yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bluespire:
When you sign up with CallCentric, it will ask if youlive in US or Canada. If you choose NO, you will get the DID (incoming phone #) for free, but will not have 911. If you choose YES, you will have to pay <$5/month, and you will have 911 service, but ONLY when you call out on the CallCentric number and not your GV number. You can setup CSIPsimple to do this for you.

Don't really worry about the acronyms. Just be aware that DID = phone number. The DID is actually a trunk (in network speak) to the outside telephonic world from the internet. SIP is your internet-base trunk/protocol.

As far as what they know, they will know what numbers you are calling and receiving, and it has been said that google records and stores the calls, but so does every other cellular service.

As far as what you need to tell them about you? If you are not paying for 911 service, you can lie about everything. If you want 911 service anonymously, you need to use a Visa gift card to pay for it.

This entire system uses ONLY data, and relies on a smart phone for capability. If that Virgin phone has data, and is a smartphone (preferably Android), then yes, it will work.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Telemachus13:
If all you intend to use the phone for is 911, you don't have to pay for service, just keep the battery charged. Most phones can make 911 calls even if they aren't on a service plan. (You won't be able to use the phone for any other calls, but 911 should work)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Pkt_Lnt:
You can make 911 calls, but cannot receive them. I have made 911 calls that route to the local highway patrol (all cell calls route to them), but the county sheriff is who I need, and dispatch cannot route the call. They ask my number to have the sheriff dispatch call me right back. An unactivated phone cannot take incoming 911 calls. Depending on where you live and your needs at the time of an emergency, you may have problems, but maybe not.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Myk_Myk:
Thanks for all the replies!

OK, so at least if I use CallCentric, I could dial out of that number, and 911 would work as well as it would using cell service?

Maybe I didn't explain what I wanted to do with the Virgin phone clearly. I want to use my tablet (almost) exclusively as my phone using it's data plan and GV. The Virgin phone and service would only be to have a number for GV to point to. I was wondering if I set up the Virgin # for use with GV, but mostly just had it turned off, If I could get the same effect of unlimited calls and texts with the tablet?

You have to buy a phone (I think) to get the "PayLo" plan. Also, I can't really justify a tablet and a smart phone right now, so the flip phone or whatever might be handy when I didn't want to lug the tablet...

If yes, it would use my minutes even with the phone associated with the cell # is turned off, then I'll join the lot of you! If no, it won't use my minutes if I turn off the phone and use my tablet, then it may be worth it to me to pay the $20 extra a month.

---------- Post added at 12:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 AM ----------

I was looking at CallCentric and didn't see anything about texts. It dawned on me that GV doesn't have to point to a cell #, even though they say that in the setup? I have a magicjack #, could I point GV to that and get voice and text?

I want to port my old cell # to GV, so that all my contacts can call and text me as usual.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bluespire:
Use this guide to set up your tablet. Does your tablet have a data plan, or are you tethering through the phone?

ETA: I'm assuming you tablet is an Android, and not an iPad.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Myk_Myk:
Thanks, I'll read that through. Right now all I have is a Galaxy Tab 7.7 with 4G LTE. No working cell phone.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bluespire:
Right, then using that guide will set you all up. You don't need the Virgin phone, so long as your data on the tablet is activated. Be aware, though, your tablet may not have some of the call manipulation features that phones have built in, so you may have to play with CSIP's sound settings if it's not working right.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Crummy:
100% port completion to google voice. Calls and text are both working for incoming and outgoing. Using GrooveIP and the call quality even on 3G seems to be good. I dropped one call yesterday but it's the same area that everyone in this town seems to drop calls. Happy I made the switch and thank you all for your help.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Hindolam:
Have you tried PagePlus

PagePlus Cellular offers very good prepaid options. You can use any Verizon phone with clean ESN. For e.g. there is a $80 plan that is good for 2000 minutes and valid for 365 days.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] mustang123:
vonage app is free and can make free voip calls. Just saying.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krazykeyur:
Cant reveive calls on Vonage. Just saying.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] zAlbee:
You don't need to point the GV # to anything if you don't want to. We point the GV to our carrier (T-mobile) number in this guide as a backup, so we can make/receive calls when we don't have data or wifi connection.

You already get a free phone number when signing up for Google Voice (you can also port an old number for $20). If you call from your tablet, you're using VoIP and that GV number. You send/receive texts on that number with the GV app. The tablet would have nothing to do with Virgin's phone service/number at all. The only time you would use your Virgin service is if you pick up your Virgin phone to call someone, and the only reason to add it to GV would be if you wanted to use your Virgin phone with the GV number. I can't understand why you think it's necessary to buy a phone since you're not going to use it?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] woody296:
I have been using the Viber app for about a week or so and it seems to work pretty well both on wifi and Tmobiles "4G" network. It is a little "tinny" but clear as a bell and seems to be updated quite often. Most of my calls are to my wife and son so it's no big deal to have the app also installed on their phones and most often they are on wifi also. Great thread.:)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] jeraldbro:
Ipad 4g lte sim in my Galaxy S3 (with extended battery) for data only

Google Voice forward to Skype inbound number

FREE CALLS & TEXT. Well a little bit.

$30 mth for 3gb ipad plan & $7 mth for Skype inbound number

= $37 mth, no contracts. Calls are ALWAYS clear.

Downside:

Google won't let me port my Att number right now. (Crazy)

Skype app crashes from time to time. (Crazy again)

Miss calls sometimes, but notified

There is a 2sec delay ever so often.

Anyone know a better reliable app than Skype for that 2sec delay, with the Opus Codec?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Pkt_Lnt:
Yes MAKE calls, but NOT RECEIVE calls from others, unless they use Vonage Mobile. I get calls from many people, businesses, doctors, stores, etc. who do not use Vonage Mobile, so for incoming calls it is worthless.

If you only want to make calls out, it works fine. It is not a full two way communications system however.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Myk_Myk:
Well that's exactly what I thought I could do when I got the tablet! But when I installed GV and set my old # to port, it said GV is not a cell service and that I would not be able to make or receive calls and texts until I got another cell # to use. That's what sent me searching for using a phone with only a data service, and ultimately here. Now, I'm totally confused. Is what your saying is that GV, usually uses the cell service on the phone you're using, and the only way around that is to follow the instructions in a guide like this so that it uses the VoIP instead?

---------- Post added at 11:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 PM ----------

I found this thread from a couple of years ago: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=783505. So I should be able to use the MJ for my VoIP?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] zAlbee:
You have almost got it. GV is not cell and it's not VoIP; it is call forwarding (trivia: before it was acquired by Google, GV was originally a service called Grand Central whose purpose was to give you a single phone number to ring all your phones simultaneously). But it can forward to a real phone number OR GMail calling (VoIP). Read the OP of this thread again, and pay attention to the VoIP section. You will install a VoIP app on your android device to handle calls. The GV app handles texts and voicemails. Now I'm not sure why it would tell you you'd need a cell phone to make texts, because GV texts go through data/WiFi and not through your cell carrier SMS. I use my phone in airplane mode 90% of the time and have full calling/texting over WiFi so it is not much different from your data-only tablet.

Sent from my Transformer TF101
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] afblangley:
Google Voice does not require a forwarding number if you port your number. When my cell phone was on its last legs, I decided to replace it with a tablet (Samsung SCH-I815). I ported my cell number from Sprint to Google Voice. There is no forwarding number associated with my GV account, in fact I don't even have another phone- no cell, no landline, just my GV number set to Talkatone and Gmail combined with Verizon's $30/mo data only plan.

I've been using this setup for a couple of months (I'm going through ~2 GB/mo including ~500 min of voip). The voice quality of phone calls and the reliability to make/receive phone calls has been equal to the performance of my old cell phone/carrier (no one has been able to detect the change). I attribute this to Verizon's LTE coverage in my area (south Florida), although it has also been fine on my relatively slow (3 Mbps) home wifi.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bluespire:
I think you missed the link that I posted. The text of "this guide" was a link in previous post (that's common practice on XDA). Follow the guide in my link, and you'll be good to go.

There is only one difference between your tablet and a phone, the lack of certain electronics that used to connect to the GSM network and process call. Technically, it's not quite that simple, and it depends on the technology driving your radio service, but that's basically it. As long as your tablet can connect to the DATA service, which it can based on your description, the guide I posted will just fine, with no modification. If you look at the "About" page under settings, your should see a phone number assigned to your tablet. Even though you can't call it, the GV app will see that and allow the process to work (because if it can't see an assigned phone number, it will complain, like when I take my SIM out of my phone).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Myk_Myk:
I've got the same tablet. I ended up using Skype. Couldn't seem to make a call out with Gmail... I also ported my cell # to GV. In the end I just didn't want to depend on four different companies that I'd never heard of before. GV forwarded to Skype was simple and works well.

I had dropped and broken my phone the day after Christmas; while waiting for a new phone from Sprint (Note 2). I had been with Sprint for 20yrs, and they didn't get the new phone to me, and handled the whole thing in such a despicable manner, that I somehow ended up going the route I did!

---------- Post added at 11:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 PM ----------

I was wrong it only said I wouldn't be able to receive calls.

Thanks again to everyone!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bluespire:
Skype is fine to use. Since you have a tablet, your available battery life is far superior to our phones, but please keep in mind, that the solution I linked to has the added advantage of not using a crap ton of power when idle. Skype, from what I've heard, does. AND you have to pay to use Skype, where as the other method is 100% free (until Google starts charging for GV, which won't be this year). It's also a lot more flexible. Just food for thought.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] basketthis:
I have two lines so I found it more beneficial to finally sign up for the unlimited 4G data plan. It's the value plan. It works out to about 50/month for each line. Plus roaming data, etc... :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] scoobdude:
Anytime. Also your number is located in Google voice under settings as well ;)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bongostl:
I'm doing SIP like this:

CSIPSimple as the app, set so that it only is in use when connected to wifi

an Inkall free number (connected to google voice) set up to ring to a Callcentric SIP account (this way I still get google voice calls in gmail)

outgoing through google voice callback donate (donate has a tasker extension which lets me have it only in use when connected to wifi).

onto the matter at hand--

Yep--i'm on the newest beta, and when I toggle wifi on, NFC turns off (and vice versa).

I'm totally lost on this.

Here's a pic of my setup if you see anything wrong....
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] FlynDice:
Thanks for the help guys. My voicemail was indeed not quite disabled and then I got a new text from T-Mo today saying we made the change to your plan you requested.... and they had completely reenabled my voicemail:mad:

Called again to have it disabled and all is well now! Thanks :)

Once again the symptom was only apparent when not answering, or declining a call coming in over cellular. GrooVeip behaved just as described!

One other comment I had was about roaming. I was in Anchorage AK yesterday, which shows up on T-Mo prepaid coverage(voice), but had no service because I had the mobile networks setting/Network operators selected as T-Mobile and T-Mobile would not show up. AT&T and another numeric id showed up. So I switched the setting to Select automatically and voila, cell service returned! On AT&T I'm assuming but I didn't have time to investigate and I did not actually make a call.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
Thanks for the explanation of your SIP set up. I may have to see if any of my old SIP numbers are still in service.

Onto your issue, though, I'm afraid I'm still a bit stumped. And your picture didn't work, so that doesn't help me help you help us all (etc).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] russell5:
Thanks for the guide.

I do have a few questions hopefully someone could answer.

My plan would be to use this at work. I am NOT using tasker yet because i wanted to test it fist. So im using autoap.

The problem is sometimes when roaming the halls at work and moving form ap to ap my galaxy nexus disconnects from wifi for 10 or so secs before reconnecting. In those cases autoap turns off airplane mode then turns it back on. I have a feeling that wont help my battery any extra. With tasker is there any way to have it wait before activating. Like check wifi i fit doesnt have it wait 10 secs try again. If still nothing turn off airplane?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
Yeah, you should be able to do that by adding a "Wait 10 seconds" statement at the beginning of the Exit task, followed by a test for wifi connectivity. If it has wifi after that test, Stop. Otherwise, disable airplane mode. Or something to that extent.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bongostl:
Ha! Yeah, I guess it would help if the picture showed up!

Here is a link to the pic: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4nxPgKYHIDjWEs1NXUxM1FXZFU

Any help would be appreciated!

(also, I detailed my setup in a new post here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=26817715 . I tried to give you the credit you deserve...let me know if you want me to change anything int he description.)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bongostl:
Codesplice-any thoughts on how to modify the tasker profile so that it would enable the cell network every x-minutes to check for text messages?

thanks for this fantastic method!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
[/HTML]

Hmm. Still stumped, I'm afraid :( Looks like a good write-up you did though! I may have to give it a go.

I just tested this out, and here's what I've got...

I created a new Profile, I call it "Cell Check".

Profile: Cell Check
Context: Time 00:00 to 23:59, Repeat every 15 minutes (Change this as you see fit)
Task:
1) Airplane Mode: Set Off, If %GVAM Is Set (not strictly necessary to check for that variable, but it can't hurt)
2) Wait: 1 Minute (to give the phone a chance to connect to the cell network)
3) Airplane Mode: Set On, If %GVAM Is Set

I then marked this profile as Disabled (tap the green checkmark next to its name and it will turn into a red circle) and added a bit to my original GVoice Airplane Toggle:

...If...
5) Airplane Mode: Set On
6) Profile Status: Cell Check Set On (this enables our new profile)

And added to the exit task:

3) Profile Status: Cell Check Set Off (to disable the new profile)

Let me know if this works for you :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bongostl:
Works great...you are the man!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] avaris246:
First smartphone

Sorry this is my first foray into the smartphone world. I tried looking around but couldn't find definite answers to my questions. Right now I am on a postpaid T-mobile feature phone family plan and was planning to switch to the prepaid $30 monthly plan (100 minutes, unlimited text, & 5GB data) for my first smartphone. I was thinking of porting my number to Google Voice but I have some concerns and questions before I do.

1. From my understanding, porting my number to Google Voice allows me to make calls via Google Voice and Data (voip) using my ported postpaid number. But, what happens to the 100 minutes and unlimited text, do they just go to waste? Or can you use them using the ported Google Voice number (I do not want to use the new prepaid number and constantly worry about juggling 2 mobile numbers, one for Google Voice and one for the minutes and text that came with the plan)

2. Once my number is ported to Google Voice can I port my number back to POSTPAID carrier?

3. How reliable is calling over data? I know call quality is sketchy, but what about dropped calls? Usually voice calls can be made as long as you have signal, but with data there is 2G, 3G, and 4G, so if data switches from 4G to 3G does that result in a dropped call?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] scoobdude:
Those minutes will be used while not on wifi.

I believe you can, but why would you want to.

I cants answer that but the switching seems seamless. However data speeds will determine quality/drops
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] martonikaj:
Yes, using your GV number allows you to make calls via data (w/ VOIP) if you want to.

If all you do is make VOIP calls and use GV texts, the 100 minutes and unlimited texts on your plan go to "waste" (if you wanna call it that). If you do this, you will only be using data to do everything. It'll all just go against your 5GB data plan and that's it.

The only time you'd use your 100 (or more, pay per min) minutes is if you use your Google Voice number to

forward to

your T-Mobile number for regular cell calls (not VOIP, regular voice network). You do not have to "juggle 2 numbers", as people continue to call your GV # and it forwards to

any number or device you want

. In order to call over VOIP you simply make your GV # forward to Google Talk. In order to use the regular cell network for calls, you just have your GV # forward to your prepaid T-Mobile #.

Of course. http://support.google.com/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1316844

Honestly, it's not as reliable or good as using the regular voice network. Not at this point, at least. You're taking the tradeoff of "free" (or very very cheap) calls for lower voice quality/reliability. You can't do VOIP over 2G (just not enough speed), or even over slow/inconsistent 3G. The only way you'll be making great VOIP calls is on WiFi or very consistent HSPA+. The issue on a cell network is the extra latency involved. When you hand off between towers or there's any interruption in your data connection, its very hard for the VOIP service to "catch up" again.

On T-Mobile, 3G and 4G are effectively the same (UMTS vs HSPA+). They're not completely separate like EVDO 3G / LTE 4G on Verizon. There's no guaranteed dropped call when switching between the two, as its just one radio and just different protocols. As I said though, switching towers or moving to lower signal area does cause issues.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] kookooktchoo:
How are you all handling MMS? I understand that the Google Voice app doesn't support it, so what happens to an MMS when someone sends you one?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] codesplice:
I don't MMS. I've got email for that. Any MMSeses that are sent my way get silently discarded by Google Voice. Not something that really matters to me, but I do wish the senders could be notified that the messages don't actually get delivered. You could have your MMS-using contacts send such messages to your carrier number if necessary.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bongostl:
Ditto
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ficklecycler:
What happens on MY phone at least is that I do receive any text that was a part of the MMS, but I don't receive any pictures. I think that if a person were to send just a picture and no message that I wouldn't get anything at all.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] xdp:
Has anyone here tried the OBi? http://obihai.com/what-is.html My friend has it and seems happy with it.

I've tried Groove IP and while my voice transmits to the other party immediately and with good quality, there is a bad lag in their voice transmitting to me, as well as the poor "tin can" quality. It seems however that the OBi might be better. If the OBi is good enough for all my long calls at home I really bet I could get away with the 100 minutes offered with the T-Mobile $30 plan.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] killabee44:
Codesplice,

Thanks for a great write up...

I am having a small problem with the data used widget inside the nova drawer. It looks like the drawer is kind of divided so the widget gets cut off some. Im looking through the options but can't find an answer.

Is it because I dont have the Prime version of Nova installed? Here is a screenshot:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] alphahere:
Can you use the iPad sim in a cell phone?

Sent from my dumbphone.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Myk_Myk:
Yeah, plus I'm not getting the 911 I said was so important to me. I just got lazy. If I keep this as a phone, despite the awkwardness of lugging it around I'll probably do that. Or maybe I'll end up with a phone and get a shared data plan with it and set it up that way.

I was waiting for a new phone from Sprint when I dropped my old one. Sprint didn't get my new phone to me (Note 2), and they handled the whole situation so despicably, that I ended my 20+ year relationship with them. Somehow I ended up on this path!

In between getting this set up on the tablet, I installed the MagicJack app and used my MJ #; which worked really well. I could have ported my # to MJ, and would have if they had texting. I didn't want to have Google forward to that #, so I ended up with Skype. Now I realize I probably could have just gotten another MJ # to forward GV to, and that would only be $10 a year! Maybe I can get a refund for the Skype #...

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 PM ----------

So I tried MJ and it worked like a charm. $20 to get a preferred plan, then $10 a year thereafter, and 911 service! So stupid I didn't think of that before buying a Skype #. Their policy says no refund for used services, but I'm gonna beg. I'll gladly just pay the $10 a year, for the simplicity.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] jeraldbro:
Can you use the iPad sim in a cell phone?

Yes u can. Been doing it for a while now. If your APN setup is right.

I hve tried them all. Skype, csipsimple, media5, vonage, groove ip, acrobits, bria, 3cx, callcentric, broadvoice. Etc.

All with DELAY & LATENCY. Even with my favorite ILBC codec.

Suprisingly, Skype has been the only reliable one. Calls r ALWAYS PERFECT. Google voice forwarded 2 Skype. $30mth for ipad plan and $8mth for Skype plan = $38 a month.

P.S. I do have extended battery in my S3 for keeping Skype active all day, every day
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] woody296:
I see that facebook will allow free calls through it's iphone app, i assume this will come to android also. I wonder how it's quality will be and if it could be beneficial towards our $30 plan?...http://9to5mac.com/2013/01/16/facebook-begins-rolling-out-free-calling-through-messenger-for-iphone/