How to make and receive free phone calls using your N810, Google Voice and Gizmo

The Nokia N810 excels as a VoIP Wifi phone.  I previously mentioned the device’s Skype capability, which I am so far pleased with.  It’s inexpensive and works well, and I recommend it.  This article will show you how to take things one step further by setting up your N810 to make and receive absolutely free phone calls to landlines and cell phones within the United States.  I’ll walk you through the entire setup process.

Things You’ll Need

1. A Nokia N800 or N810 Internet Tablet.   If you don’t yet have one, you can purchase it here. This can also be done with a Wifi capable Blackberry or Windows Mobile device, but since I don’t have either of those, my instructions will focus on the N810.  Setting up other devices should be similar- you’ll just have to find the specific client programs yourself, and they may not be free.
2. A desktop or laptop computer.  This may not be absolutely necessary, but it is probably faster and easier if you have it.
3. A free account with the Gizmo Project.  I’ll show you how to set that up.
4. A free Google Voice account.  These are available at www.google.com/voice.
5. Dial Central installed on your N810.  I’ll show you how to set that up.

Part One: Setting up your Gizmo account

This part is easiest if you use your desktop or laptop computer rather than the internet tablet.

1. Go to GizmoProject.com.  Click on “Download for Desktop.”  Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the Gizmo client
2. When you open the client 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 10 digit number that looks like a phone number.  Write this number down- you’ll need it to set up your Google Voice account.

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 Two: Setting up your N810 to receive Gizmo calls

There are two ways to do this.  The way that I will show you uses the N810′s built in internet call client.  It involves some basic configuration, but has the advantage of saving about 10 megabytes of device memory, and will ring when a call comes in, even if you don’t have the client open. The other way is to install the Gizmo client through the N810′s Application Manager.  Feel free to try them both and see which one you prefer.

1. Open the N810′s “Internet Call” client.  This should be under “Communication,” or under the button with the 3 little people on your home screen.
2. Open the program menu.  Select “Tools,” then “Accounts.”  When the Accounts wizard opens, tap “New.”
3. Under “User name:” you will see 2 blank fields separated by the “@” character.  Enter your Gizmo username in the left field, and “proxy01.sipphone.com” in the right field.  Enter your password in the password field.  Check “Use for PSTN calls.”
4. Tap the “Advanced” button.  Change “Transport:” to UDP.  Tap “OK.”  The Advanced options will close.
   
5. Tap “Next.”  Enter an Account name of your choice.  I called this account “Gizmo.”
6. Tap “Next,” then “Finish,” then “Close” to close the Accounts wizard.

Congratulations!  You’ve finished the hardest part.

Part Three: Setting up Google Voice

Note: For this next part, you need a Google Voice account.  These are available at www.google.com/voice.  If you already have an account or invitation, skip the next paragraph and go directly to the instructions.

Instructions:

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.  If you are setting up forwarding to your Gizmo number, make sure you select “Gizmo” under “Phone Type.” Click “Save.”
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.  This part is a little tricky with the N810.  As soon as you answer the call, tap the “Internet Call” program menu.  Under “Internet Call,” select “DTMF dialing.”  A numeric keypad will appear on which you can enter your activation code.  After you have entered the code, you will be told, “your forwarding phone is set up.  Goodbye.”

Check these settings on your N810

1. Under Settings, open Control Panel.
2. Double-tap “Presence.”
3. When the Presence menu opens, make sure “Status when connected” is set to On, and “Auto-away” is disabled.  You should see a small green circle in your status bar near your battery meter.
4. Open the Internet Call program menu.  Under “Tools,” tap “Settings.”  Make sure “Receive calls from” is set to “All.”  You can also select a ringtone by tapping “Tools” then “Ringtones.”
5. Test your setup by calling your Google Voice number from another phone.  If your settings are correctly configured the call should ring on your N810.

Part Four: Setting up DialCentral for free outgoing calls on your N810

DialCentral is a Google Voice client for the Nokia N810.  You can use it to view your contacts, send text messages from your Google Voice number, view your text messages and transcribed voicemails, and place calls through Google Voice.

Update (8/13/09): Some readers have found this next part confusing.  For clarity, I’ll define a couple of technical terms you need to know:

Forwarding Phone: This refers to any phone number that you set your Google Voice number to forward to.  This is the same as a Callback Number in DialCentral.  You can add forwarding phones by signing into your Google Voice account at http://google.com/voice, clicking “Settings” then “Phones.”

Callback Number: When you place a call through DialCentral, it doesn’t call out directly.  Instead, you tell it which of your forwarding phones you would like the call connected to.  Google Voice will call you on that phone, then connect you with the number you are calling.  Google Voice does not charge for calls within the US. DialCentral refers to this as your “Callback Number.” I’ll explain how this works below.  If you still have questions after reading this section, this post may help.

To install DialCentral, you’ll need to enable the “maemo Extras” repository in Application Manager.  Here’s how:

1. Go into Application manager.
2. Tap the menu, then “Tools” then “Application catalog.”
3. Double-tap “maemo Extras.”
4. Make sure “Disabled” is not checked.

To install DialCentral:

1. In Application Manager select “Browse installable applications” then “All.”
2. Scroll down until you see DialCentral.  Double-tap it, then tap “OK.”
3. When the Nokia warning notice pops up, select “OK.”  DialCentral will install.

To configure DialCentral:

1. Start DialCentral.  Enter your Google Voice username and password when prompted.  Make sure you select Google Voice from the drop-down menu. (Update 10/9/09: It is no longer necessary to select the account type during this step.  All you have to do is enter your Google Voice username and password)
2. Under “Accounts” choose a “Callback Number.”  This is the number of the phone you are “calling from” when you place a call.
3. To make a call either enter the number on the keypad and tap “Dial,” or double-tap one of your contacts and tap “Dial.”  Google Voice will call your designated Callback Number, then connect you with the phone you want to reach.

What if I don’t have a Google Voice account?

If the Google God is ignoring your intreaties, and you absolutely must have your free wifi phone working right now, try IPKall.com.  You will receive a phone number with a Washington State area code that will forward to your Gizmo Sip number (remember that?).  You won’t have all the features and toys of Google Voice, and you won’t be able to call out, but you’ll be able to receive free incoming phone calls on your internet tablet until your Google Voice invitation arrives.

1. Go to IPKall.com.  Click on “Sign-up.”
2. Choose SIP, and an area code.
3. Enter your Gizmo Sip number.  If you don’t remember what this is, refer back to Part One: Setting up your Gizmo account.
4. Enter “proxy01.sipphone.com” in the “SIP Proxy:” field.
5. Provide an email address and password.

IPKall will take a couple of days to review your application.  I submitted mine on a Tuesday and received a reply the following Friday.  You will receive an email with your IPKall number (this is the one you give to your friends).  Once your N810 is configured to receive Gizmo calls, it should ring when you dial the IPKall number on a regular phone.

Whew, that was a long post!

I know.  I spent all afternoon writing it.  I hope it’s helpful.  Feel free to ask questions or share your experiences in the comments.  If you are still on the fence and don’t own a Nokia N810, I invite you to purchase it here.

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