How can I benefit from using Skype and Google Voice?

Asked by patg7590 (4608

) October 27th, 2009

I am currently trying to figure out how to take advantage of this whole google voice/VOIP/SIP revolution. Here is what i’ve come up with thus far, let me know if there’s a better way. (cause there probably is)

(Outgoing)
I have a $3 a month skype plan that allows me to make unlimited (fair use =10,000 minutes/6hrs a day.) outgoing calls to landlines and cell phones in the US via skype application on my laptop or iPod touch within a wifi hotspot. The number shows up as “unknown caller” or something to that effect, to get caller ID, and a number that people can call me on, would cost $30/year.

(incoming)
(this is where is gets messy)
If someone calls my Google Voice number, it is set up to forward to my cell phone only during the free anytime minutes (7pm-7am), if it’s not a free calling time, the call gets routed to my Gizmo number that is set up within Google Voice, from there, the call is routed to my Skype Account, so that I can receive the call on my laptop or iPod Touch via Skype (if the iPod is on and I’m in the skype app) and if I am in a Wi-Fi zone.

(what then?)
If any one of those things fails, (not in skype app, not in wifi, dont have lappy out etc) the caller can leave me a GV voicemail. Which is then transcribed to and sent to my cell phone via text message. (all for free with unlimited texting plan). At this point I can choose to respond to the caller with my cell phone, call my GV account from my cell and listen to the voicemail, (uses cell phone minutes), OR I can get to WiFi and listen to the voicemail and return the call via skype.

This is messy. But it works. Now here is my question.

Can this setup be made better in any obvious way? Am I paying the $3 a month skypeout fee for nothing? I am too involved in this to be able to see the whole thing all together. I need a fresh set of eyes to look at this.

Feedback appreciated.

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4 Answers

You can have Google Voice connect the call when you need to make an outgoing call. Just select call in the upper left, type in the number you want, and select your Gizmo5 number from the list. This will eliminate the $3 a month charge. Unless you make a lot of skype to skype calls, this will eliminate Skype from the equation.

If jailbreak your Touch and follow the instructions in the link, then you can get incoming Google Voice calls in the background. Then, when you see a text message of a missed call, you can go to the GV webpage and have Google connect you, taking Skype out of the equation on the iPod as well.
http://www.voicetalk.org/2009/08/08/google-voice-gizmo5-siphon-iphone-app-calls/

In the end you wind up needing to be on the google voice page to type in numbers you want to dail and wait for a response, but you will save $3 a month.

To take the worry out of the whole thing, just pick up your cell phone and use some of your minutes. You can always tell the caller you will call back in a minute. Then get out your Touch and do your thing.

And sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be cheap

arpinum (1989

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EDIT: ok this sucks because when this happens, (through Gizmo5/OpenSky service, you only get 3 minutes of call; alternatively you can pay $20 a year with garbage limitations.

well, it kind of sucks because atm I’m bumming off my parents plan and we went over our allowance of minutes and I have to pay the damages

Cha $150 Ching

patg7590 (4608

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