yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
If you have SMS coming into your GV #, and have your Google Voice settings setup to have it forward to your Mobile #, then you'll get random #'s assigned for each contact that you get an SMS from.

Just use the Google Voice app on the phone to handle all of your SMS and don't do forwarding. The Messaging app isn't any better and just complicates things when you do forwarding.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] SKYLINESSUCK:
200mb per day and we will likely be talking a lot. Any input on how long it takes from when you activate it online to when it starts working? I'd do it right now if I could specify the days, but I suspect it will try and start me from when i sign up.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
At least with the $30 plan, it started working the minute I funded the account.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] SKYLINESSUCK:
Thanks! Were there any options to choose the a different time frame other than starting immediatly? Probably not I'm guessing. I'll probably just start it the morning we leave. I wonder if the time difference (travelling back in time as it were :-) is going to screw with it any........
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
Honestly can't remember. It wasn't even on my radar.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] akenis:
Just got ported to GV lastnight. Either sms isn't working, or my friends are ignoring me:-( Will wait...

Disagree with above. GV is very unfriendly with sms.... hate looking at inbox with multiple threads for each person mixed in with vm. And that multiple number thing would be a slight pain.

Just installed Full Google Voice Integration app $4.99. All texting is handled by AWESOME native app... plus it's duplicated in GV, so u can pick up the thread from a PC or another device!! Check it out.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
Yup, I'd give ~72 hours for all the necessary routing changes to be in place.

Which "multiple number thing"? If you have SMS configured to forward to your mobile number (as opposed to just being handled by the Google Voice app), then yes - you'll be messaging a random number rather than the number stored in your contacts. That can be a bit confusing, but each message will generally start with the contact's name so you know what's up.

If you're using the Google Voice app, it's all transparent. There's no SMS forwarding, so an additional messaging number isn't required. It works exactly like a standard messaging app from that point - just with the added bonus (?) of having voice message transcribed as well.

That does sound like a cool app and a nice alternative for those who are still delaying the actual move to relying upon Google Voice... if you've just ported your number to Google Voice it's not really needed though, unless you intend to also SMS from your mobile's number.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] newtonfb:
I have a question....

I bought Gnexus off play store and activated it with straight talk $45 unlimited plan. I ported my sprint number over to google voice before hand. Ive been using groove ip for a couple weeks with it being OK...nothing great. Then i realized I have unlimited minutes on my account so why cant i just use my google voice number to call out on...

So thats my question...how do i make it so when i call out to someone they see my google voice number and not the number from straight talk dialing from the native dialer?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
From the Google Voice app:

Menu --> Settings --> Making Calls --> Use Google Voice to make all calls
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] unisound1:
Testing out Straight Talk for 30 days...

Hello! I am a Sprint customer with 6 lines and thinking about moving 5 of them to ST. I ordered the Galaxy Nexus and ST ATT sim on Wednesday of last week and received them both on Friday. Excellent! Since my Sprint # is my Google Voice # I activated the sim and installed the GV app on the Nexus and was good to go with my own #. After calling, messaging and pic messaging I ran the speedtest. One of my major problems was Sprint's unlimited but very slow data. My Sprint SGS2 ran a .3 mbs download while the GN ran a 3.0 mbs download. I usually use about 2.5 gb/mo of Sprint data so we will see how that goes when I hit that limit with ST. Thanks everyone for the informative info in this thread.

My other major problem was the ability to switch my kids phones without being hit wioh the new smartphone fees from Sprint. I do not have 4g in my area but have 2 phones on my account with 4g. My kids all use non 4g smartphones that were grandfathered in last year. Now they want newer phones so I will be looking at another $30 per month in fees.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
^ he nailed it.

One extra thing is, although I assume you're going to want that unless you need to use your ST # for a call (which you probably won't if you're using GV# as your primary), you may want to choose the other option. I personally use "ask every time I make a call" because I sometimes want to use the carrier #.

---------- Post added at 01:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:37 PM ----------

Pretty sure they say on the page that it can take 3-4 days to fully port and start to receive SMS again.

I've been using the GV app for ~95% of my texting needs and its been great, especially after the latest couple of updates that fixed the UI and usability. The multiple thread thing is annoying sometimes, but I'm not one to want to hold onto long threads. I regularly delete my threads every day or 2 anyways.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] darkfire2024:
The whole texting thing with Google voice has really confused me. I really like the ics mms app, so I would just give out my new sim number instead of gv number so that all mms is done through stock app right?

From what I read, gv seems like an all in one solution to voicemail, text and voice. I would really like a section of the guide to compile the benefits and usages of Google voice and including what happens when calls/texts get forwarded and such. It still seems so complex to me lol.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. It seems true that saving so much money makes happier, freer and richer people.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] akenis:
Yeah GV can bee really confusing to set up with some settings on the web client and some on the decice. Somewhat easier when you realize that some of the settings are inboth clients and transfer automatically.

Calling using GV number: way slick. Minor annoyance with the "calling using @s" notification. Seems like a bug.

SMS with native app via google voice enabled by GV full integration app is great. You need root though. On web client, say no to "receive text on this number." On android client, disable notivications for GV and select "receive text via gv." GV Full integration automatically populates native app with all sent/received messages... regardless of which device you sent from. Only downside.. from what I can tell, GV full integration AND GV must be running in background. Sent dev a mail about making options to have them autostart on reboot.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] gear.h34d.2012:
So I got my SIM a day early and got everything up and running. I took the advice of a few a few pages back and left the MVNO Proxy and Port blank.

Working like a charm! Think this is going to be a good thing.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
Well if you want to receive MMS, yes you have to give them your current SIM #. Your GV

cannot

receive MMS. You won't receive notification or anything. This is really the only downside to GV.

It really is a great all-in-one solution

assuming you go all in with it

. Going part of the way just causes more problems than it solves, IMO.

The Google Voice website (FAQ) pages really explain everything, although it's a bit wordy and theres a lot to work through. You can really figure it out if you read up a bit into it.

This is basically how it works. To start, you have 2 choices: be assigned a new Google Voice number, or port your current (carrier) number to Google Voice. At that point, your number is a "virtual number". It's only in Google Voice, and nothing else.

Only give out this number from now on

. You can choose which to do at your discretion. I personally just got a new GV # that's the same as my current one, with a new area code.

Now to handle SMS, I strongly recommend just using the Google Voice app, and not the SMS app. It'll just save you more troubles. As I said if you ever need to receive MMS, hand out the carrier # just for MMS. Or just have people e-mail, Facebook Message, etc. it to you.

To handle calls, go to voice.google.com, click the "gear" (settings) icon, and dive into the settings. You setup your current SIM # as a "Forwards calls to:" device. You can set up several phones to ring if you'd like. Now every time your GV # is called, every single phone that you have "checked" to forward to will ring. When you pick up on one, the others stop ringing. You can dynamically set which devices/phones ring based on time of day, day of the week, or by caller or caller group. You can get really granular with these settings, or just leave them stock.

As noted a page back, with the Google Voice app on your phone, you can simply set the stock Dialer app on your phone to use your GV # only (or give you the choice of which # to use) when making calls. Nothing special to do here. Contacts will see you as calling from your GV #.

Another little "plus" is being able to make/receive calls in GMail. Under your voice.google.com settings, set "Google Talk" as a forwarding device. Now your GMail tab on your PC will ring when your calls come in. You can manage this just like it's another phone ringing. Calls are all free to the US and Canada.

Now once this is set up, you can move devices/numbers/SIMs/providers at any time. When your new SIM gets activated and you have a new number, or your home phone line gets changed, or whatever, you can just go to voice.google.com and change your forwarding numbers. All of your contacts keep calling and receiving calls from the same GV #, and are none the wiser that you've switched devices.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ogp:
I've talked my Dad into getting a G'Nex from Google to use with his existing ST plan. I believe his current phone is a Samsung T404G. It doesn't seem to have a SIM. Can anyone advise how I would go about moving his current ST number to the new SIM?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] urinsane:
Might be a problem.. I think I read that someone had issues trying to convert an old straight talk plan (cdma I think) to the new sim card plan.

Best bet is probably to call in to customer service and hope for someone feeling helpful. Or port to google voice but not sure if he would want to hassle with it.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Loki047:
Strange question - anyone in Chicago with a ported number to google voice willing to meet up so I can see if this is the route for me?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
What do you need to know? There's nothing in person to see that can't be seen on your own... once you port your number it'll act exactly the same as a random GV # that you can assign yourself and try out now.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
Hello. I am currently on horrible Verizon and am looking to cancel my contract and port my number over to straighttalk with the gsm gnex. Can I do this? Can I keep my same number when/if I switch? Would I register my number with straightalk first before cancelling Verizon?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
You buy a SIM/refill card from ST, and

don't activate it

. When you're ready to leave Verizon and start ST, you cancel your Verizon service to "free up" your number. Once you've paid your ETF and service has ended, the number should be good to go. Contact Straight Talk and tell them you're ready to start service with a ported number. It can all be done on their end from that point.

Its important that you talk to Verizon first to make sure that their porting policy fits in with your process. If you want to "keep" your number they may require you to go in a different order. Check with them first for specifics.

Its also important, again, that you do not start your ST service before freeing up your Verizon number to port. If you start ST with a randomly assigned number, you are stuck with it.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] urinsane:
I stand corrected.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
For the reasons outlined above, do

not

do this. My brother just had this issue 3 weeks ago. He accidentally chose to start ST service with a new number, and was unable to port his number to them.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] urinsane:
Derp.. missed your post, sorry
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
It's okay. Just wanted to save him the time/$$. $15 per SIM + waiting a month to start a new cycle to re-try with porting the # is annoying.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] darkfire2024:
Thank you martonikaj! You're post just cleared up everything for me. As for now, I'll think I'll stick with my new t-mobile # as I'm an avid user of MMS (I can't enough enough of sending friends rage faces lol).

Here's a question for everyone, do you guys plan to jump on the next galaxy nexus when it's priced for $400 some time next year?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
No problem.

FYP

We'll see what happens. Loving my GNex right now. I'd be extremely surprised if the next high-end Nexus

launches

at $399. If these rumors from today are true, there may be a Nexus that is $399 but not the top of the line. Time will tell though as we get more info.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bobsbbq:
If you are leaving verizon, you can do as mention above. Personally I did it a little different way. I ported the number first, as it states the service must be active to transfer the number. However when you port the number you will terminate your service and still have to pay the same ETF. I did it this way as I was at the end of my billing cycle and didn't want to wait on verizon.

Again this is just the way I did it. I'm not giving advise.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Zorachus:
I have always done that too, I just port my # to the new carrier first, then after it is complete, my old carrier gets the notice that I terminated the contract obviously, and I pay the ETF.

Soon when I switch to the Unlocked GSM Nexus, and get off the raping that is Verizon, I will be contract free, and no commitment, can't fukking wait. The T-Mobile $60 plan is totally unlimited minutes and texts, with 2gb of data, and no contract whatsoever, compared to Verizon, I am on the unlimited plan too, and for both my Wife and I, being on the same plan, both on the Nexus, we pay total with tax close to $240 per month !!!!!!! Switching to T-Mobile will be a whopping 50% cheaper, saving us $120 per month, and be contract free. FUKK U Verizon

Being on a 2yr contract in the U.S. is like bending over and being corn holed each month. It hurts.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Loki047:
I guess that's all i needed to know. Ordered my GNex and ST SIM w/ Unlimited.

Now - to leave sprint do I:

A) Call, cancel and pay the ETF ($320)

B) Switch PRLs and get kicked off for high data/voice roaming (all while using my GNex)

C) Call, explain I will start purposely data/voice roaming in excess and see if they let me out of my contract?

Normally I am stickler for agreements and upholding my end, but Sprint service has been so bad my E4GT GS2 is basically unusable.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BrianDigital:
I'm trying the force roaming my etf is under one hundred, but still trying to it myself for free.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
I'm not a big fan of effectively "cheating the system" to get out of your ETF. Although you have an understandable complaint with the speeds and quality of the network, it's not at all a

valid

complaint that is

actual grounds for ending your service w/o ETF

. I'm all for sticking it to the carriers (obviously), but they have no guarantee of speeds in your contract, and there is an option (ETF) if you feel the need to leave before the contract is up.

All your call though. I guess its just a good example of why I'll never sign a contract again. I personally left Sprint a couple years ago after plenty of issues and haven't looked back.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BS_sage:
Agreed on the 'going all in' thing.

It's the only way to go, because then you start to find the advantages of Google Voice, like the SMS from the browser or your email. I have a computer near me more than my mobile, so having the texts get to me whereever I am is great.

Plus, the multiple phone numbers confuses a lot of people. They don't seem to delete the old numbers (since they still work) and they aren't sure which number is which so they try you on all numbers. Whoops, got a skype number also? :)

I just give out the ONE GV number, and tell everyone that is THE number. All of the others will go straight to Voicemail.

"Why didn't you pick up?"

"What number did you call? That's the wrong one."

"But that's the one I always used."

"Delete it. Now. There can be only one."

[I noticed this all got way off topic from the original Pre-Paid post, which is why I was originally here for.]
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
So let me know if this sounds right...

1.Buy the Nexus straight from Google Play Store

-I can use it on and Att or TMobile provider in the future

2.Buy the Sim card from TMobile or StraightTalk

3.Once I receive the Sim call Verizon and cancel my contract and tell them I want to keep my number "free" for porting to another service

4.Activate sim card on either TMobile or StraightTalk

[Q] I can't just activate my Sim first, and have it automatically port my number, effectively canceling my contract with Verizon automatically?

[Q] Should I sign up for Google Voice and port my number there first, and just get a random number for the sim I am activating?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
I think that process sounds right.

It's always best to coordinate with the carrier you are porting FROM to make sure everyone is on the same page. That said, when I ported one of my lines from AT&T to T-Mobile, I just asked T-Mobile to bring the number over and they did - effectively canceling my service with AT&T.

That's what I would recommend. If you are able to port your number to Google Voice, do it. It will make the transition easier for everyone else :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
Sounds about right.

Well it sounds like you should be able to, but again I'd ask Verizon which way to do it for the least amount of trouble.

That's your choice if you want to go with Google Voice. There's been lots of talk about this the last few pages I'd re-read and see what you think. Personal choice.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BS_sage:
Port to Google Voice first, and let your SIM get a random number.

Once your number is on Google Voice, you can forward it to any number you want. So, technically, you can have a new sim every month on a different carrier and never have to worry about porting the number again. GV points to whereever you want it to point.

---------- Post added at 05:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 PM ----------

When I got my Galaxy Nexus a couple month ago, I tried the T-Mobile $30 data plan.

My plan was to drop AT&T (not in contract) and go with the monthly T-Mobile. 100 minutes of talk was more than enough, as I mainly use data.

But, I didn't have a good data signal. Mostly Edge, if any data at all.

If I popped my ATT SIM in, I had H+, pop TMo in, Edge or nothing.

If I needed a talk plan, then the signal seemed great where ever I went. But it was useless for my purposes.

This is in Western CT. And I also noticed the data was lacking in NYC, which I found very odd. I might try again in the future, but for now, I'm stuck with AT&T.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Cabal_:
I recommend going this route. Doing anything that involves contacting Verizon first gets you the chance that a fat-fingered service rep will cancel your account earlier and/or lose your number.

We have used this approach when leaving carriers prematurely and it has always worked as expected.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
Thanks guys! Going to set up Google Voice later, so I can switch sims whenever. Probably go with StraightTalk Att for now instead of TMobile if data is bad. My area is scattered with 3g and 2g tmo areas, and don't want to get stuck on 2g.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
If you plan on eventually porting to Google Voice and doing that route, you should just do it now instead of dealing with porting once now and once later. Just my 2c.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
If I port my current mobile number I use with Verizon to Google Voice, will it cancel my contract on Verizon once I port to Google Voice?

*Edit: Never mind I am reading about it now. It looks like it does. I think I have a game plan now though. Thanks!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
To Verizon, whether you port to Google Voice, T-Mobile, Straight Talk, or any other "carrier", it looks the same. They cancel your service either way.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] sk63:
I just did the same thing with Sprint Friday evening., took them just shy of 24 hours to port the number. SMS started working by Monday evening.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
Just got the Nexus from Google Play. One more question. I am about to purchase a SIM card. Do I select unlocked phone or At&t compatible phone? Does the GSM Gnex take a micro sim or a standard sim?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] sk63:
When you select unlocked it asks for a zip code to determine the best carrier in the area. When I tested my options I got AT&T.

You need a regular SIM.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] urinsane:
Selecting unlocked phone I believe will select ATT or T-Mobile depending on who they think has better coverage in your area. If you know you want ATT, pick that.

Standard SIM card.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
Thanks guys! Sorry for all the questions.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
I'd say take AT&T. There are very few areas that have better T-Mobile than AT&T coverage.

It takes a Standard ("Mini") SIM. Although you could always get a Micro SIM and use with a cheap adapter. Useful if you're going to be swapping to other devices that only use Micro. Of course you can always cut your Standard to a Micro later.

So basically it doesn't matter which you choose.

---------- Post added at 05:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:33 PM ----------

No issue at all. This thread is supposed to be a resource to get your questions answered.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] darkfire2024:
Another quick question, you can use this for pretty much any phone with a sim card slot, so I could use a note or an international s2 right?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
Any unlocked device as long as it supports the frequencies for the network you're looking at switching to. Most quadband international GSM phones support the frequencies for AT&T and their MVNOs (850mhz & 1900mhz). Fewer devices work on T-Mobile's frequencies (1700/2100mhz).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] darkfire2024:
Yeah, from looking at amazon tech specs it seems like the international note and s2 only supports the 2100 mhz spectrum for T-Mobile which doesn't look too good. :eek:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
Of course, you may get better speeds on T-Mobile's network. It really depends on where your priorities are.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] :
I get better coverage on at&t right now based on the coverage maps, but will probably switch to tmo when i move later this year. I am right on the edge of their 3g. Can't wait to get off Verizon, they are such a rip off.

sent from my galaxy tab 2
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] wintrxtrem:
I'm in Grand Rapids, MI, and T-Mobile looks pretty good here. If I go up north and t-mobile service stops will I be able to roam on ATT with the gnex?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
You don't generally get any roaming capability with prepaid service.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Zorachus:
Does Google Voice still work on the unlocked Nexus ? Like on the pre-paid T-Mobile plan ?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
The international note doesn't support T-Mobile 3G at all.

Remember also, "2100mhz" is

different

than "1700/2100mhz" (aka AWS). Unless it specifically says 1700/2100 or AWS, it probably doesn't support T-Mobile 3G. Most phones aren't going to support T-Mo frequencies unless they're pentaband unlocked, or T-Mobile branded.

There's no roaming on prepaid.

What do you mean? Of course it works...