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Review by tired_runner See Profile

  • Location: CT
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Install: about 1 days
Free as in beer, clear calls, web-based basic controls
Can't use Google Voice app for calls via data unless I'm with Sprint
It's free... and it actually works well

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·Frontier FiberOp..
I test-drove Google Voice for months before deciding to port my numbers there. Call quality is very good. At first I used Google Voice via GrooveIP and Talkatone, and both apps at the time of usage had severe quality issues. Voice sounded tiny and echo cancellation was awful. This then compelled me to use Asterisk via PIAF/FreePBX, which turned things around for the better.

Presently I have two numbers with Google Voice; one for home and one for the cell phone. The home phone rings via Asterisk and a very nifty $35 gadget named Raspberry Pi that's similar in functionality as an ObiHai, but with a much steeper learning curve and advanced features. The cell phone rings via Google Hangouts app. Google still has work to do in improving the Hangouts app, but I've managed to get it working with some degree of success.

Google Voice does not include 911 or Caller ID with name, though it does display caller phone numbers. International toll rates are somewhat competitive and you can easily add talk time using Google Wallet. I have not suffered from mass spam or robocalls, which I skeptically would attribute to a spam filter in the web interface.

Free calls... Easy integration with free open source platforms... Barebones telephone service at best...

member for 23.5 years, 10889 visits, last login: a few hours ago
lodged 9.1 years ago