GoldenEye: Source Forums

Debriefing => Off-Topic Lounge => Topic started by: Kratos on April 20, 2012, 07:31:29 am

Title: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: Kratos on April 20, 2012, 07:31:29 am
Today, i noticed my tmobile plan was all used up. Im on the prepaid 30MB/1500mins plan for like $30/mo.

No incoming/outgoing calls working, so I was screwed. My friend told me I should look for some VOIP apps for android and I stumbled across Groove IP

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gvoip&hl=en

So, what is Groove IP?

"GrooVe IP is an android app that connects to Google Voice using Voice over IP (VoIP). What this means for you is you can make free unlimited calls to any phone in the US or Canada without using your voice minutes"

I had a google number all setup. I tried the app, signed in, and wala I was able to call my friend and he was able to call me for free. However, you need wifi/3g/4g for it to work.

Now if I am out of wifi range, this will not work. So, now I need to get data plan only and tmobile charges $50/5GB. GrooVe IP uses 1.2 MB per minute during a call, so that will not work out.  I researched for more carriers and I found this...

http://www.mysimplemobile.com/plans-40-unlimited.aspx$40/Unlimited contract free 3g Data, talk, text all that good stuff. I dont care about talk and text since grooveip will handle it. It is nice to have it thought just incase google goes down offline for some odd reason. Now i need to unlock my phone, and get this freaking thing working.

I will keep an update to let you know how the service is.

This is what the future of mobile communication should be. Data should be use for everything. Why bother getting talk/text plans, when VOIP and Google voice exists.


Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: Mangley on April 20, 2012, 08:09:18 am
It's been going this way for some time. Much the same as broadcast TV has not-so-gradually been being superceeded by on-demand streaming and webplayers. Television as we knew it is at this point a sinking ship.

It will be interesting to see what happens though, calls and texts are still a phone company's bread and butter. I suspect that they might conspire to lock out access to VOIP or just simply ban VOIP apps... because quite simply they can't adaquately build pricing for phone calls around only data. Though I suspect they will shift their services over to being data only as it makes a lot of sense to do so.

People generally gravitate towards better solutions.
Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: major on April 20, 2012, 08:18:30 am
Will be good to see.

I use about ~15 mins of my minutes every month haha. Mostly as everyone I call is on my network(Verizon) so its free.

If I made a lot of calls, I would still keep my low minutes, and just use Google Voice. I use my GV # as my "public" number. Put it on Craigslist and give random people it.

I'm just lucky as of now I get a "good" deal from Verizon. But if something changes, I might move this way.


Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: Emilia on April 21, 2012, 01:38:26 am
And as always, Australia is left behind.

Our 3G coverage is crap anyway...
Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: Enzo.Matrix on April 21, 2012, 08:16:23 pm
I was traveling and while I was in USA I only used skype and messenger app at McDonalds or Wendy's.

No phone bill!
Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: jaylonimran on January 30, 2013, 12:16:36 pm
As soon as We drop an issue such as this. I believe this website might enable you to open your own phone.
You should check out there samsung unlocking (http://www.samsung-unlocking.co.uk)
Title: Re: Goodbye to phone plans! Free calls over data/wifi
Post by: killermonkey on January 31, 2013, 12:46:25 am
Be careful of the fine print and roaming charges on those off-brand carriers. There is always a catch!