Google Voice, GVDialer, MyFavs and awesome possibilities!

[jamestbrewer]

Originally Posted by pkcable

Ok so I can't use this for free incoming calls. Except for those folks I already have on my F&F. I did further testing and the person's number DID come up, what happened with the mystery number was an issue with my mom, having to use a LD access code to call my GV number, which is wierd since it's Philly to Philly. But when my partner called from her cell, it's number came up.

In GV set your caller ID to "Display my Google Voice number" and set call presentation to on. When you receive a call it will display your GV number and when you answer it will tell you who is calling. Now your incoming calls should be free. Not certain with Verizon, but thats how it works with TMo myfaves.

[trelawrence]

Originally Posted by jamestbrewer

In GV set your caller ID to "Display my Google Voice number" and set call presentation to on. When you receive a call it will display your GV number and when you answer it will tell you who is calling. Now your incoming calls should be free. Not certain with Verizon, but thats how it works with TMo myfaves.

With myFaves, you don't have to do all this for it to be free, do you? I don't have the caller ID set to show my GV number, and presentation is off.

[3CISSBB]

Originally Posted by pkcable

Ok so I can't use this for free incoming calls. Except for those folks I already have on my F&F. I did further testing and the person's number DID come up, what happened with the mystery number was an issue with my mom, having to use a LD access code to call my GV number, which is wierd since it's Philly to Philly. But when my partner called from her cell, it's number came up.

Depending on the area code you picked for your GV number, it will be long distance for someone to call you if it would normally be LD, but if you add your GV number to your F&F plan, then anyone YOU call will be free in the US.

[jamestbrewer]

yeah, you do. or at least it did back in the grandcentral days. if it shows your GV number and presentation is off you get instantly connected to everyone who calls without knowing who is calling. if its different now, please let me know

[3CISSBB]

Originally Posted by trelawrence

With myFaves, you don't have to do all this for it to be free, do you? I don't have the caller ID set to show my GV number, and presentation is off.

No, if you add your GV number as a MyFav, anyone you call using your GV number will be free in the US. Anyone who calls your GV number still falls under LD for them. But the whole purpose is to save you money on YOUR bill, not theirs. Again, anyone you call will be free. Depending on the area code you picked, anyone who calls you will still fall under long distance rates FOR THEM, not you.

[3CISSBB]

Originally Posted by jamestbrewer

yeah, you do. or at least it did back in the grandcentral days. if it shows your GV number and presentation is off you get instantly connected to everyone who calls without knowing who is calling. if its different now, please let me know

It is different now. In your GV options, you can set it to display the callers ID of the caller, so no matter who calls you'll see their caller ID.

Call presentation simply lets you 'ListenIn' to someone leaving you a voicemail.

[3CISSBB]

These are my settings.

[jamestbrewer]

Originally Posted by 3CISSBB

It is different now. In your GV options, you can set it to display the callers ID of the caller, so no matter who calls you'll see their caller ID.

Call presentation simply lets you 'ListenIn' to someone leaving you a voicemail.

Im talking about caller id in respect to myfaves billing. in order for it to be billed as a myfaves call incoming calls need to show your GV number on the caller id. and if you set the caller id to show your number, you pretty much need to enable call presentation otherwise you'll be answering blind. if you set it to show the callers phone number the call will be billed as a regular call

[3CISSBB]

Originally Posted by jamestbrewer

Im talking about caller id in respect to myfaves billing. in order for it to be billed as a myfaves call incoming calls need to show your GV number on the caller id. and if you set the caller id to show your number, you pretty much need to enable call presentation otherwise you'll be answering blind. if you set it to show the callers phone number the call will be billed as a regular call

No, call presentation does not need to be enabled. It won't matter what number shows up on your caller ID screen, the call is being 'routed' through your GV number. As long as I have my GV number set as a MyFav, anyone who calls that number comes through as a MyFav.

Google (in essence) is acting as a call forwarder. But since GV is a MyFav, ALL calls being forwarded are through GV and hence...a MyFav.

One other way to think of it is like this: GV is almost like a virtual SIM on your phone. Any calls made to your GV number will be forwarded to your 'virtual SIM' and imagine that SIM as having unlimited calling. The real caller ID will show when someone calls you but it would be as if EVERYONE in the US is on your Fav plan now.

[3CISSBB]

Please bear in mind that this setup and configuration pertains to T-Mobile as I am on T-Mo and have a MyFavs plan. I don't know about other carriers and their plans and how this will work on their network. I titled this thread with MyFavs in it so people would understand this is for T-mobile setup. If your carrier offers something similar to a Fav plan like Friends & Family or whatever then this should work as described. But please note this is entire thread is geared towards T-Mobile users with a MyFav plan.

[jamestbrewer]

Originally Posted by 3CISSBB

No, call presentation does not need to be enabled. It won't matter what number shows up on your caller ID screen, the call is being 'routed' through your GV number. As long as I have my GV number set as a MyFav, anyone who calls that number comes through as a MyFav.

Yeah, the billing doesnt have anything to do with call presentation. myfaves billing does have to do with the caller id setting, or at least it used to back when myfaves was first announced and GV was still grandcentral.

so, for incoming calls, assuming your gv number is on your myfaves and someone calls your gv number:
if the gv caller id is set to show your gv number it will be billed as a myfaves call
if the gv caller id is set to show the callers number it will be billed as a regular call (unless the caller is also on your myfaves)
if the incoming call is caller id blocked it will be billed as a regular call

the only reason i mentioned call presentation is because with the caller id set to show the gv number, without call presentation youll be answering blind. but if call presentation is on, then the voice will announce the name of the caller is announced in lieu of regular caller id. call presentation also gives you the option to answer, answer and record, send to voicemail or listen in on the voicemail.

so if anyone does have their gv caller id set to display the callers number and gets free incoming calls to their gv number as displayed by 3CISSBB here, then I am wrong and my info is out of date.

more sources
HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - View Single Post - iPhone + Google Voice Mobile = Free Incoming Calls ??
Free Google Voice calls with T-Mobile myFaves – Devin Reams
http://forums.crackberry.com/f52/gra...11/#post172060
How is Google voice going to save me money with my cell phone service? - Google Voice Help second reply
Mobile to Mobile - Google Voice Help

[3CISSBB]

Originally Posted by jamestbrewer

Yeah, the billing doesnt have anything to do with call presentation. myfaves billing does have to do with the caller id setting, or at least it used to back when myfaves was first announced and GV was still grandcentral.

so, for incoming calls, assuming your gv number is on your myfaves and someone calls your gv number:
if the gv caller id is set to show your gv number it will be billed as a myfaves call
if the gv caller id is set to show the callers number it will be billed as a regular call (unless the caller is also on your myfaves)
if the incoming call is caller id blocked it will be billed as a regular call

the only reason i mentioned call presentation is because with the caller id set to show the gv number, without call presentation youll be answering blind. but if call presentation is on, then the voice will announce the name of the caller is announced in lieu of regular caller id. call presentation also gives you the option to answer, answer and record, send to voicemail or listen in on the voicemail.

so if anyone does have their gv caller id set to display the callers number and gets free incoming calls to their gv number as displayed by 3CISSBB here, then I am wrong and my info is out of date.

I will state again, I have now tested this with over 734 calls. It does not matter what the caller ID displays, as long as GV is set as a MyFav, it will count as a MyFav and NOT be billed as a regular call. I have already been through 2 billing cycles and can 100% say that this is true.

Call presentation has nothing to do with caller ID, it has to do with being able to listen in on someone leaving you a voicemail.

[YaBoiD]

I got my invite last night FINALLY! I'll be setting my GV number as one of my Sprint Faves. I'm going to wait until I get my 9630 before I install GVDialer though. Just 3 more days!

[jamestbrewer]

Originally Posted by 3CISSBB

I will state again, I have now tested this with over 734 calls. It does not matter what the caller ID displays, as long as GV is set as a MyFav, it will count as a MyFav and NOT be billed as a regular call. I have already been through 2 billing cycles and can 100% say that this is true.

Thats good. Im going to try it out myself and see how it bills. I hope it works for me the same way you have it set up. should have some results in 20 minutes

[trelawrence]

Good info all round. Great thread. I consider myself technically savvy, but the ability to bounce questions off you guys is invaluable.