If you have access to a phone to dial into a voicemail box, you can make ‘free’ phonecalls in the US (and inexpensive ones internationally). The Google Voice product allows this. Once you get into your Google voice mail, you can press a key and make an outgoing call. The outgoing call is free and you don’t need a computer (as you do with Skype) to make the call. You can call either a phone or a PC.
‘Free’ phone calls are great for the destitute.
This service can be great for folks (such as the homeless, destitute or severely poor) who may not otherwise be able to afford making calls – especially long distance calls, or who may not have access to a steady phone service. If you don’t have access to a phone service, Life Hacker claims to have a way to still make free calls using Google Voice with another product called Sipgate saying “When you’ve got Sipgate set up as one of your Google Voice numbers, you can, basically make and receive calls from your computer as if it were just a large and awkwardly designed cellphone.”
‘Free’ phone call consolidation is great for super users.
Google voice can also be a service folks with multiple phones might like. It allows you to use one phone number to receive calls from any of your other numbers (such as work, cell or home) and to set up individualized messages depending on which of your numbers phone number was called or who is calling. You can also block calls, listen in as people start to leave messages and have all of the calls transcribed and placed into an email like container.
Text messages to your cell phone are sent to this container, where you can respond to them without incurring further cell carrier expense.
One thing you can’t do from it, however, is call 911.
What’s the cost of these ‘free’ phone calls?
The cost (as of 2012) of all this ‘free’ stuff, is your privacy. Google transcribes all of your Google voice conversations to convert them to written transcripts (which you can then access through an internet connected computer). It uses the content from your conversation to send targeted ads to you – and presumably consolidate even more information about you and your ‘private’ life – who you call, who calls you, how often, for what purpose, how long you talk and etc.
Mike Eglan, writing for Computer World, theorizes that Google hires overseas people to do the transcribing. Not only is Google collecting information about you, they are reading your mail. The quote below is from this site:
“Let’s look at the big picture. Google already scans and indexes all your Gmail e-mail messages. It uses Google Maps and its hooks into your phone’s GPS to know exactly where you are. With Google Voice, it will know who you call and who calls you and how often. It will know what your voice messages and text messages say. The data extractable from all this is worth a fortune to advertisers — and to Google.”
I’ve had a call from a Google voice number, which went to my phones answering machine recorder and I have to say that the call quality was terrible. I don’t know if that is common or not however.
Other options exist for ‘free’ or low cost phone calls.
Google launched the product in 2009, and some (including the New York Times) started worrying about whether Google’s service would wipe out the competition.
Of course, there are other free, or close to free options to make domestic calls as well. Skype allows both video and audio calls between Skype users (and yes, they also record the calls) – but you have to initiate the call from a computer to use it.
Voice over internet is offered by many plans and companies today. You can check out the various options at Consumer Rankings.
No thanks to ‘free’ phone calls.
Even my web host provider offers low cost phone service over the internet. But, being old fashioned and set in my ways, I still use an analog, non-internet land line service. Why? I want my phone to work even if the power is out. I want my phone to work even if my internet is down. I want my phone to work even if my modem breaks. I want my phone to work even when there is a disruption in digital signals. I can afford it.
This comes to show that just because something is free means that you should use it. As it is, Google is in quite a lot of stiff to begin with. But, I’m totally against it transcribing content from your conversation for sending targeted ads to you; especially considering that the conversations are generally private. Free for me? no, thank you.
Thanks for writing this; I learned quite a bit. What I use is an app called Viber – if your mobile is connected to a wi-fi you can call free anywhere, anytime. Very handy when I am in the US and want to talk to my family – saves a fortune.
I only use google voice for spammy things I have to give my phone number for. I’d easily pay a few bucks a month for another phone option to not give away this information.
I have used Google Voice and I still do use it form time to time but I use magicJack for my home phone. It’s one of the easiest and cheapest VoIP options out there. Only costs about $3 a month for a local phone number with unlimited incoming and outgoing calls anywhere in North America. Computer doesn’t need to be on, regular phone plugs into it, and you plug the device itself into a power outlet and your router.
Call quality is really great with no lag except for at the very start of the phone call. When I’m calling someone, it takes a second to kick in after they pick up so sometimes you miss the “hello” but after that it is just like a normal phone call. Don’t think magicJack transcribes your phone calls or anything – but who knows these days who’s watching what. I try not to worry about it too much or I wouldn’t be able to live my life.
No free lunch eh? That’s scary that they have so much access to your personal information. I’ve used iCall a bit. I believe they have a time limit, free 3 minutes. Came in handy when I was in Mexico and needed to make a phone call but didn’t have an international phone or card. Thanks for the wake up call on “free” phone calls!
This is particularly true when it comes to Google. They’re not a search engine any more than the yellow pages were a directory. Google’s an ad agency that’s misdirected the attention of a lot of people.
Geepers, sending cars around every single street in North America including the one you live on, scanning and recording your home wifi connections. How is that not creepy?
..And by way of followup, long distance via voip is so inexpensive these days – like a penny a minute if you do it yourself. Or buy phone cards that resell phone access. The price of long distance via the voip options are so cheap these days that if you do a bit of work it should affordable for pretty much anyone.
Heck, I showed a buddy how to take his business phone costs down from >$500/month to <$50/month. No need to actually go 'free' for this stuff.
070 Mobile numbers are used for forwarding calls on your landline or mobile. 070 number is a virtual number through which you can hide the actual phone number being called.
Make free international calls from your UK mobile to Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and countless other destinations using your inclusive minutes with IICalls. Use your O2, Orange and Tmobile to make free international calls.
Don’t like to use any Google services at all, they collect to much information, may be I am paranoid… However, there is a plenty of free phone calls alternatives, personally use KNCTR (http://knctr.com/) to make free phone calls.
I am really impressed by reading this article. In future, you should be giving information about it more. I must have to praise you for this extra ordinary piece of work.
If you have access to a phone to dial into a voicemail box, you can make ‘free’ phonecalls in the US (and inexpensive ones internationally). The Google Voice product allows this. Once you get into your Google voice mail, you can press a key and make an outgoing call. The outgoing call is free and you don’t need a computer (as you do with Skype) to make the call. You can call either a phone or a PC.
I’m worried about Google. Time to re-read Orwell’s “1984”.
They have caused quite a few bloggers a good deal of grief lately!
It seems so cool to have all of these products available to use, but unfortunately there is always some kind of a price to pay.
This comes to show that just because something is free means that you should use it. As it is, Google is in quite a lot of stiff to begin with. But, I’m totally against it transcribing content from your conversation for sending targeted ads to you; especially considering that the conversations are generally private. Free for me? no, thank you.
I hear ya!
Thanks for writing this; I learned quite a bit. What I use is an app called Viber – if your mobile is connected to a wi-fi you can call free anywhere, anytime. Very handy when I am in the US and want to talk to my family – saves a fortune.
Now you are teaching me something – Viber….
that is completely nuts! you never think of these things when you’re too busy focusing on “oh it’s free!”
True….we just have to keep remembering that saying “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”.
I only use google voice for spammy things I have to give my phone number for. I’d easily pay a few bucks a month for another phone option to not give away this information.
I do.
I have used Google Voice and I still do use it form time to time but I use magicJack for my home phone. It’s one of the easiest and cheapest VoIP options out there. Only costs about $3 a month for a local phone number with unlimited incoming and outgoing calls anywhere in North America. Computer doesn’t need to be on, regular phone plugs into it, and you plug the device itself into a power outlet and your router.
Call quality is really great with no lag except for at the very start of the phone call. When I’m calling someone, it takes a second to kick in after they pick up so sometimes you miss the “hello” but after that it is just like a normal phone call. Don’t think magicJack transcribes your phone calls or anything – but who knows these days who’s watching what. I try not to worry about it too much or I wouldn’t be able to live my life.
I wondered how magic jack works and how they can offer it so cheaply. Does it work when electric goes?
No free lunch eh? That’s scary that they have so much access to your personal information. I’ve used iCall a bit. I believe they have a time limit, free 3 minutes. Came in handy when I was in Mexico and needed to make a phone call but didn’t have an international phone or card. Thanks for the wake up call on “free” phone calls!
If it’s free, you are the product.
This is particularly true when it comes to Google. They’re not a search engine any more than the yellow pages were a directory. Google’s an ad agency that’s misdirected the attention of a lot of people.
Geepers, sending cars around every single street in North America including the one you live on, scanning and recording your home wifi connections. How is that not creepy?
..And by way of followup, long distance via voip is so inexpensive these days – like a penny a minute if you do it yourself. Or buy phone cards that resell phone access. The price of long distance via the voip options are so cheap these days that if you do a bit of work it should affordable for pretty much anyone.
Heck, I showed a buddy how to take his business phone costs down from >$500/month to <$50/month. No need to actually go 'free' for this stuff.
Thanks for the input!
thanks for this information i have put this into my bookmark list.
yeah sure why not
070 Mobile numbers are used for forwarding calls on your landline or mobile. 070 number is a virtual number through which you can hide the actual phone number being called.
Make free international calls from your UK mobile to Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and countless other destinations using your inclusive minutes with IICalls. Use your O2, Orange and Tmobile to make free international calls.
Don’t like to use any Google services at all, they collect to much information, may be I am paranoid… However, there is a plenty of free phone calls alternatives, personally use KNCTR (http://knctr.com/) to make free phone calls.
Thanks for the info.
Nice app, just tried it, can not believe it is absolutely free!
Great work your work is more informative.
thought it would be nice if I too had an opportunity to present your blog’s readers with something of real value.
I am really impressed by reading this article. In future, you should be giving information about it more. I must have to praise you for this extra ordinary piece of work.