google Voice and having all your contacts call you at your Google Voice number instead of your cell number.

Use iDialer to make regular cellular calls

If you followed my instructions for configuring iDialer, one of your dialing options will be to place normal cellular calls without using Google Voice.  Just press the phone icon until you see the title you entered for “Standard (Phone),” enter a phone number or choose a contact, then press the Call button.

Change iDialer dialing options

If at any time you wish to add, remove, or modify your iDialer dialing options, you can do so by returning to http://www.supware.net/iDialer/config/.  Just enter your new preferences, click “Generate CAB,” download the .cab file and run it on your phone.  The next time you use iDialer, your new preferences will show up.

iDialer can also be used with PortSIP, JaJah, calling cards, and Google Voice’s calling card option.

Use Google Voice as your landline

If you have an analog telephone adapter, you can configure it for use with Google Voice and your regular landline telephone.

Use Google Voice with your Nokia Internet Tablet

If you have a Nokia N-series internet tablet, you can configure it for use as a wifi phone using Google Voice and Gizmo.

Make cheap international calls

Domestic US calls with Google Voice are free.  You can also make international calls starting at about 2 cents per minute if you buy calling credit with GV.  Log into your Google Voice account at http://www.google.com/voice/ and go to Settings -> Billing -> Add Credit.

Did this article save you time or money? If so, please consider making a donation.

I knew this was illegal, but wasn’t quite sure how to handle it at first, so I sought guidance from the Google God, and found some excellent information and tools for dealing with plagiarism.

Brent Ozar (http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2009/06/how-to-take-action-when-your-content-is-plagiarized/) recommends first sending a cease and desist letter to the webmaster, followed by a Digital Millenium Copyright Act take-down notice to the plagiarist’s internet service provider and/or web hosting service.  If you don’t get a response from the webmaster or ISP, you can send a DMCA notice to the major search engines, who will delist the offending site.  He even provides links to sample cease and desist letters at PlagiarismToday.com which can be customized for your situation.

A little more Googling yielded WhoIsHostingThis.com, a remarkable tool where you enter a site’s web address to find out who their web host is.  Using this tool, I learned that my plagiarist had hosted his site with Bluehost.  I visited Bluehost.com, clicked the “Contact” link, and found the email address for their abuse department.

Using one of the sample letters as a template, I sent an aggressively worded email to the content thief, CC’ed back to me, referring to relevant federal laws, including the DMCA, mentioning things like his potential liability for “statutory damages as high as $100,000,” and demanding that he take down the stolen content and post an apology on his site indicating that I was the real author of the stolen content.

After sending this email, I started preparing an email to Bluehost, again using a sample letter as a template.  One of the requirements for a DMCA take-down notice is that you provide links to the pages where the original content and the plagiarized content appear.  I revisited the plagiarist’s site to get a link, and discovered that the offending post had already been taken down.  Not long after that, an apology appeared, along with a lame excuse about “accidentally” copying and pasting my article while “testing” his site.  (Newsflash: that’s what a lorem ipsum generator is for, genius.)

My thoughts on the experience

I’m fairly satisfied with how this turned out.  I caught the plagiarism the same day it occurred, my stolen content has been taken down, and I got my apology.  That said, next time I get plagiarized, I’m going to handle it slightly differently:

I’ll take a screenshot of the offending page, so I have proof even if the plagiarist takes down the post.  I’ll also save a copy of the page on my hard drive.  There will be no delay between the cease and desist sent to the plagiarist and the DMCA take-down notice sent to the web host.  In fact, I’ll probably send the take-down notice first.  If he is running AdSense ads, I’ll notify Google.  There’s a good chance the plagiarist’s web hosting account and AdSense account will be shut-down as a result, and he may lose money.  If someone is going to rip off my original content and present it as their own work, then I’m going to cause them as much inconvenience and hassle as the law and my resources allow.

No excuses

There is no excuse for plagiarism.  If you are web-savvy enough to build a site or set up a WordPress blog, you are smart enough to understand enough about copyright law to know or learn what is and isn’t acceptable.  If you’re not sure, a quick Google search on such things as “plagiarism” and “fair use” will tell you all you need to know.  If you don’t want to write your own content or don’t feel qualified to do so, you can pay someone else to do it, or find original content that is licensed for syndication.  If this guy had bothered to ask, I might have even written him a guest post in exchange for a link back to my site.

Share class notes with Google Docs

Google Docs is like having Microsoft Word in your email account.  Once you sign up, you have access to a word processor and spreadsheet application that can import and export files to and from Microsoft and Open Document formats.  It doesn’t have all the features of Microsoft Office, but it’s good enough for most of the writing you’ll have to do during college.  Best of all, you can give your friends access and editing privileges for your documents, enabling easy sharing of class notes and study guides, and efficient collaboration on projects.

A few years ago, getting notes for a class I missed meant I had to set up a time to meet, and either copy by hand or find a copy machine.  Now, if I’m getting notes from a colleague who uses Google Docs, sharing notes with me takes 30 seconds and a couple of mouse clicks.

I’ve also used Google Docs to collaborate on study guides.  I imported the review sheet into a Google Doc and shared it with friends.  Each of us could log in, see what questions had been answered, and address the ones that remained.

Google Docs is free.

Click here to learn more about Google Docs

Earn money or merchandise for sharing class notes with Knetwit

Knetwit is like a giant online warehouse for sharing class notes, organized by university and course.  It is free to join, because it is supported by advertising, and shares the revenue with its users.  You can upload your own notes, or view notes posted by others.  Each time you upload a note, you receive points, called “Koin.”  Koin can be redeemed for money or merchandise at the Knetwit Store.  Your notes are available to other Knetwit users, and you receive Koin each time that happens.

Knetwit is most valuable to freshmen and sophomores taking large general education classes, because there is a larger potential pool of notes to draw from.  Grad students in smaller, more specialized classes will find it less useful, but can still upload their notes.

For more about Knetwit read my review here.

Disclaimer: Make sure you aren’t violating any university or class policies before you share your notes in this manner.

Get a permanent phone number, screen calls, and make free phone calls with Google Voice

If you’re anything like me, you moved and changed phone numbers several times during college.  Updating your contacts can be a pain, and sometimes people slip through the cracks.  At one point I almost didn’t get into my intended academic program because my college was trying to contact me at an outdated phone number.

Google Voice solves that problem.  When you sign up, you get a free phone number that is yours for life.  You then set it up to forward to the phone(s) of your choice with rules based on who is calling and what time it is.  You can even screen calls by listening to voicemail messages as they are being left and interrupt if you want to talk to the caller.  Google Voice can also receive text messages and forward them to your cell phone.

Google Voice is useful if you’ve moved to a new area and want to keep your old cell phone number but also have a local number for things like apartment security gates.

If you have a computer and an internet connection, you can use Google Voice to make free phone calls within the US.  This involves some setup, detailed here.

Google Voice is currently available by invitation only.  You can request an invitation here.

Use email as a backup for term papers and projects

Hopefully you’ve never had the experience of losing a critical assignment to a lost or corrupted flash drive.  I have, and that’s why I always use my Gmail account to keep a backup.  Here’s how it works:

1. When you finish working on an assignment, attach a copy of the file to an email and send it to yourself.  You can use the subject line for keywords that will help you find it in your mailbox later.  You an also use Gmail’s labels or Yahoo’s folders to make a category just for your backups.
2. Each time you change the file, delete the email and send an updated copy.

If you lose, forget, or damage your flash drive, you can retrieve and print the assignment from any computer with an internet connection.

Keep business and pleasure separate with virtual desktops

Are you the type of student who likes to keep email, Facebook, Twitter and LOLCats open while you work on school assignments?  Ever wish you had multiple monitors so you could keep your fun stuff open on one while you slave away undistracted at the other?

Virtual Dimension allows you to separate your open programs and windows into multiple desktops as if you had multiple monitors.  You can switch between them with a mouse click or a keystroke.

Right now, I have my email, calendar and Facebook open in one virtual desktop, and I’m blogging in the second.  That helps me stay focused on writing without getting distracted by extra buttons in my task bar.

Virtual Dimension is free and can be downloaded here: http://virt-dimension.sourceforge.net/

Run your favorite programs from a flash drive with Portable Apps

A portable app is a program that has been adapted to run from a flash drive, allowing you to carry around your favorite programs, preferences, and bookmarks and use them on any Windows computer.  Many open source programs are available as portable apps, including web browsers like FireFox, office suites like Open Office, and image editing and developer tools like the GIMP, Kompozer, and Notepad++.  You can set up your flash drive to include only the programs you want.

Portable Apps is free.  You can learn more and download it at PortableApps.com.

Save money with open source software

Last summer, I blogged about how I’ve saved over $1,200 by using free, open source alternatives to commercial programs.  This includes using Open Office instead of Microsoft Office, and free developer tools like Kompozer and the GIMP instead of Dreamweaver and Photoshop.  Read the full post here.

Have something to say?  Tell us about it in the comments.