Q.: Some GoogleVoice concepts I don't get yet ...

Reading what Google says about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing something.

Here's what I gather is the inbound calls story: any inbound call *to*
one's GoogleVoice number can ring through to any combination of whatever
actual phones one has control over, be they cellular, ILEC wireline, or
other, and be answered through any phone it rings through to.

But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?

And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
required for that? All Google tells me is:

:To get started, you must be signed in to chat and have the voice and video chat plug-in installed.
:Simply click the Call phone link at the top of your Chat roster to open up the Call window.
:From the Call window you can dial a phone number, view your call history or add credit.

But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?
Or what? What am I missing here? Comparisons -- and contrasts -- with
MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.

Anyway, TIA for all clarifications :-) . And cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

"tlvp" <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote in message
news:rp4k1k6d1x5n.1pjs5pr1q5txl.dlg@40tude.net...
> Reading what Google says about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing
> something.
>
> Here's what I gather is the inbound calls story: any inbound call *to*
> one's GoogleVoice number can ring through to any combination of whatever
> actual phones one has control over, be they cellular, ILEC wireline, or
> other, and be answered through any phone it rings through to.
>
> But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>
> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
> required for that? All Google tells me is:
>
> :To get started, you must be signed in to chat and have the voice and
> video chat plug-in installed.
> :Simply click the Call phone link at the top of your Chat roster to open
> up the Call window.
> :From the Call window you can dial a phone number, view your call history
> or add credit.
>
> But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
> handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?
> Or what? What am I missing here? Comparisons -- and contrasts -- with
> MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.
>
> Anyway, TIA for all clarifications :-) . And cheers, -- tlvp
> --
> Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

tlvp wrote on [Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:36:50 -0500]:
> Reading what Google says about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing something.
>
> Here's what I gather is the inbound calls story: any inbound call *to*
> one's GoogleVoice number can ring through to any combination of whatever
> actual phones one has control over, be they cellular, ILEC wireline, or
> other, and be answered through any phone it rings through to.
>
> But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?

You can do that, in my case I have my android handset setup to
automatically intercept all outgoing international calls to use
google voice. You can also intercept all calls.

When I am at home I go to my browser and have the call dialed
from there, it rings my home line, I pick that up and then it makes
the outbound call for me.

> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
> required for that? All Google tells me is:

You need to download a plugin from google for your browser and you use your
microphone and speakers/headphone

> But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
> handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?
> Or what? What am I missing here? Comparisons -- and contrasts -- with
> MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.
>
> Anyway, TIA for all clarifications :-) . And cheers, -- tlvp

"tlvp" <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote in message
news:rp4k1k6d1x5n.1pjs5pr1q5txl.dlg@40tude.net...
> Reading what Google says about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing
> something.
>
> Here's what I gather is the inbound calls story: any inbound call *to*
> one's GoogleVoice number can ring through to any combination of whatever
> actual phones one has control over, be they cellular, ILEC wireline, or
> other, and be answered through any phone it rings through to.
>
> But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>
> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
> required for that? All Google tells me is:
>
> :To get started, you must be signed in to chat and have the voice and
> video chat plug-in installed.
> :Simply click the Call phone link at the top of your Chat roster to open
> up the Call window.
> :From the Call window you can dial a phone number, view your call history
> or add credit.
>
> But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
> handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?
> Or what? What am I missing here? Comparisons -- and contrasts -- with
> MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.
>
> Anyway, TIA for all clarifications :-) . And cheers, -- tlvp
> --
> Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

I use GV all the time; daily; and have since I first signed up for what is
now my main account almost 3 years ago.

Let me address your outbound questions. Tons of possibilities, and in the
way I have it set up, under each of these scenarios, the call-ed party sees
my GV number/CID -- not the number of the phone I am actually using to call:

* Using the GV website, you direct it to call someone. GV rings the phone
of your choice (landline; voip phone; cell) at your end, you pick up, you
hear ringing, and you are connected to the call-ed party.

* From the phone of your choice (landline; voip phone; cell) you call your
GV number (rather like dialing a VM number). The perky lady robot answers,
you hit "2" to place a call, you punch in the 1+10 digits, and the call is
placed.

* Using a web plug-in, and from your Gmail account main page, with a headset
and mic, you dial any number direct from a softphone-like keypad.

* You set up a new PBX on a cast-off computer using "PBX-In-A-Flash." It
allows you to configure GV as a "trunk" the same way you would set up a voip
provider. You connect an "ATA" to your PBX, and then analog phones to the
ATA. Then, you pick up the phone and dial 1+10 digits, just as you would
when using AT&T. <== This is what I do and I love it. GV becomes "just
another carrier." I use this method for 90% of my outbound calls.

* You buy an Obihai 100 ATA, which natively supports GV. You plug it into
your network. You plug your phone into the Obi. You do some configuring.
Then, using your regular analog phone you dial 1+10 digits, just as you
would when using AT&T and the call goes out via GV. Free.

Plenty of other things to chew on, but this should be enough.

GV also has heavily augmented/replaced what texting I do or receive.

On 2/10/2012 10:36 AM, tlvp wrote:

> But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?

You can do it that way. You can also log onto Google Voice and initiate
the call on-line from a browser and Google will call both your phone and
the number you are calling.

Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
where you want Google Voice's low rates).

> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
> services works -- does one call from a web browser?

Yes.

> What equipment is
> required for that? All Google tells me is:

You can do that with either the microphone and speakers built into a
laptop, external microphone and speakers, or with a headset.
<http://www.google.com/talk/accessories.html>. Probably a headset is best.

> But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
> handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?

Yes, or use some sort of microphone and speakers.

> MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.

There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:42:40 +0000 (UTC), Justin wrote:

> tlvp wrote on [Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:36:50 -0500]:
>> ... about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing something.
>> ...
>> ... about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
>> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>
> You can do that, in my case I have my android handset setup to
> automatically intercept all outgoing international calls to use
> google voice. You can also intercept all calls.

And that's local voice minutes android_handset-to-google_voice, I guess?

> When I am at home I go to my browser and have the call dialed
> from there, it rings my home line, I pick that up and then it makes
> the outbound call for me.

Ah-hah! I see. Thanks.

>> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
>> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
>> required for that? All Google tells me is: ...
>
> You need to download a plugin from google for your browser and you use your
> microphone and speakers/headphone

Microphone and speakers don't generate feedback whines?

Thanks for these clarifications :-) . And cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 wrote:

> On 2/10/2012 10:36 AM, tlvp wrote:
>
>> But what about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
>> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>
> You can do it that way. You can also log onto Google Voice and initiate
> the call on-line from a browser and Google will call both your phone and
> the number you are calling.
>
> Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
> from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
> than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
> where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>
>> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
>> services works -- does one call from a web browser?
>
> Yes.
>
>> What equipment is
>> required for that? All Google tells me is:
>
> You can do that with either the microphone and speakers built into a
> laptop, external microphone and speakers, or with a headset.
> <http://www.google.com/talk/accessories.html>. Probably a headset is best.
>
>> But, after dialing, how do I hear, and how do I speak? I need to plug a
>> handset/headset into appropriate I/O ports on the computer in question?
>
> Yes, or use some sort of microphone and speakers.
>
>> MagicJack (with which I have some experience) might help, too.
>
> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.

Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:47:43 -0600, tycho wrote:

> "tlvp" <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote in message
> news:rp4k1k6d1x5n.1pjs5pr1q5txl.dlg@40tude.net...
>> ... about GoogleVoice ...
>>
>> ... what about outbound calls? Does one ... ? ...
>
> I use GV all the time; daily; and have since I first signed up for what is
> now my main account almost 3 years ago.
>
> Let me address your outbound questions. Tons of possibilities, and in the
> way I have it set up, under each of these scenarios, the call-ed party sees
> my GV number/CID -- not the number of the phone I am actually using to call:
>
> * Using the GV website, you direct it to call someone. GV rings the phone
> of your choice (landline; voip phone; cell) at your end, you pick up, you
> hear ringing, and you are connected to the call-ed party.
>
> * From the phone of your choice (landline; voip phone; cell) you call your
> GV number (rather like dialing a VM number). The perky lady robot answers,
> you hit "2" to place a call, you punch in the 1+10 digits, and the call is
> placed.
>
> * Using a web plug-in, and from your Gmail account main page, with a headset
> and mic, you dial any number direct from a softphone-like keypad.
>
> * You set up a new PBX on a cast-off computer using "PBX-In-A-Flash." It
> allows you to configure GV as a "trunk" the same way you would set up a voip
> provider. You connect an "ATA" to your PBX, and then analog phones to the
> ATA. Then, you pick up the phone and dial 1+10 digits, just as you would
> when using AT&T. <== This is what I do and I love it. GV becomes "just
> another carrier." I use this method for 90% of my outbound calls.
>
> * You buy an Obihai 100 ATA, which natively supports GV. You plug it into
> your network. You plug your phone into the Obi. You do some configuring.
> Then, using your regular analog phone you dial 1+10 digits, just as you
> would when using AT&T and the call goes out via GV. Free.
>
> Plenty of other things to chew on, but this should be enough.
>
> GV also has heavily augmented/replaced what texting I do or receive.

Thanks, tycho. Evidently, GV is analogous to the proverbial elephant, and
between what you and Justin and sms88 have described I'm beginning to get a
feel for its capabilities, requirements, characteristics, and advantages.

So thanks to all three of you. And cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>where you want Google Voice's low rates).

Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
party you're calling. It even works with ANI.

"The Ghost of General Lee" <ghost@general.lee> wrote in message
news:ivdcj7df1o7i2d10r03b00ktm1ukcedgmv@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>>where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>
> Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
> party you're calling. It even works with ANI.

Yes, like to make hate calls and racially charged call as was being done
with me.

"crkeehn" <carlkeehn@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:jh5lh4$5gj$1@dont-email.me...
>
> "The Ghost of General Lee" <ghost@general.lee> wrote in message
> news:ivdcj7df1o7i2d10r03b00ktm1ukcedgmv@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>>>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>>>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>>>where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>>
>> Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
>> party you're calling. It even works with ANI.
>
> Yes, like to make hate calls and racially charged call as was being done
> with me.
Or, more likely, to give to the new girlfriend that you don't yet want to
have your cell number.

(Your scenario can be accomplished many, many ways. Don't pick on GV for
that. And, in any event, there would be calling/IP/ownership records
linking the GV number to the "real" number. Subpoena away...)

tlvp wrote on [Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:25:14 -0500]:
> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:42:40 +0000 (UTC), Justin wrote:
>
>> tlvp wrote on [Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:36:50 -0500]:
>>> ... about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing something.
>>> ...
>>> ... about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
>>> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>>
>> You can do that, in my case I have my android handset setup to
>> automatically intercept all outgoing international calls to use
>> google voice. You can also intercept all calls.
>
> And that's local voice minutes android_handset-to-google_voice, I guess?

Right. We never come close to our minutes anyway, I know many do

>>> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's cellular
>>> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
>>> required for that? All Google tells me is: ...
>>
>> You need to download a plugin from google for your browser and you use your
>> microphone and speakers/headphone
>
> Microphone and speakers don't generate feedback whines?

Very rarely, I haven't encountered it in a long time.

The Ghost of General Lee wrote on [Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:44:47 -0500]:
> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>>where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>
> Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
> party you're calling. It even works with ANI.

But then the number they see is your GV number?

On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:04:50 -0500, "crkeehn"
<carlkeehn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>
>"The Ghost of General Lee" <ghost@general.lee> wrote in message
>news:ivdcj7df1o7i2d10r03b00ktm1ukcedgmv@4ax.com.. .
>> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>>>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>>>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>>>where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>>
>> Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
>> party you're calling. It even works with ANI.
>
>Yes, like to make hate calls and racially charged call as was being done
>with me.
>

Sorry that happened to you, but it works great if you want to call a
toll free number to make an inquiry about a product/service without
them capturing your real number and calling you back repeatedly with a
hard sales pitch.

On 2/10/2012 11:47 AM, tycho wrote:

<snip>

> * You buy an Obihai 100 ATA, which natively supports GV. You plug it into
> your network. You plug your phone into the Obi. You do some configuring.
> Then, using your regular analog phone you dial 1+10 digits, just as you
> would when using AT&T and the call goes out via GV. Free.

Thanks, that's excellent information. A one time expenditure of $45 or
so for the 100ATA versus the high initial cost of Ooma, or the
ridiculously high monthly cost of Vonage.

Note that while landline to Google Voice number porting is not
available, there is a way to accomplish this (see
http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/20...to-google.html).
At least it worked for someone whose landline service is provided by
Verizon. If your landline company is AT&T it would probably also work.

> GV also has heavily augmented/replaced what texting I do or receive.

The GV texting is very useful. You can send and receive texts as part of
your data usage and not sign up for a ridiculously priced texting plan.
Even if you have a texting plan on your phone, it's really nice to be
able to send texts from your computer instead since it's much faster to
type them. While you could always send texts by e-mail as well, to do so
you need to know the recipients carrier, but with GV you don't need to
know that. On Pageplus I get far more texts than I could ever use with
my 1200 plan so I don't use GV for texting. Even pay as you go texting
on PP is very reasonable compared to regular carriers, only 5¢ each.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:47:56 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:

>In article <jh5tjs$hgp$1@dont-email.me>, "tycho" <this@wont-work.com>
>wrote:
>
>> > Yes, like to make hate calls and racially charged call as was being done
>> > with me.
>> Or, more likely, to give to the new girlfriend that you don't yet want to
>> have your cell number.
>
>what the **** kind of world do you people live in?

The real world, where someone you've just met might be a bit off their
rocker.

>Don't want to give a girl your cell phone number? And you jump through
>hoops to avoid that?

Yep. And I don't see it as being that big of a hoop.

>What the **** is wrong with young people today?

What does age have to do with it?

On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:26:00 +0000 (UTC), Justin
<nospam@insightbb.com> wrote:

>The Ghost of General Lee wrote on [Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:44:47 -0500]:
>> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:50:29 -0800, sms88 <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Of course there would probably be no good reason to dial Google Voice
>>>from a cell phone then call the number you want via Google Voice rather
>>>than just dialing the number directly (except for international calls
>>>where you want Google Voice's low rates).
>>
>> Yes, there is a good reason, to conceal your cell number from the
>> party you're calling. It even works with ANI.
>
>But then the number they see is your GV number?

Yes. And if it's someone you don't want to hear from again, you can
easily dump them straight to voice mail or send them to a "This number
has been disconnected..." message through the GV control panel.

"Justin" <nospam@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:jh6183$7d0$1@dont-email.me...
> tlvp wrote on [Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:25:14 -0500]:
>> On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:42:40 +0000 (UTC), Justin wrote:
>>
>>> tlvp wrote on [Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:36:50 -0500]:
>>>> ... about GoogleVoice, I seem to be missing something.
>>>> ...
>>>> ... about outbound calls? Does one call one's GoogleVoice number from
>>>> any of one's "real" phones and then dial the number one really wanted?
>>>
>>> You can do that, in my case I have my android handset setup to
>>> automatically intercept all outgoing international calls to use
>>> google voice. You can also intercept all calls.
>>
>> And that's local voice minutes android_handset-to-google_voice, I guess?
>
> Right. We never come close to our minutes anyway, I know many do
>
>>>> And what if one is not at home, nor in an area where any of one's
>>>> cellular
>>>> services works -- does one call from a web browser? What equipment is
>>>> required for that? All Google tells me is: ...
>>>
>>> You need to download a plugin from google for your browser and you use
>>> your
>>> microphone and speakers/headphone
>>
>> Microphone and speakers don't generate feedback whines?
>
> Very rarely, I haven't encountered it in a long time.
>
I use a headset with boom mic -- no feedback.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4f36aa23$0$12041$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> On 2/10/2012 11:47 AM, tycho wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> * You buy an Obihai 100 ATA, which natively supports GV. You plug it
>> into
>> your network. You plug your phone into the Obi. You do some
>> configuring.
>> Then, using your regular analog phone you dial 1+10 digits, just as you
>> would when using AT&T and the call goes out via GV. Free.
>
> Thanks, that's excellent information. A one time expenditure of $45 or so
> for the 100ATA versus the high initial cost of Ooma, or the ridiculously
> high monthly cost of Vonage.
>
> Note that while landline to Google Voice number porting is not available,
> there is a way to accomplish this (see
> http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/20...to-google.html).
> At least it worked for someone whose landline service is provided by
> Verizon. If your landline company is AT&T it would probably also work.

I've never seen a need to port my landline # to Google, and based on the
extensive amount that I've read, FWIW, not sure that I would want to. I
ported my had-it-forever AT&T number to a quality VoIP carrier (CallCentric,
in my case -- $1.95/mo. for pay-per-minute inbound or $5.95/month for
unlimited inbound) and use GV to augment the capabilities of that carrer
=AND= to provide free outbound calling so long as I don't care about sending
my had-it-forever AT&T number as the CID. I've used my GV number long
enough now that people know it is my "second line," and that if they return
the call to that number, they will reach me. If it's important that I send
my old AT&T CID, I use my principle VoIP carrier (CallCentric) for
$0.02/minute, or -- better yet -- my alternate: CallWithUs. They will send
my choice of CID, and only charge a penny a minute.

>> GV also has heavily augmented/replaced what texting I do or receive.
>
> The GV texting is very useful. You can send and receive texts as part of
> your data usage and not sign up for a ridiculously priced texting plan.
> Even if you have a texting plan on your phone, it's really nice to be able
> to send texts from your computer instead since it's much faster to type
> them. While you could always send texts by e-mail as well, to do so you
> need to know the recipients carrier, but with GV you don't need to know
> that. On Pageplus I get far more texts than I could ever use with my 1200
> plan so I don't use GV for texting. Even pay as you go texting on PP is
> very reasonable compared to regular carriers, only 5¢ each.

Yes to all of that. But, using my smartphone, while at home (or otherwise
within WiFi range -- softball to you, Steve. *heh*) I can turn
GV-forward-to-cell (PP) =OFF= and receive all my texts to my GV number for
free on the same phone via the GV client that they would arrive at for $0.05
(PP Standard Plan for me still) if sent directly to the cell, or if routed
from GV to the cell.

On 2/10/2012 10:32 PM, tlvp wrote:

>> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
>> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
>> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.
>
> Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp

Well actually I was wrong when I said "There is no Ethernet to RJ11
adapter such as what is used with Magic Jack Plus," since it was pointed
out that there are the OBi100 and OBi110 which are essentially the same
thing.

The one thing you don't get with Google Voice is any sore of E911
location service.

"The Ghost of General Lee" <ghost@general.lee> wrote in message
news:r99dj7lpdromd4rpd6s2jfvd49fu4rlkjg@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:47:56 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
>
>>In article <jh5tjs$hgp$1@dont-email.me>, "tycho" <this@wont-work.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>> > Yes, like to make hate calls and racially charged call as was being
>>> > done
>>> > with me.

>>> Or, more likely, to give to the new girlfriend that you don't yet want
>>> to
>>> have your cell number.
>>
>>what the **** kind of world do you people live in?
>
> The real world, where someone you've just met might be a bit off their
> rocker.
>
>>Don't want to give a girl your cell phone number? And you jump through
>>hoops to avoid that?
>
> Yep. And I don't see it as being that big of a hoop.
>
>>What the **** is wrong with young people today?
>
> What does age have to do with it?

*Heh* Having *plonked* Elmo after his last series of intemperate outbursts
I didn't see this most recent. Right -- it's no particular hoop, especially
if, like me, it was set-up years ago. It's just a different number, that's
all. A different number with the incredible capability of, for example,
turning off as unwanted or spam calls from individual numbers.

And right, age has nothing to do with it. I'll be 58 this year.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4f36b3be$0$11991$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> On 2/10/2012 10:32 PM, tlvp wrote:
>
>>> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
>>> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
>>> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.
>>
>> Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp
>
> Well actually I was wrong when I said "There is no Ethernet to RJ11
> adapter such as what is used with Magic Jack Plus," since it was pointed
> out that there are the OBi100 and OBi110 which are essentially the same
> thing.
>
> The one thing you don't get with Google Voice is any sore of E911 location
> service.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4f36b3be$0$11991$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> On 2/10/2012 10:32 PM, tlvp wrote:
>
>>> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
>>> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
>>> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.
>>
>> Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp
>
> Well actually I was wrong when I said "There is no Ethernet to RJ11
> adapter such as what is used with Magic Jack Plus," since it was pointed
> out that there are the OBi100 and OBi110 which are essentially the same
> thing.
>
> The one thing you don't get with Google Voice is any sore of E911 location
> service.

No you don't. Some folks try to use GV as their ONLY number, for free (you
can), and rely on their cell for 911. In my case I took a slightly more
conservative path and tried to come close to what I had with AT&T and its
robust 911 and it's line-powered phones.

I ported my number to a good VoIP carrier (see other post for details).
They offer optional E911 almost as good as AT&T's for $1.50/month. As this
was my landline replacement, I signed up. I have my modem/router/ATA all
plugged into a great big UPS that I had from a prior project. If my power
goes out, I have local standby for the phone for 12-18 hours. If my
internet goes down, I have my cell. If they all go down, I'm up the creek.

On 2/11/2012 10:45 AM, tycho wrote:
> "SMS"<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
> news:4f36b3be$0$11991$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>> On 2/10/2012 10:32 PM, tlvp wrote:
>>
>>>> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
>>>> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really a
>>>> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.
>>>
>>> Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp
>>
>> Well actually I was wrong when I said "There is no Ethernet to RJ11
>> adapter such as what is used with Magic Jack Plus," since it was pointed
>> out that there are the OBi100 and OBi110 which are essentially the same
>> thing.
>>
>> The one thing you don't get with Google Voice is any sore of E911 location
>> service.
>
> No you don't. Some folks try to use GV as their ONLY number, for free (you
> can), and rely on their cell for 911. In my case I took a slightly more
> conservative path and tried to come close to what I had with AT&T and its
> robust 911 and it's line-powered phones.
>
> I ported my number to a good VoIP carrier (see other post for details).
> They offer optional E911 almost as good as AT&T's for $1.50/month. As this
> was my landline replacement, I signed up. I have my modem/router/ATA all
> plugged into a great big UPS that I had from a prior project. If my power
> goes out, I have local standby for the phone for 12-18 hours. If my
> internet goes down, I have my cell. If they all go down, I'm up the creek.

That's a good plan. I used to suggest Sipgate, but apparently they are
going out of business. I hope CallCentric can hang on. Since Google
Voice debuted it's been tough going for these VOIP companies.

The bottom line is that if someone is already paying for broadband,
whether DSL or cable, there is no need to also pay for a copper pair
landline unless they are really concerned about ultimate reliability
during natural disasters. What I really don't get is people that pay a
lot of money for VOIP service via Comcast or Vonage. They're not getting
the advantages of a true landline, and they are essentially throwing
money away each month.


“It's best not to argue with people who are determined to lose. Once
you've told them about a superior alternative, your responsibility is
fulfilled and you can allow them to lose in peace.”

Mark Crispin, Inventor of the IMAP e-Mail Protocol

"sms88" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:jh6gde$23u$1@dont-email.me...
>>
> On 2/11/2012 10:45 AM, tycho wrote:
>> "SMS"<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
>> news:4f36b3be$0$11991$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>> On 2/10/2012 10:32 PM, tlvp wrote:
>>>
>>>>> There is no Ethernet to RJ11 adapter such as what is used with Magic
>>>>> Jack Plus. You cannot hook up standard analog phones. It's not really
>>>>> a
>>>>> substitute for a landline like Magicjack, Ooma, Vonage, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Steve: more of the picture is becoming clear. Cheers, -- tlvp
>>>
>>> Well actually I was wrong when I said "There is no Ethernet to RJ11
>>> adapter such as what is used with Magic Jack Plus," since it was pointed
>>> out that there are the OBi100 and OBi110 which are essentially the same
>>> thing.
>>>
>>> The one thing you don't get with Google Voice is any sore of E911
>>> location
>>> service.
>>
>> No you don't. Some folks try to use GV as their ONLY number, for free
>> (you
>> can), and rely on their cell for 911. In my case I took a slightly more
>> conservative path and tried to come close to what I had with AT&T and its
>> robust 911 and it's line-powered phones.
>>
>> I ported my number to a good VoIP carrier (see other post for details).
>> They offer optional E911 almost as good as AT&T's for $1.50/month. As
>> this
>> was my landline replacement, I signed up. I have my modem/router/ATA all
>> plugged into a great big UPS that I had from a prior project. If my
>> power
>> goes out, I have local standby for the phone for 12-18 hours. If my
>> internet goes down, I have my cell. If they all go down, I'm up the
>> creek.
>
> That's a good plan. I used to suggest Sipgate, but apparently they are
> going out of business. I hope CallCentric can hang on. Since Google Voice
> debuted it's been tough going for these VOIP companies.
>
> The bottom line is that if someone is already paying for broadband,
> whether DSL or cable, there is no need to also pay for a copper pair
> landline unless they are really concerned about ultimate reliability
> during natural disasters. What I really don't get is people that pay a lot
> of money for VOIP service via Comcast or Vonage. They're not getting the
> advantages of a true landline, and they are essentially throwing money
> away each month.

I have the "free" Sipgate DID service, but they have not offered DIDs for
free or even for pay in the States for a long time. My friends on
DSLReports/Broadband Reports are debating whether Sipgate is still in the
running or going under ("works fine and still responsive" say the European
folks; "defunct" say the American folks).

Even though I am fully entrenched in VoIP-dom, no longer have a POTs line,
have multiple VoIP providers, use GV, run my own PBX, also have a PBX in the
cloud, etc., I guess I can understand some folks going with Comcast/Vonage.
Most of them aren't geeks; they =are= saving money relative to AT&T; they
are used to a well recognized big utility-like one-stop-shop so there is
comfort in Comcast or the formerly oft-advertised Vonage; they don't really
understand VoIP so they don't "get" that you can obtain essentially
(Comcast) or exactly (Vonage) the same thing far cheaper using another
carrier (my Callcentric, for example); they are attracted to a
double/triple/quadruple play and are happy with what they do save (or think
they save). Saving the =most= often does require a certain amount of
geeky-ness (or up-front payments like Ooma, or PhonePower (is that the one
that sends you an ATA and offers 1 yr/2 yr rates?) Comcast has installers
and is plug-and-play. My much cheaper alternative is BYOD and requires me
to set up the ATA.

On 2/11/2012 12:08 PM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article<jh6c2m$7si$1@dont-email.me>, "tycho"<this@wont-work.com>
> wrote:

> THAT CallCentric?

No, this one: <http://www.callcentric.com/dids/pay_per_minute>.

Remember, the CallCentric number is only really needed for E911 service,
GV can be used for everything else.

On 2/11/2012 1:29 PM, tycho wrote:

> Even though I am fully entrenched in VoIP-dom, no longer have a POTs line,
> have multiple VoIP providers, use GV, run my own PBX, also have a PBX in the
> cloud, etc., I guess I can understand some folks going with Comcast/Vonage.
> Most of them aren't geeks; they =are= saving money relative to AT&T; they
> are used to a well recognized big utility-like one-stop-shop so there is
> comfort in Comcast or the formerly oft-advertised Vonage; they don't really
> understand VoIP so they don't "get" that you can obtain essentially
> (Comcast) or exactly (Vonage) the same thing far cheaper using another
> carrier (my Callcentric, for example); they are attracted to a
> double/triple/quadruple play and are happy with what they do save (or think
> they save). Saving the =most= often does require a certain amount of
> geeky-ness (or up-front payments like Ooma, or PhonePower (is that the one
> that sends you an ATA and offers 1 yr/2 yr rates?) Comcast has installers
> and is plug-and-play. My much cheaper alternative is BYOD and requires me
> to set up the ATA.

You'd at least think that the Vonage subscribers would wonder about
MagicJack, especially now with the MagicJack Plus adapter. Well maybe
many do, since Vonage is doing very poorly.

Our local LVNO, Sonic.net is an interesting case study. Some people I
tell about it instantly understand and sign up right away. Some people
think that it's simply impossible that there could be an alternative to
"the phone company" for landline and DSL service.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:49:20 -0800, SMS wrote:

> Note that while landline to Google Voice number porting is not
> available, there is a way to accomplish this (see
> http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/20...to-google.html).

Sorry, a moment or two ago that URL spawned the following:

: Page not found
: Sorry, the page you were looking for in the blog Off On A Tangent does not exist.

Some tiny infelicity of spelling, perhaps? Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On 2/11/2012 6:51 PM, tlvp wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:49:20 -0800, SMS wrote:
>
>> Note that while landline to Google Voice number porting is not
>> available, there is a way to accomplish this (see
>> http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/20...to-google.html).
>
> Sorry, a moment or two ago that URL spawned the following:
>
> : Page not found
> : Sorry, the page you were looking for in the blog Off On A Tangent does not exist.
>
> Some tiny infelicity of spelling, perhaps? Cheers, -- tlvp

Worked for me.

Try <http://tinyurl.com/landlinetogv> or
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/landlinetogv>.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:10:31 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:

>In article <r99dj7lpdromd4rpd6s2jfvd49fu4rlkjg@4ax.com>,
> The Ghost of General Lee <ghost@general.lee> wrote:
>
>> >what the **** kind of world do you people live in?
>>
>> The real world, where someone you've just met might be a bit off their
>> rocker.
>
>That's always been a possibility. How did you deal with it before?

Change phone numbers.
Get restraining order.
And if all else fails, Glock.