Google Sets the Date for the End of XMPP with Google Voice
mo832:
Someone please tell me what I am missing here with the following proposal:
Since most people seem to be using an Obi in order to use GV with a standard phone device, and not have to pay to have a separate phone line (instead using the Obi box as your "phone line" with Google Chat)... and since this service appears to be going away... and since people are trying to find a way to use Google number with an alternate phone provider with as few changes as possible, and trying to keep in cheap....
And since all the alternatives involve a small fee and/or a bunch of gyrations and piecemeal actions (on the order of a few bucks a month and different services for incoming/outgoing/local numbers)...
What is wrong with keeping Google Voice as a forwarding service, and ditching the Obi altogether since it cannot work *directly* with GV. Since you would *still* need to have an additional service to place on the Obi box, why not purchase a NetTalk box and forward the GV number to that instead? They give you a local phone number, you can make incoming and outgoing calls with no per-minute charges on either end, they have 911 included, and it's only $30 per year (after initial hardware purchase), which is 2.50 per month, flat rate unlimited?
I mean, if you're going to need all these features anyway and some of them involve similar or higher charges, why not get them all in one place for a simple fee, and have access to paid customer service to boot??
Aside from having to retire the obi box and losing whatever it cost, what is wrong with the above argument? Isn't that the same as ditching one wireless provider for another with better rates and having to purchase a new phone upfront?
Am I missing something?
gderf:
Yes you are missing something.
You may not have missed this part, but incoming GV calls can still be received on the OBi in a completely transparent manner, both today and after May 15, 2014. All you need to do is get a free DID number, add it to your GV account as a forwarding number, and configure an SP in your OBi to use it. If you do this, then today when someone calls your GV number, your OBi will ring on the SP you used to configure GV on. Post May 15, 2014 when GV disables XMPP, calls to your GV voice number will ring on your OBi on the SP you used to configure the free DID. If you want to start using the free DID today, then unselect Google Chat as a forward in your GV account. I have already done this because the free DID I have requires some minimal amount of traffic on it or the number will be taken back and given to someone else. This covers the post May 15, 2014 situation for continued use of your OBi for inbound calls to your GV number.
As for making free outbound calls with your GV number and your OBi post May 15, 2014, this is a bit more complicated. Since the OBi will no longer work directly to initiate such a call, you can't just pick up an attached phone and dial like you can today. One way to make this happen is to use your web browser which is signed into your GV account and press the call button. Next you type in the number you wish to call, and select your free DID number for the "Phone to call with." Then press the Connect button. The phone attached to your OBi will ring. When you pick it up your call will be completed shortly thereafter. Yes this a kludge. But it works, will continue to work, remains free, and lets you keep making calls with your OBi and its attached phone.
It's up to you to decide if using the web page to dial your calls is acceptable or not. If it isn't you can start looking around for a VoIP service provider that satisfies your needs. I gave CallWithUs $5.00 to play with for now just to see how well it works. The calls are currently priced at just under one penny per minute, there are no taxes or fees associated with opening an account, and your money never expires if you don't make calls.
Good luck.
SteveInWA:
Quote from: carl on October 31, 2013, 07:15:31 pm
Quote from: AntonS on October 31, 2013, 07:03:30 pm
I was planning on doing what is said below. Which SIP provider of Anveo, Callcentric or VOIPms allows spoofing caller ID's?
None. But Localphone let's you set as caller ID any phone number you register with them, it could be your cell phone, your GV number, other SIP provider's number or whatever else.
RE. CID spoofing: wrong. Callcentric, for example, allows the user to spoof the caller ID of any phone number that the user legitimately controls. This is accomplished by calling Callcentric's toll-free verification number via your desired phone number, and then opening a support ticket with them. They go look at their TFN's call log, which shows your caller ID placed the call, and then they happily add it to your account as a number you can use for outbound CID.
I am not sure why you keep pushing Localphone, unless you are battling the "my service is cheaper than your service" war. Simply setting the OBi up with Callcentric, as I described, and as used by many other posters on this forum, will solve the Google Voice conundrum, with reliable service, very little techno-futzing, and, if you wish, E-911 and all the other features CC and GV support. Yes, it costs some small amount of money. The free ride with GV calling can still be accomplished by setting up the bridged inbound call with the click-to-call button, too, if you want free outbound calls. But as has been stated, people can decide if it's worth the hassle, or just pay the $.018/minute or pay a monthly bucket rate, for outbound calls and be done with it.
mo832:
Quote from: gderf on November 04, 2013, 05:57:47 pm
Yes you are missing something.
You may not have missed this part, but incoming GV calls can still be received on the OBi in a completely transparent manner, both today and after May 15, 2014.
yes, I followed this part
It's up to you to decide if using the web page to dial your calls is acceptable or not. If it isn't you can start looking around for a VoIP service provider that satisfies your needs. I gave CallWithUs $5.00 to play with for now just to see how well it works. The calls are currently priced at just under one penny per minute, there are no taxes or fees associated with opening an account, and your money never expires if you don't make calls.
And THIS is what I was asking about. In other words, once one decides that they want an internet phone with seamless functionality with a standard phone and not having to worry about juggling several services and time charges, and having to spend a small amount of money for whatever service they choose, there seems to be no longer a reason to use the OBI box if other boxes can do it all in one with a unified account and a unified fee for all services. If you only need it as an "extra" phone and use very little minutes, I could see the point. But if you use it as a landline replacement, which I think many ppl do, then $30 a year to set it and forget it seems as cheap as any of the other services. Correct?
Good luck.
Thanks for responding.
carl:
Quote from: SteveInWA on November 04, 2013, 06:27:01 pm
I am not sure why you keep pushing Localphone, unless you are battling the "my service is cheaper than your service" war.
Not "battling a war" however, since I use both Localphone and Callcentric I am pretty much aware of the pricing and CC is relatively expensive. People who went with Google voice want something less pricey and here comes LP indeed. LP has the best price/performance ratio of any provider i am aware of.No doubt it does not provide CC's fancy, but that's not what most GV users are looking for.
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