I am just curious if anyone has heard any rumors or talk of what Google is up to in 2013. I am using 1 Obi now and want to add 2 more but am waiting to see what Google does. I also have a Phone Power line that cost $100 a year, I do not think Google would be stupid enough to charge more than that and you think it would be cheaper. :o
pvkid
"Will Google be free."
Quote from: jeff@jeffmusto.com on June 29, 2012, 04:59:40 PM
I am just curious if anyone has heard any rumors or talk of what Google is up to in 2013.
That is "free" as in "free beer". No, it won't cost any less in 2013 that it does today, which means it won't be free.
GV costs are comparable with other VOIP providers, but GV isn't primarily a VOIP provider, rather it is a number aggregator (it gives you one number that connects to multiple telephones) and voice mail service. It doesn't, currently, charge for either service. I believe the business model is that by providing the added value it can retain customers while charging the going rate for VOIP. It makes the money on the VOIP.
The idea that it is "free" is marketing scam. It's not new scam either; US telephone companies have been lying to the purchasers of their services that they provide free telephone calls for, well, I think for ever. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
John Bowler <jbowler@acm.org>
John, I am not sure what to make of your reply. It did not make sense to me. Most of us are using the OBi and Google Voice to make and receive free calls in the USA and Canada. I am not sure what kind if free marketing scam that is but if I am being scammed please let me know ;D
Just a simple question, has anyone has heard any rumors or talk of what Google is up to in 2013.
I think they usually announce near the end of the year, at least that is what I remember happening last year.. So hold off on any purchases you might make until you know for sure would be my advise.
I just bought 2 more OBi's http://slickdeals.net/f/4817424-Used-OBi110-44-92-Like-New-from-Amazon-Warehouse-FSSS?p=51326192&utm_source=dealalerts&utm_medium=em-i&utm_term=451953&utm_content=u1859922&utm_campaign=tu-9999#post51326192 (http://slickdeals.net/f/4817424-Used-OBi110-44-92-Like-New-from-Amazon-Warehouse-FSSS?p=51326192&utm_source=dealalerts&utm_medium=em-i&utm_term=451953&utm_content=u1859922&utm_campaign=tu-9999#post51326192)
I guess I have faith in Google that it will be free or very affordable. if not I still get 6 months worth the service for the price of a OBI ($45)
Quote from: jeff@jeffmusto.com on June 30, 2012, 06:56:08 AM
Most of us are using the OBi and Google Voice to make and receive free calls in the USA and Canada.
The OBi uses the internet; you are paying for that. (Even if you take your OBiWifi equipped Obi202 down to Starbucks every time you make a phone call you are still paying via overpriced coffee!)
If you have a connection that permits unlimited download and upload (or if you never hit your limit) you might think you have free calls because there is no marginal cost to making an additional telephone call, but if you think about it a little you will see that your local telephone company also provides "free" calls by that definition because it will happily offer you a monthly subscription with unlimited calling in the US etc.
As I said, this isn't new because telephone companies in the US have offered "free local calling" for years; indeed getting measured rate local service in the US is apparently impossible (you have to spend half an hour explaining the concept to the customer service people!) This is because US telephone companies make their money by charging monthly subscriptions to a fixed base of customers who have no choice but to pay.
John Bowler <jbowler@acm.org>
Ok what ever you say ???
It will probably be free as it has been for years now. Even if not, there are plenty of cheap services that you can use with the Obi boxes.
Quote from: JohnBowler on June 30, 2012, 06:50:39 PM
Quote from: jeff@jeffmusto.com on June 30, 2012, 06:56:08 AM
Most of us are using the OBi and Google Voice to make and receive free calls in the USA and Canada.
The OBi uses the internet; you are paying for that. (Even if you take your OBiWifi equipped Obi202 down to Starbucks every time you make a phone call you are still paying via overpriced coffee!)
If you have a connection that permits unlimited download and upload (or if you never hit your limit) you might think you have free calls because there is no marginal cost to making an additional telephone call, but if you think about it a little you will see that your local telephone company also provides "free" calls by that definition because it will happily offer you a monthly subscription with unlimited calling in the US etc.
As I said, this isn't new because telephone companies in the US have offered "free local calling" for years; indeed getting measured rate local service in the US is apparently impossible (you have to spend half an hour explaining the concept to the customer service people!) This is because US telephone companies make their money by charging monthly subscriptions to a fixed base of customers who have no choice but to pay.
John Bowler <jbowler@acm.org>
How is any of that useful to the OP. Sounds like a Political speak! ???
In you opinion, what are the best cheap service that you can use with the Obi box?
Quote from: Lavarock7 on June 30, 2012, 08:27:14 PM
It will probably be free as it has been for years now. Even if not, there are plenty of cheap services that you can use with the Obi boxes.
Quote from: davefred99 on June 30, 2012, 08:28:46 PM
How is any of that useful to the OP. Sounds like a Political speak! ???
OP == original poster.
The OP asked a question based on a false premise - that GV offered free telephone calls within the US. It is useful to understand that "free *** calls" are a marketing illusion, because then the nature of the question changes and, I hope, that is useful to everyone.
This is political; the OP asked a question and the answer lies in US politics, indeed, I predict the answer as to whether Google, or any other VOIP reseller, can continue to do business within the US will be decided by the Supreme Court. (Which, as we know, is a supremely political body.)
The issue is that the actual *cost* of VOIP traffic is minimal; voip.ms and GV alike make a healthy profit off their per-minute rates. (I suspect GV get a kickback off local US connections, but I don't know how this works.) The going rate for a movie (nominally 4.2GByte of compressed data) is a couple of bucks; compared to this the cost of a minute of conversation in the US is ridiculous. The going rate in Europe and Asia of 1GByte of data is pretty much $1 (based on prices I've paid in the Europe and Asia.)
The compression used by GV and other VOIP resellers will give you around 90 minutes talking in 1GByte. That's 90 minutes for $1 at the current *retail* rates in Europe and Asia. Is it any surprise that I call my parents in the UK for less than I call my friends just 25 miles away?
(I pay .007$/minute to voip.ms for premium connection to the UK, and .0125$/minute for the premium connection to Grants Pass.)
Google bets on future technology; the idea that US telecom companys can continue to rip people off for highly compressible yacking over a restricted frequency range is ridiculous. Google are on to a safe bet; eventually they will win (because they have the call aggregation feature, and that is both compelling and not US specific.)
John Bowler <jbowler@acm.org>
Yes but will Google offer free calls in 2013 ;D
I would not take any answer from here or any blog, for what it matters, as if the person responding was an erudite on the subject. Some people are bored to death and use "believers" to amuse themselves.
I guess you are correct, some people just have to much time on their hands and like to create controversy. It is to bad we have to have some bad apples to spoil the forum.
Quote from: Frankfone on June 30, 2012, 11:48:36 PM
I would not take any answer from here or any blog, for what it matters, as if the person responding was an erudite on the subject. Some people are bored to death and use "believers" to amuse themselves.
Now, now give JohnBowler a break. He was Bill Clinton's lawyer, and still likes to dream about the days when they got away with the "depends on what the definition of is is" line.
Under his definition, breathing air is not "free", there is a cost to that as well.
Currently using GoogleVoice does not cost anyone who uses it a penny. What it costs Google to provide the service is irrelevant. How they recover and make a profit on that cost is also pretty much irrelevant to us end-users. If I pay an extra penny for my Pepsi because Google conned them into targeting an ad at me that I will ignore anyways, so be it. That Pepsi will cost me that extra penny whether I use GV or not, so signing up and using GV costs me NOTHING. In John's world, he is assuming that if everyone all quit using GV, our Pepsi would go down a penny, which ignores what should be a painfully obvious fact that Pepsi has a set advertising budget and will just move their ads to a different medium.
Now, now, let's no be too hard on each other. I think in his roundabout way the answer is, most likely. GV is free for what needs to be free, and charges for what it needs to charge. In other words, just like 2012.
Quote from: Ostracus on July 01, 2012, 08:40:23 AM
Now, now, let's no be too hard on each other. I think in his roundabout way the answer is, most likely. GV is free for what needs to be free, and charges for what it needs to charge. In other words, just like 2012.
Roundabout? I suppose if there is a hidden question in there somewhere about whether or not GV will charge you to call foreign countries, I don't see it. But the OP's question was would it be free next year, his answer was "
No, it won't cost any less in 2013 that it does today, which means it won't be free. Then goes on to talk about how it is a marketing scam...the Supreme Court...what he pays for voip.ms and the going rate for downloading a movie.
The cost of using GV for Obi and other purposes has been zero, is zero and will most likely be zero in 2013. No need to be "roundabout" in answering the question.
@JohnBowler : While the wholesale costs of VOIP traffic might be near zero, there is something called termination charges = money you have to pay to the local telco to get the call processed through the local PSTN or cellular network. Those charges can be steep, that's why Magic Jack does not service many area codes or exchanges and that's why the calls to European cell phones are so horribly expensive.
The only way Google makes money on Google Voice is through selling long distance service out of the USA/Canada area. They might make some associated money with running ads on Google Mail or Google Voice.
As for will it be free next year, the only one who knows is Mr. Google and he won't tell us until December.
Quote from: jeff@jeffmusto.com on June 29, 2012, 04:59:40 PM
I am just curious if anyone has heard any rumors or talk of what Google is up to in 2013. I am using 1 Obi now and want to add 2 more but am waiting to see what Google does. I also have a Phone Power line that cost $100 a year, I do not think Google would be stupid enough to charge more than that and you think it would be cheaper. :o
pvkid
Google won't announce it until nearly the end of the year, like last year, it was on 12/13 as I recall.
My guess is they would terminate the out going calls before they would charge for it.
If they start charging they would most likely be around the magic jack rate (under $2 a month)
There are issues Google would have to address if they start charging
One main concern is AT&T will start saying your a real phone company and you have to do things that are required by law to all phone companies. ( 911 and deliver calls to everywhere no matter what the termination costs are)
So long as products like obi don't become main stream, most of the outgoing calls will be through "Gmail" Google wants you to spend more time in Gmail (the use it to target ads to you). That said they could try to shut the door that obi is currently using to tap into google voice.
So charging is the least of my worries (if they do it won't be much). I worry more about them ending the outgoing calls or locking obi out of using it.
They could in that case open a Skype hole. Anything hitting the PSTN will cost but it will open up the market to all the Skype users not doing so, and that's a pretty big market in itself.
Quote from: carl on July 01, 2012, 09:22:13 PM
@JohnBowler : While the wholesale costs of VOIP traffic might be near zero, there is something called termination charges = money you have to pay to the local telco to get the call processed through the local PSTN or cellular network. Those charges can be steep, that's why Magic Jack does not service many area codes or exchanges and that's why the calls to European cell phones are so horribly expensive.
My understanding is that in the US termination charges must be symmetric; so what GV gets charged by local telco xyzzy to terminate a GV call equals what GV gets paid when a user of local telco xyzzy makes a call to a GV number.
I suspect this is why GV gives away numbers for free in the US (but not elsewhere) and why they are very happy indeed with users like me who get incoming on GV but use another provider for outgoing. (In the worst case their cost for incoming is zero - one termination charge in, the other out - but for outgoing they probably suffer a small net loss.)
It's not clear that wireless operators are actually charging any call termination charges. Rates are negotiated between Google and the operator and, in the US (unlike Europe) wireless operators charge to receive a call as well as make one, compared to which the call termination charge is small change. (This is why European rates are apparently higher - because Europe is currently caller-pays so that instantly doubles the cost to make a call because there is no cost to receive one.)
The math of GV is tricky, but here are some facts:
1) If GV negotiate a zero call termination charge then GV has no problem passing this on to the customer, because the actual cost of the VOIP traffic is minimal and they can make profit in other ways.
2) If an incoming call goes to GV VM then GV pocket the termination charge (profit.)
3) If an incoming call goes to Google Talk (including an Obi) then GV pocket the termination charge (profit.)
Of course there could be other details here. So far as I can see US call termination charges are kept highly secret because they are negotiated bilaterally between call terminators. It's also not clear to me exactly what happens when GV has a point of presence in a local exchange and routes a call to the local number. I suspect GV has a lot of PoPs to provide local numbers, to allow it to participate in local number portability and, probably, to obtain favorable rates for call termination.
If GV can use a PoP to obtain zero cost call termination to a non-GV local number then clearly it now profits in the case where an incoming call is answered (whereas before it only broke even.) If that is possible it is now (effectively) sucking up part of the monthly subscription fee paid by US landline (wired) telephone users.
There are too many unknowns, at least so far as I am concerned, in the actual payments that really happen in the US telecom market. However every time I find out something it seems to back up my initial suspicion that GV has a sound business model - they can continue what they are doing and be confident of not losing money. However they are vulnerable to any number of restrictive practices that other parts of the industry might initiate. (Particularly de-prioritizing time critical traffic on regular consumer internet connections; short, maybe only 0.25s pauses in traffic to a single consumer would, I think, be enough to kill VOIP.)
Quote from: JohnBowler on July 08, 2012, 11:13:04 PM
However they are vulnerable to any number of restrictive practices that other parts of the industry might initiate. (Particularly de-prioritizing time critical traffic on regular consumer internet connections; short, maybe only 0.25s pauses in traffic to a single consumer would, I think, be enough to kill VOIP.)
That's were the discussion on Net Neutrality comes in. It would also be something that technically could be gotten around by the knowledgeable.
Quote from: JohnBowler on June 29, 2012, 10:53:57 PM
"Will Google be free."
Quote from: jeff@jeffmusto.com on June 29, 2012, 04:59:40 PM
I am just curious if anyone has heard any rumors or talk of what Google is up to in 2013.
That is "free" as in "free beer". No, it won't cost any less in 2013 that it does today, which means it won't be free.
GV costs are comparable with other VOIP providers, but GV isn't primarily a VOIP provider, rather it is a number aggregator (it gives you one number that connects to multiple telephones) and voice mail service. It doesn't, currently, charge for either service. I believe the business model is that by providing the added value it can retain customers while charging the going rate for VOIP. It makes the money on the VOIP.
The idea that it is "free" is marketing scam. It's not new scam either; US telephone companies have been lying to the purchasers of their services that they provide free telephone calls for, well, I think for ever. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
John Bowler <jbowler@acm.org>
John, he asked if Google Voice would remain free in 2013, he didn't ask for a 3 paragraph response on U.S. politics. We know we have to pay for the internet, but at least in my case (and I'm sure many others) we have an unlimited plan, so it doesn't cost us any more to use the Obi + Google Voice for FREE CALLS.
I suspect next you'll say the "Free Samples" at a store aren't really free because you have to use energy to reach your hand out and take one.
We know a gal who is a fortune teller and she says GV will be Free in 2013.............
I certainly hope that GV is free in 2013.
However, if it is not, I wold be surprised if the cost was more than other typical VOIP providers, which is to say that it should not cost very much at all. If GV ends up being too expensive, you can use the Obi with tons of VOIP providers (and still use your google voice phone number - just have it forward the call to the new VIOP provider's number).
This is why I really like the Obi product over some of the other providers of similar devices (like Ooma) - the flexibility to change service providers.
If you think of Google, not as an internet company but as an advertising company, their decisions on how they do things make sense. That includes Google Voice. They recently filed a patent on how have advertising on the phone during those dead periods when waiting for someone on the other end to pick up or any other time when you may not be connected. Based on this, I'd say, the phone service will remain free but you may start hearing ads. When this might happen is anyone's guess.
Yes. Ads to the left of me. Ads to the right of me. Soon there will be ads on toilet paper.
Great, free Google TP and instead of an outgoing ring, you will hear an ad until connected. LOL!
Quote from: jjtricket on October 01, 2012, 11:01:49 PM
Great, free Google TP and instead of an outgoing ring, you will hear an ad until connected. LOL!
The "erectile dysfunction" ad just before being connected to one's marriage counselor should be full of win.
Politics and logistics aside, I think GV will have to continue offering it for free. If for no other reason than the entitlement mentality has set in.
It's like a boss who gives an unexpected Christmas bonus to everyone with the stern warning not to expect it next year. He then does this for three year. People plan on it, budget for it, and expect it. If he doesn't do it the following year, there will be plenty of demoralized employees - quite a few who may seek jobs elsewhere.
Think about the avalanche of data Google collects on all of us who use Voice. Between texting, transcribed voicemails, and call history/logs, it's a gold mine in an era where the currency is data not dollars.
If they suddenly started charging, they may loose a significant number of people - who take with them all that data.
The only way this could come to an end, is if I buy another OBI box. That'll kill the free ride immediately. So, I'm holding off for everyone else's sake :)
Hello. This is google voice with an incoming call from your mother-in-law brought to you by Excedrine.
Excedrine, for those times when your head suddenly starts hurting and you can't see straight. Based on a recent analysis performed by google labs on your wife's and her mother's gmail correspondence, it appears your mother-in-law will soon be moving in with you. Based on this we feel you may be interested in some of our other sponsors like Smith & Wesson and Acme Burlap Bag Company. Press 2 for more info. Also, axes and shovels are on sale now at Cabela's. Remember, at any time, please press 5 for a list of non-extradition countries brought to you by the roaming gnome and Travelocity. Press 666 now to be connected with your mother-in-law and have a nice day!
Hopefully by the time the ad's over, she's hung up.
Don't forget Google has a universal TOS; also keep in mind Google has developed an excellent voice to text capability. Being an advertising company, gleaning information from your phone calls would add another tool in the advertising arsenal.
Quote from: MitchDeerfield on July 02, 2012, 12:55:54 PM
The only way Google makes money on Google Voice is through selling long distance service out of the USA/Canada area. They might make some associated money with running ads on Google Mail or Google Voice.
Yeah, well that and aggregating all of your personal telephone traffic for selling to the data mining cabals :o
Let's face it - Google is in the information business, and when you use any of their "free products" they are collecting data from you. In that respect our tinfoil hatted troll is correct, there is nothing free about free services on the Internet.
Too late. Advertising on TP already happened. A Michigan company is doing that. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/story/2012-08-20/toilet-paper-advertising-coupons/57157328/1
Google is always tight lipped right up until they are ready to release info. The military could talk to them about keeping secrets but I'm betting on more free calls for 2013. I think the only reason they would charge is if they were forced to pay 911 fees.
Quote from: VaHam on October 13, 2012, 08:10:23 AM
Don't forget Google has a universal TOS; also keep in mind Google has developed an excellent voice to text capability. Being an advertising company, gleaning information from your phone calls would add another tool in the advertising arsenal.
In reply to the bolded part, IME the voice to text is not very good at all. I've been using a GV ported landline for four months and have yet to receive one VM more than slightly close to what was actually said, the text that comes out is jumbled and maybe every fifth word is correct. In fact, if this is what Google systems will be using to data mine GV conversations, I have no privacy worries at all, it's almost as is the conversations are encrypted.
Or google could just buy obi lol.
As far as Google's voice to text capability, I agree that transcription of voicemails leaves a lot to be desired. I love the feature that puts the voicemail file as an attachment I can listen to on my Smartphone though.
It's interesting, because on an Android phone Google's voice is amazingly accurate, i.e. speaking a text message or email, or issuing commands. Untrained by the way. Too bad it doesn't work near that well for voicemail transcription.
Quote from: Rick on November 07, 2012, 04:40:30 AM
As far as Google's voice to text capability, I agree that transcription of voicemails leaves a lot to be desired. I love the feature that puts the voicemail file as an attachment I can listen to on my Smartphone though.
It's interesting, because on an Android phone Google's voice is amazingly accurate, i.e. speaking a text message or email, or issuing commands. Untrained by the way. Too bad it doesn't work near that well for voicemail transcription.
If I was Google and wanted to better the translation, I would not wait for people to sign up for GoogleVoice and then try to get them to call people and let me translate the call. Rather, I would find a way to put a translator in every users hand and get them to train the system to their voice... oh wait!
Google Voice translation of voicemail can be poor at times. I've seen threads dedicated to incorrect but funny translations. Sometimes very amusing. It's usually close enough that I know what I need to know. That was very nice when I was using a text only device.
I think there are two reasons why Google translates better on Android. The audio quality is better because it has not been compressed, distorted, or encoded in any way. Number two when you are leaving a message for a person you talk normally but when you speak to your phone you enunciate more because you know you are talking to a machine. I happily donate many messages to Google to improve translation capabilities. I hear the biggest problem for most voice translation software is from Scottish people.
We are a little off topic I guess. :P
To the OP; NO
John Boyle's comments are ridiculous. GV IS currently free for making and receiving calls in the US. Calls abroad are mostly cheaper than what competitors charge.
If Google makes money as a result of people using GV (through advertising or otherwise) then kudos to Google for their business model.
Quote from: Mazal on November 10, 2012, 09:27:35 AM
John Boyle's comments are ridiculous. GV IS currently free for making and receiving calls in the US. Calls abroad are mostly cheaper than what competitors charge.
If Google makes money as a result of people using GV (through advertising or otherwise) then kudos to Google for their business model.
If you meant John Bowler's comments, he made them 4 months ago...
Quote from: jjtricket on September 12, 2012, 08:29:28 PM
We know a gal who is a fortune teller and she says GV will be Free in 2013.............
my fortune teller told me to buy 11 PowerBall tickets during the 3rd week of February 2013. I had to sign an agreement to give her 42% of the jackpot.
I think we all understand that Google is not likely to make an announcement until at least a few more days (if ever), but does anyone have a good understanding of why they do this to us?
My situation is that, if I knew it was going to be free, or if I knew what the charge would be, then I could budget for it and make plans to release my GV number at a moment convenient to me.
But not knowing simply means I cannot give anyone a number that I am uncertain I can keep. Which makes GV unusable to me for incoming calls. My fears are:
1. I don't know what is going on or why google follows this policy of giving effectively no notice - which is unnerving in itself and doesn't pass the smell test of a reliable supplier in many other walks of life.
2. Or I fear that they may choose to make it gratis to googlefolk who are money cows as to all sorts of other google products (which are of little interest to me) and the most expensive in the industry to unwanted outsiders to a point of great needless expense. And I will be seen as an outsider. (I prefer the clarity of the words gratis and libre to the ambiguous free)
An incoming number with callcentric is basically $6/month with no per minute charges and for most general purposes. Excluding special offers that have strings or catches that is. If google had announced they would charge less than that (anywhere between $0.00 and $6/month for unlimited incoming) then I could use their service.
So my question, in simple terms is, why do they do this to us??
Because it's not a priority to them. It's a free service. They don't make anything off of it, so they announce it when they feel like it. Your "if ever" makes no sense as they've announced in late December each year, so they should do so again.
Google doesn't care if you're uncertain, if you switch to Google Voice or not. They don't care if you use an OBi, it's not even on their radar screen. Google Voice is way, way, way down their list of important things, all the way to the list of "Hey Fred, did you take care of that before we go home for Christmas"?
That's why. ;)
Give people your Google Number. If Google changes things, they said for some fee, like $25 you can port away. Although other VOIP services usually charge to port TO them, I would bet that most of them would waive that fee to get the mass of GoogleVoice customers who would jump ship.
You must know that whether a phone number or email address remains forever is not that big a deal. With a search engine or call forwarding, etc, it is easy enough to change business cards and stationary.
Delta Airlines used to not own Delta.Com. In fact, they started out on the web as DeltaAir.Com. Imagine their cost to change a domain name.
I guess also, that if $6 a month is a deciding factor for you as to which service you choose, perhaps pay the $6 and be done. I would not use GoogleVoice for a mission critical (ie business use) if the changeove to someone else it that much of a worry for you.
I'm thinking if there were fees to be charged in January, wouldn't we have been given a notice by now? ???
Quote from: northernarizona on December 05, 2012, 07:52:53 AM
I'm thinking if there were fees to be charged in January, wouldn't we have been given a notice by now? ???
Logically, yes? Have you read the T&C to see if a notice period is required? Nothing in there. So they could easily give 2 weeks notice, or even 1 week notice. If they felt more notice was needed, they wouldn't wait until Dec 13th last year to say it would still be free. ;)
I guess we will have to sit tight then.
I'm going to hazard a guess that GV will remain free for 2013. There just seem to be too many things GV does not offer that others do offer for short money. Eg. CNAM, no porting in some area codes (like 603), no numbers available in some areas, no e911, etc. Right now, I use GV for outgoing calls and Anveo (at $2.80 per month including 911) for unlimited incoming calls and they ported my previous telco number for free. I can use Anveo for outbound at .01 per minute if I choose.
As others have mentioned, GV is not important to Google and the service has some catching up to do if they were to compete in the paid-service space. Just my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid ;D
Hi Everybody,
Please see the below-linked Google "Official Blog" article that mentions adding telephone users to hangouts.
Dial-in friends and family, from all over the world (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/google-hangouts-going-beyond-status.html)
Not everyone has a webcam or a front-facing mobile camera, but that shouldn't stop them from spending time with the people they're close to. Fortunately, nearly everyone has a telephone, and today we're making it possible to dial-in anyone, from almost any country, directly into your hangout. Calls to the U.S. and Canada are free, and international calling rates are super, super low (https://www.google.com/voice/rates?p=hangout).
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/google-hangouts-going-beyond-status.html
... now discuss! :-)
From your friends at Obihai, we hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.
I've been checking the google voice blog almost every day (sometimes a few times a day) for about a week or 2. I also check the official GV forum at the same time. So far I keep seeing no announcements and it's already the 17th. I've very much enjoyed my OBi and my GV account for well over a year. A nice holiday gift would be another year of free phone service. lol
Quote from: goob on December 17, 2012, 10:30:41 AM
I've been checking the google voice blog almost every day (sometimes a few times a day) for about a week or 2. I also check the official GV forum at the same time. So far I keep seeing no announcements and it's already the 17th. I've very much enjoyed my OBi and my GV account for well over a year. A nice holiday gift would be another year of free phone service. lol
Several times a day? Really? Wow...
I set a Google Alert. :)
Blogger Mukesh Agarwal at FreeCallsHub thinks "Google Voice will be free for 2013."
http://www.freecallshub.com/2012/12/google-voice-will-be-free-for-2013/
This part is sort-of funny...
"I have done my homework to draw the conclusion that Google voice has to be free. If Google Voice is not free for 2013, I promise I will never make a prediction (officially) and post it on free calls hub."
:)
Seeing has how they have dropped any reference to an end-date for it being free, it's entirely possible that there will not be an official announcement coming, it's just now a free product until they change their minds.
There's no scam going on.
My phone bill went from 64 to 19 after porting to GV. The voice portion of my bill was 35 plus 9.32 in taxes. That part of my life is OVER!
I'll never pay those PH co. rip off prices again. IF GV ever decides to charge, the competition fees are around $30 or less PER YEAR!!!!! not month.
I'm guessing GV would be near that IF they charge. If not, I take my number and run. I already ported this number our family has had for 85+ years, its mine as long as I want it.
It's free for 2013, it was just announced.
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/26/google-extends-free-gmail-voice-calls-in-the-u-s-and-canada-through-2013
Now going to order an obi110 before there is a mad rush!
I can sleep much easier now, this had me up for days... :D
I noticed that they completely avoided the expression " Google Voice" ???
Quote from: carl on December 26, 2012, 04:34:59 PM
I noticed that they completely avoided the expression " Google Voice" ???
I noticed that also. Another odd thing is they announced this in the gmail blog but not in the Google Voice blog.
(Just FYI)
The Free Calling Thru 2012 announcement was also a Gmail blog post (http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html) -- The announcement was cross-posted on the GV blog (http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html).
Something wrong with that year. 2012? That seems to be last year's announcement.
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.ca/2011/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html
Posted 13th December 2011 by A Googler
The situation regarding free calling is confusing. In December-2010 and in December-2011, Google announced that the following year would have free calling. Those announcements were posted in the official Google Voice blog. But when Google made that same type of announcement in December-2012, it was posted only in the official Gmail blog, and it did not mention Google Voice. So does the December-2012 announcement apply only to Gmail users and not to Google Voice users? And should Obihai users therefore be worried about will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?
Quote from: Nervpop on December 27, 2012, 04:41:14 AM
.... But when Google made that same type of announcement in December-2012, it was posted only in the official Gmail blog, and it did not mention Google Voice. ...
2012 announcement was in the GV blog: http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html
Quote from: CoalMinerRetired on December 27, 2012, 06:23:01 AM
2012 announcement...
The phrase "2012 announcement" in CoalMinerRetired's post is so ambiguous that it's meaningless. It could mean an announcement made in 2012 or an announcement made about 2012 -- two entirely different ideas.
Look at the date it was posted:
Posted 13th December 2011 by A Googler
It is clearly last year's announcement for 2012, not the 2013 announcement.
Quote from: QBZappy on December 27, 2012, 08:06:35 AM
Look at the date it was posted:
Posted 13th December 2011 by A Googler
It is clearly last year's announcement for 2012, not the 2013 announcement.
Yes, it is the announcement that was made in December-2011, which I accurately described in this post:
Quote from: Nervpop on December 27, 2012, 04:41:14 AM
The situation regarding free calling is confusing. In December-2010 and in December-2011, Google announced that the following year would have free calling. Those announcements were posted in the official Google Voice blog. But when Google made that same type of announcement in December-2012, it was posted only in the official Gmail blog, and it did not mention Google Voice. So does the December-2012 announcement apply only to Gmail users and not to Google Voice users? And should Obihai users therefore be worried about will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?
Sorry, for the re-re-posting. I saw that the administrator already had posted it and erased mine and then I realized it was for 2012.
Here, the announcement for 2013:
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html
Quote from: Nervpop on December 27, 2012, 04:41:14 AM
The situation regarding free calling is confusing. In December-2010 and in December-2011, Google announced that the following year would have free calling. Those announcements were posted in the official Google Voice blog. But when Google made that same type of announcement in December-2012, it was posted only in the official Gmail blog, and it did not mention Google Voice. So does the December-2012 announcement apply only to Gmail users and not to Google Voice users? And should Obihai users therefore be worried about will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?
I just realized that I left out the word "what" in the final sentence. It should be "And should Obihai users therefore be worried about
what will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?"
Quote from: zerox on December 27, 2012, 08:48:48 AM
Sorry, for the re-re-posting. I saw that the administrator already had posted it and erased mine and then I realized it was for 2012.
Here, the announcement for 2013:
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html
Yes, it is the announcement that was made in December-2012, which I accurately described in this post:
Quote from: Nervpop on December 27, 2012, 04:41:14 AM
The situation regarding free calling is confusing. In December-2010 and in December-2011, Google announced that the following year would have free calling. Those announcements were posted in the official Google Voice blog. But when Google made that same type of announcement in December-2012, it was posted only in the official Gmail blog, and it did not mention Google Voice. So does the December-2012 announcement apply only to Gmail users and not to Google Voice users? And should Obihai users therefore be worried about will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?
Quote from: Nervpop on December 27, 2012, 08:50:01 AM
I just realized that I left out the word "what" in the final sentence. It should be "And should Obihai users therefore be worried about what will happen to free calling after December 31, 2012?"
The answer is a clear no. Reading your posts it appears you're trying to find a reason to be worried, whereas the "vast majority" on here -- I'll go out on a limb here and put the number at 99.9% -- believe it will continue to be free just like it is now.
Furthermore, everyone has multiple fall back plans at the ready. What are they? Port your number to any of the well-accepted VoIP providers commonly mentioned on here (and on DSLReports, and elsewhere) and instead of paying zero you pay the small (relative to hard wired land line, Skype, Magicjack, etc.) monthly fee on a plan of your choosing that best matches your usage pattern.
And if you're still concerned, you can have a fallback plan on the fallback plan, which is to port your number back to a landline provider, assuming that is where it came from in the first place.
I sent the following message to Obi Support:
I have checked the forum and all online sources I can find and there seems
to be some confusion whether the free calling announced by Google will only
be available through Gmail or will continue to be available using the
OBi110.
Do you know whether or not we will still be able to make free domestic calls
next year with the OBi110 using Google Voice?
This is the response I received:
Of course, the free GV calls work with OBi products. Google Voice and
gmail calling is the same.
- Obi Support
I'm a newbie and a little confused. I set-up my new OBI110 with GV for outbound calls last week. It was working great until yesterday. At that point I began to think that GV had indeed made some change to service beginning 1/1 as anticipated. However, after some reading I saw the announcement that GV service would be continued through 2013.
However, I'm not getting dial tone via GV on my OBI. Anybody have tips on how to troubleshoot? I've read the manual and taken all the suggested steps but with no resolution.
Thx,
EDM
Quote from: EDM1 on January 02, 2013, 08:15:56 AM
However, I'm not getting dial tone via GV on my OBI. Anybody have tips on how to troubleshoot? I've read the manual and taken all the suggested steps but with no resolution.
Best thing to do is always either find a post already via search that has a subject that matches your issue, or create a new post with subject line that gives a good reference to what your question is.
You can contact Obi Support. Or if you wish to investigate further you can start a new post with some more details. Specifically what lights are on the obi, and can you connect to the attendent, or what level of functionality you have if any. The problem could be as simple as the power supply for the obi failed.
Obviously Google voice is working for free so that debate is over till the end of this year.
So far as having no dial tone it seems like most of the time when an Obi stops working mysteriously the person has changed their password on Google Voice and not updated it on their OBi. Did you change a password recently?
Quote from: EDM1 on January 02, 2013, 08:15:56 AM
I'm a newbie and a little confused. I set-up my new OBI110 with GV for outbound calls last week. It was working great until yesterday. At that point I began to think that GV had indeed made some change to service beginning 1/1 as anticipated. However, after some reading I saw the announcement that GV service would be continued through 2013.
However, I'm not getting dial tone via GV on my OBI. Anybody have tips on how to troubleshoot? I've read the manual and taken all the suggested steps but with no resolution.
Thx,
EDM
My dialtone stopped working too. You are not alone. I think there is something that has changed with how this is supposed to work. I wish someone would help with this.
Quote from: youngster on February 04, 2013, 07:52:54 AM
My dialtone stopped working too. You are not alone. I think there is something that has changed with how this is supposed to work. I wish someone would help with this.
Ideally you should start a new post when you have an issue, especially when the last post on the thread is from over a month ago.
If you've tried the troubleshoot tips including unplugging your OBi and plugging it back in, and you haven't changed your Google password, and you have the latest firmware, then fill out a Support Ticket on the OBi Support page.
"If you've tried the troubleshoot tips including unplugging your OBi and plugging it back in, and you haven't changed your Google password, and you have the latest firmware, then fill out a Support Ticket on the OBi Support page."
1) Tried all the troubleshooting steps
2) Google Pasword has never been changed
3) Firmware is up to date
4) Filled out a support ticket, but nobody has responded.
I'm only posting on the forum because it is hard to tell if Obi Support is actually responding to trouble tickets.
Thanks though
I know of no one that has had trouble with OBi not responding to trouble tickets. They don't respond to posts on the forum as it is customer based. Keep in mind they are on California time, and give it some time. All of my support tickets have been promptly responded to and resolved.
Quote from: Rick on February 04, 2013, 08:22:38 AM
I know of no one that has had trouble with OBi not responding to trouble tickets. They don't respond to posts on the forum as it is customer based. Keep in mind they are on California time, and give it some time. All of my support tickets have been promptly responded to and resolved.
I agree. I filled out a few tickets before and all were answered promptly by OBihai support.
Quote from: Rick on February 04, 2013, 07:57:57 AM
Quote from: youngster on February 04, 2013, 07:52:54 AM
My dialtone stopped working too. You are not alone. I think there is something that has changed with how this is supposed to work. I wish someone would help with this.
Ideally you should start a new post when you have an issue, especially when the last post on the thread is from over a month ago.
And when your post is unrelated to the topic of the thread... GV continues to be free; I set up a new OBi202 yesterday - and everything is working fine. In fact, once I had GV accounts set up, configuring OBi for two lines (one for phone, one for fax) took less than 15 minutes...