VoIP and cell service

[Carson Dyle]

I'm in the process of researching VOiP for a home phone. I really know very little about what's out there, the costs, the capabilities, or how VoIP can or cannot work in junction with a cell phone service. My idea for VoIP is that I'd just like a permanent phone on my desk, hopefully with better call quality than cell and without having to worry about where my cell phone is in the house (probably in a pocket somewhere) or whether it's charged.

I have a very low-end Verizon account now, with few talk minutes per month, text charged per message, and no data. Switching to Page Plus Pay-As-You-Go is looking like the most likely candidate right now for cell.

As far as VoIP goes, what are some options? Doesn't have to be free, but can't be more than a few dollars per month, either. I'm on Comcast internet, but their IP phone plan is not a viable option.

One thing I'm wondering about is interaction between a VoIP service and a cell service. In particular, whether it's possible to receive incoming voice calls to the cell phone number on the VoIP line. Perhaps by "switching over" when I walk in the door and switching back again when I leave with the cell phone, if that's even remotely possible.

 

[Ken g6]

Two things I know of:

1. T-Mobile WiFi Calling.

2. Google Voice. Get a new number, associate it with your cell number, and you can send and receive calls from your computer at the new number. You can also answer calls to the new number from your cell, and send and (I think) receive calls free with the Android Hangouts app. You cannot answer calls to your cell from the computer, however.

 

[lupi]

Can't get it anymore (other than buying from someone that has it), but I'v been running the tmobile @home voip and it's been great. At about $8.75 a month I'd be hard pressed to find anything comparable.

 

[ponyo]

obihai and google voice. Google Voice is free. Obihai is $30. It's no brainer.

 

[mrjminer]

Check out this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2351020&highlight=voip

 

[Matt1970]

I just saw a commercial for Vonage claiming cell and VoIP service. I have MagicJack if you want a separate VoIP and at $41/year for a business line with a carryover number vs. Vonage at $20/month it's a no-brainer.

 

[mrjminer]

I just saw a commercial for Vonage claiming cell and VoIP service. I have MagicJack if you want a separate VoIP and at $41/year for a business line with a carryover number vs. Vonage at $20/month it's a no-brainer.

You should check out the link I posted too. I don't do VOIP, but you could get a better deal with Anveo based off SunnyD's posts in that thread.

 

[Carson Dyle]

1. T-Mobile WiFi Calling.

Interesting. You save minutes and perhaps the connection quality could be better (is it?), but you still must physically use your cell phone.

2. Google Voice. Get a new number, associate it with your cell number, and you can send and receive calls from your computer at the new number. You can also answer calls to the new number from your cell, and send and (I think) receive calls free with the Android Hangouts app. You cannot answer calls to your cell from the computer, however.

Yeah, that's a little backward, as everyone has my cell number and I don't want to deal with a new number. Still, something to consider.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Can't get it anymore (other than buying from someone that has it), but I'v been running the tmobile @home voip and it's been great. At about $8.75 a month I'd be hard pressed to find anything comparable.

What does "buying from someone that has it" mean? I just read that they discontinued this service _five_ years ago. Do you mean that they allow anyone still using the service to transfer it to anyone else??

Does this share the phone number between the @home VoIP and the cell phone? So that outgoing calls originate at the number of the cell service and incoming calls would ring both the cell phone and VoIP phone?

 

[akshatp]

Ooma. You can receive your cell calls on the home phone and vice versa.

You pay $120 up front for the Ooma box, then approx $3 a month in taxes.

 

[Carson Dyle]

obihai and google voice. Google Voice is free. Obihai is $30. It's no brainer.

Some explanation of the capabilities would be helpful. This is one VoIP service to consider.

I keep reading that Google Voice is being or was to have been discontinued. I'm not sure how much I trust Google, where everything is beta and if they can't make a buck off of it, it disappears.

 

[mmntech]

I just saw a commercial for Vonage claiming cell and VoIP service.

I'm guessing it places calls either through 4G or WiFi. I'm not sure how much data voice consumes though. I used to use Skype to make long distance calls over WiFi from my cell phone. That was before my provider rolled out a new plan at the same price with it included. Skype's cheap but not very secure. Probably less so than regular telephony.

At home I have VOIP through my ISP. $25/month with unlimited long distance and all calling features. Just works through an analogue telephone adapter (ATA). So I can't place calls from my cell. Not that I really need to. It's mostly for the other people in my house.

 

[balloonshark]

Vonage calls it "Extensions". http://www.vonage.com/personal/features/extensions?

 

[tortillasoup]

obihai and google voice. Google Voice is free. Obihai is $30. It's no brainer.

You either do this or just ditch the home phone and port that number to google voice, then have it forward to your cellphone. Eitherway, google voice is the way to go.