Best App for Calls over Internet 3g/4g

I am pretty sure Google Voice does not do this, as they only use your minutes (bummer!)

Anyways, I will be traveling out of the country and would like to have a local number for people to call me while I am away. I will be using a prepaid sim in that country, and they offer 2GB internet which is great, but of course minutes to and from the US is costly!

I was looking for an app that can provide me a local number, and use 3G data (not wifi, as I will be out most of the day) to make/receive phone calls.

I have also looked at talkatone, but i do not understand how it incorporates my GV account and if it will truly work. I also looked into Magicjack's app but the notification is horrible and I can only connect it to my house phone which I rather not do because I will get lots of calls I do not want to get.

Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!! Thank you

Richdmoore said:

For outbound calls, I use either sidecar or bobsled, both free to phone back to the USA. I don't have a good solution for receiving calls however.

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Thanks so maybe Talkatone is my best bet? Since it integrates Google Voice and I already have a number with them.... but how the heck do I know if its using minutes or data? It puzzles me.

Unless.... Should I just delete the Google Voice app? And just leave Talkatone app on the phone, would that do the trick?

BrianBaughn said:

Calls through GV/Talkatone just use data. I don't know if GV/Talkatone will work over cell data in Europe. I've used it over wifi there, but I'm pretty sure I was VPNed back to the states.

Setup of GV/Talkatone is pretty easy.

I just tested GV/Talkatone running through a UK VPN (iVPN.net) and it worked for calling and receiving. That VPN has got to be a wired situation, of course.

Your connection will depend greatly on the quality of your connection. I got 12 days of ATT for my phone in the UK and it was sketchy. Hopefully the local SIM will be a lot better.

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Thanks for the info. I will actually be in the Carribean, so crossing my fingers that it will work!

If there are any other suggestions, I would be glad to install the app as a backup

in case others are interested, I have tested Talkatone and it works fine. They advised to attach it to my google chat account (email) and now it works if I want to use it via Wifi or 3G!


When I leave the country, I am getting a prepaid sim so I hope everything works where I can just use the data off the sim rather than the minutes.

I am just unsure how much data it uses per minute? Anyone have an idea if it eats up huge chunks of data (as I will have 2GB of usage for my trip)

BrianBaughn said:

A two minute call for me used about 212kb.

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Great info, thats not alot at all.

I am just now hearing (from talkatone) that Google Voice may charge $0.01 per minute for international calls (while you are abroad) even if its over 3G. Not a big deal, just wanted to let others know. Incoming is 100% free however

If my phone does not work when I get there, I will load up a couple of bucks to make calls.

DannyHibbard said:

If you want to make calls over WiFi, but want to call any phone, then there is a great app available. It's called the friendly Wifi Dialer.

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...SwyLDEsImNvbS5hcGFkbWkucGFuYXJhbS5kaWFsMDAiXQ..

Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/wifi-dialer/id571004941?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4

The rates are great, 1.4p/minute to UK landlines.

I use it every day as I work in an office with poor signal.

You even get 10 minutes of free credit to try it out.

Check it out at http://www.friendly.co.uk.

The only thing is, you need an introducing agent code to sign up. If you like the look of it, use agent code FONE on sign up.

Hope this helps.

Danny

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Dont think its for me. I need something that works over 4G

PS- I think talkatone was screwing up my phone so I removed it.

I am going to stick with Magic Jack. The notification that a call is coming in really stinks... but I will live with it.

That, and they advised that while I am away I can call back to NY free of charge. That saves me the $10 credit I had to apply to my Google Voice account.

Now the only problem is as long as Magic Jack is installed on my phone, my house and my phone are going to ring at the same time! Doh!