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Old 07-29-2009, 01:31 PM   #1
Baja_Brewer
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I've been using Skype for years. After I graduated high school I lived in Belgium for a year, and now I'm at school in Canada. As can be expected, it is expensive to make calls from these places to the US and vice versa. Fortunately, due to the VIOP revolution, I was able to set myself up with phone a phone number and unlimited calling with Skype In and Skype Out to make calling me, and placing phone calls, cheap and painless. (My parents couldn't get Skype for PC to PC calling as most of rural VT is stuck with dial-up *gasp*)

I've been exploring other options in the VIOP world recently, as I would like to be able to do away with my cell-phone at school. The major downfall with canceling a cell phone is that I would lose my ability to text(SMS). I imagine some of you will understand the importance of being able to text, and others of you...may not. Its and age vs interest in gadgetry subject.

Anyway, I recently learned of Google Voice, which is still in its early stage of being released. I was wondering if any of you had any experience with it and would care to share. I'm also using this as an opportunity to attempt to solicit an invitation, if you have one you'd be willing to share, please PM me!

Any other input on sending/receiving SMS, or texts, with or without a carrier based phone would be interesting to hear.
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Old 07-29-2009, 01:40 PM   #2
GilaMinumBeer
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I send texts without a carrier based phone service ALL the time on the cheap.

It's called a letter.

Sorry, had to go there and can't help otherwise. Long distance charges SUCK! My wife calls home in M'sia all the time to talk to family and friends. Least expensive option I have found to date is Cox Digital at .35 a minute.
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Old 07-29-2009, 01:45 PM   #3
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I actually work for a company that hosts Ventrilo servers. If you're not a gamer, you probably don't know about Ventrilo. Anyways, it's a VoIP program designed to have MULTIPLE people on at the same time. A conference call essentially. I have a little brother over in Germany and LD charges are INSANE. I just use the Ventrilo server to talk to him. I can have me, my brother, and any family members that also want to talk be online for almost nothing. We're all in a voice chat room and can all talk at the same time. I seriously went from spending $25-50/month on long distance to about $2.00/month for my server. Definately worth the money!
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Old 07-29-2009, 01:49 PM   #4
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Thanks Gila, you're a life-saver. How could I forget letter's with postage nearing $0.50?!?

I don't know whether members of google voice can invite others, like when gmail was launched, or if you have to wait for the official invite from the site (which I signed up for...)

I tend to get way into stuff like this... I make semi-complicated set-ups to save myself hassle... here's what I'd likely do. I'd get a VT google voice number, while keeping my skype number. I'd give that (google voice) number to people so they could call or text it while having all calls routed to my skype In too. The way google voice will be working is that you can set it to ring certain telephone numbers based on who is calling (its kinda like a routing service) After dropping my cell phone I'd get an iPod touch, since I'm always within wireless internet service at when at school/in my apt, on which I would set-up the Skype App, and get a plug-in microphone (do iPhone earbud microphones work on iPod touches?) or hopefully the new iPod touch will have a mic built in. Then whatever texts/calls I recieved I could manage and respond using that. After about 5 months of not paying cell phone bills, my iPod touch would be payed off, and I could continue to use my skype/google voice services ANYWHERE I receive WIFI, at school, in the US, w/e.
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Kegged: Raspberry Melomel (aging), SNPA, Guinness Clone x2(on tap), Blonde, Pumpkin Ale

RIP:Nut Brown Ale, Cherry Stout, Pumpkin Ale, Random Pale Ale, Hop Head IIPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, BM's Centennial Blondex4, Stone IPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, Stone Smoked Porter Clone, DFH 60min IPA Clone, Orange Belgian Wit, SNPA, Bell's Two Hearted, Pliny IPA x2, Double Chocolate Stout, SNPA
Last edited by Baja_Brewer; 07-29-2009 at 01:52 PM.
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Old 07-29-2009, 01:52 PM   #5
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I have a google voice account. I don't have any invites to give away just yet, but so far the service seems OK. If you have a gmail account, the browser GUI is almost exactly the same. To be honest, I haven't used it much because I've already got a phone number that everybody knows, and there's no sense in switching.
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Old 07-29-2009, 01:56 PM   #6
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Cool! I overboard with these technologies...so far I havent switched my number (other than back and forth for the summer) for about 3 years, so my family is pretty happy with me. Google Voice just seems to be the kind of solution I need.

I do have a gmail account and I love it. Weirdboy, if you happen to get invites soon and have some to spare, think of me! Also, how soon after you requested an invite did you receive it?
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Diminishing Pipeline:

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Kegged: Raspberry Melomel (aging), SNPA, Guinness Clone x2(on tap), Blonde, Pumpkin Ale

RIP:Nut Brown Ale, Cherry Stout, Pumpkin Ale, Random Pale Ale, Hop Head IIPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, BM's Centennial Blondex4, Stone IPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, Stone Smoked Porter Clone, DFH 60min IPA Clone, Orange Belgian Wit, SNPA, Bell's Two Hearted, Pliny IPA x2, Double Chocolate Stout, SNPA
Last edited by Baja_Brewer; 07-29-2009 at 01:58 PM.
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Old 07-29-2009, 02:08 PM   #7
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I can't wait to get onto Google Voice. I put my name in months ago and haven't heard from them yet...
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Old 07-29-2009, 02:09 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by khuygie88 View Post
Thanks Gila, you're a life-saver. How could I forget letter's with postage nearing $0.50?!?

I don't know whether members of google voice can invite others, like when gmail was launched, or if you have to wait for the official invite from the site (which I signed up for...)

I tend to get way into stuff like this... I make semi-complicated set-ups to save myself hassle... here's what I'd likely do. I'd get a VT google voice number, while keeping my skype number. I'd give that (google voice) number to people so they could call or text it while having all calls routed to my skype In too. The way google voice will be working is that you can set it to ring certain telephone numbers based on who is calling (its kinda like a routing service) After dropping my cell phone I'd get an iPod touch, since I'm always within wireless internet service at when at school/in my apt, on which I would set-up the Skype App, and get a plug-in microphone (do iPhone earbud microphones work on iPod touches?) or hopefully the new iPod touch will have a mic built in. Then whatever texts/calls I recieved I could manage and respond using that. After about 5 months of not paying cell phone bills, my iPod touch would be payed off, and I could continue to use my skype/google voice services ANYWHERE I receive WIFI, at school, in the US, w/e.
There would be no point in giving out two different numbers for text or voice. Just give out the google number and set it so it forwards the call to your skype number.

I just signed up for it a few days ago to use as a business line on my cell phone. The only call I have received yet was telemarketing. Not quite sure how they got that number.
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Old 07-29-2009, 04:12 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dataz722 View Post
There would be no point in giving out two different numbers for text or voice. Just give out the google number and set it so it forwards the call to your skype number.
Yeah, thats what I meant I'd do. Ive found that this stuff is kinda complicated to get going, but once you have it set its awesome
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Diminishing Pipeline:

Primaries: Nada

Secondary: Nada

Kegged: Raspberry Melomel (aging), SNPA, Guinness Clone x2(on tap), Blonde, Pumpkin Ale

RIP:Nut Brown Ale, Cherry Stout, Pumpkin Ale, Random Pale Ale, Hop Head IIPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, BM's Centennial Blondex4, Stone IPA, Ed's Haus Pale Ale, Stone Smoked Porter Clone, DFH 60min IPA Clone, Orange Belgian Wit, SNPA, Bell's Two Hearted, Pliny IPA x2, Double Chocolate Stout, SNPA
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Old 07-31-2009, 12:51 AM   #10
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I just got my invite a few days ago after only a couple weeks! I haven't had any free time but should relatively soon, if this thread is still alive I'll post back with some thoughts!
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