[Q] Google Voice or other VOIP- Choosing my own number - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

After an hour with Google I was no further than when I began so I figured it was time to ask for some advice.
I'd like to buy a phone number that I can keep for a long time (5-10+ years). I'd like it to be able to receive/make calls, a number of my choice (ex- 202-345-6789), able to take voicemail & send/receive SMS. A one time initial payment is my preference so I don't have to worry about contracts changing etc. I really like the idea of having 1 number which I can use from my computer, phone, or tablet for basic use. I'm not a phone-heavy person.
I seem to recall reading that this was feasible but I can't find the information.
Any pointers/search tips/etc. would be appreciated.
TL;DR: I change phones/plans frequently & hate the process. Basically I want the P.O. Box version of a phone number. It would be great if it can voicemail/SMS as well. Is this possible?
(yes, I've searched, I keep coming across uninformative regurgitation of 'Ten tips you need to know about using Google Voice' & other about.com style "info")

Related

[Q] Is there a proper Answering Machine app for Android?

I've searched on Goolge, XDA and many other android forums but fail to find a proper Answering Machine app for Android. By Answering Machine I mean the app that acts like a voicemail residing on the phone - I can see many so called Answering Machine apps which auto-respond to calls via predefined SMS <- this is NOT what I'm looking for.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Visual Voicemail?
Yes. Google Voice.
Google Voice has not started in India. I need an offline - standalone app which is not affiliated with any online service.
i don't think there is one mate..... the old symbian Nokias did...
that was because they were able to send sound directly to the caller ... i dunno if its a hardware limitation ... i really hope someone can figure that out...
i remember used to be able to play songs straight to my conversation so they can feel the base and treble more clearly...i miss that function...also the app with background noises to fake ur surrounding.....
i wonder if N8 can do this...?
***EDIT**** oops i realize u meant online service... nevamind... hehe ignore my RANT
Answering machine app? Isn't it just the voicemail itself with pre-recorded greeting message?
Or visual voicemail like someone mentioned before.
Edit: I see you need an offline service. The ones I know all all either bound by carrier or need internet.
Calling developers
When I had a symbian phone, things were so easy. I used IVCM (interactive voice call master) to handle incoming calls.
This app is near to perfection, it can distinguish callers (in address book, in some whitelist, in a blacklist, unknown callers and, last but not least, private numbers)
For any of those you can define a suitable treatment, invoke the answering machine after xx seconds, play a notification then hang up, forward the call to another number, play the busy tone, and more options.
Furthermore you can schedule the behaviour, so the phone switches to answering machine at once during the night, let only friends reach you in the evening etc...
Outgoing messages can be personalised by address group, country (=different language!), friends, private number callers etc..
It can also record a call (incoming, outgoing or both) without beeps.
This is a call to the Android developer community. Please build us an app with a similar usability, picking things up where IVCM stopped.
I will be your first customer and prepared to pay well for it!
Have you tried youmail from android market?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
cannot work due to technical reasons
yep, I had the same kind of soft on my symbian, it was called Advanced Call Manager (ACM). The same soft exists for Android, so I tried it, but no answering machine on the Android version. I asked the developer team, and they told me it's not possible on Android.
this is confirmed by several posts
forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1533213
groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/e8904c82a2c4a333?pli=1[/url]
it's the only feature I miss since I switched over from my symbian phone
youmail? the would be something to post in the android section of xda not the vibrant section. Also since you are looking for India specific stuff it would get a wider audience of people around the world
Hi there
I was looking for the same, and found a old solution.
The Name is airvoice, but works only on rootet Phone and only on the old Android Hero mobile.
I asked the developer to continue his great work. He seems to be dissapointet, that so many people votet his app so bad in the market.
So if you guys also try to contact the developer (through the contact inf's on the Market) maybe he will continue?
Greetings to you all!
ivi
See here: http://www.androlib.com/android.application.cn-airrunner-voicerecorder-pipx.aspx
Also there is a ongoing discussion on the same topic on android stackexchange.
Sorry,can insert a link as a newbie open android.stackexchange and search for "Answering Machine on Android"
might be of interest to some one
bram
back to symbian
Highfly2 said:
When I had a symbian phone, things were so easy. I used IVCM (interactive voice call master) to handle incoming calls.
This app is near to perfection, it can distinguish callers (in address book, in some whitelist, in a blacklist, unknown callers and, last but not least, private numbers)
For any of those you can define a suitable treatment, invoke the answering machine after xx seconds, play a notification then hang up, forward the call to another number, play the busy tone, and more options.
Furthermore you can schedule the behaviour, so the phone switches to answering machine at once during the night, let only friends reach you in the evening etc...
Outgoing messages can be personalised by address group, country (=different language!), friends, private number callers etc..
It can also record a call (incoming, outgoing or both) without beeps.
This is a call to the Android developer community. Please build us an app with a similar usability, picking things up where IVCM stopped.
I will be your first customer and prepared to pay well for it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here..!!
i used BEST ANSWERING MACHINE on symbians, for answering my calls during my work time, and i used to listen and respond accordingly to the recorded calls. i seriously think symbians was the smartphone,
androids not.
i dont want ease of facebook on the go, i want ease of phone on the go. i want SMARTphone, not the handy pc for accessing rich websites on the go.
i ended up buying a second hand nokia e72 for managing my life while mm on work,
i have android ASUS ZENFONE 4.5
and Apple 5s but nowhere i found reliable answering machine,
the solution i found is going back to symbians to manage my calls.
Sony Xperia Z series have built in Answering machine... I know that can be ported to other rooted Android Phones as well. But dont know how to do it.
If some God can port this.iT ll be great and I am Ready to Pay. Or Somebody guide me.. with how to Mod Links.I'll try.
I used to have the Note3 LTE ..I loved it very much..but no ans machine..so now i bought Xperia Z and Happy LIfe..
No more unattended calls from unknown numbers.
i found this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pmiyusov.mvm&rdid=com.pmiyusov.mvm
2 things that i found with this, the caller could here the greeting, but the greeting is played out loud in the phone,( so cant be used in meetings) and it failed to record the message( i did not tinker with the settings, so cant really say that the app is non-functional). BUT this does look like someone is trying, so kudos to the developer.
I use a galaxy s3 with installer version of cyanogen.
Im looking for this too. I had the app call Autopilot answering machine on my n82 (maybe now it has been abandoned). Just let me explain the feature of this app because it cannot be compared to 100% to Google Voice:
1) You can record your own voice as the answering machine to block call and play your own voice when someone call you. Example "Hello dude I'm not available right now please leave a message". Of course I was able to set only specific contact with that voice.
2) the app able to auto record voice too.
3) perhaps this is hardware limitation because the app can mute your mic when answering machine is executed (so that the receiver only can hear your answering machine voice).
I was looking for this app for a long time. I dont think it exist. Maybe not possible.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Can anyone help me have that?
Developer prefer to dev game because it is useful than visual voicemail. If you want to use voicemail, you can come back to Symbian.
Forward incoming calls app is the solution to me
Hello, I've been looking for that too.
I think that an alternative may be to divert the call to a mailbox a voip service or conventional telephone answering service.
This will cost and will require an extra line (or the use of electronics own line desk), but it is what I mean when possible.
For this I will use a call forward app with rules, as QuickCallForward or other, with more filtering rules. Some app with whitelist, blacklist, unknown, scheduler for use in specific times and days.
You maybe interested in the "LVoicemail" project at: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/app-lvoicemail-t3485750/page1

[Q] How can I prove that my Android Device (SGS2) has been used by someone else?

Back Story:
My phone was left in my house (shared with other people) yesterday while I was at work. When I got home I was checking missed calls, voicemail etc and I noticed that some text messages were missing. I looked a bit more and it seems that 2 seperate sms message threads had been deleted and a number of contacts had been deleted too. Now, this has happened before to another housemate but we couldn't prove that it had been done. We are pretty sure we know who did it but I need concrete evidence that the phone was accessed.
Phone Specs: Samsung Galaxy S2, rooted, running CM7 latest nightly. I also have Cerebrus installed if that helps.
So my questions are as follows:
1) Is it possible to see what activity was happening on my phone yesterday? I don't have any "logging" software running.
2) Is it possible to retrieve the deleted SMS messages?
I work in IT so am pretty tech savvy, just not in the workings of the Android OS!
All help greatly appreciated.
P.S. I have already been able to restore the contacts that were deleted using the restore functionality in gmail.
The short answer is no. It is, at least in theory, possible to "undelete" stuff, but it isn't usually practical. Even if you did, you wouldn't have "proof" in the legal sense.
That said, I have been involved in a similar situation. Here's the approach we used. It is reasonable to assume that this behavior will continue. Therefore, get some logging software installed. Do NOT talk about it. Do nothing out of the ordinary. Just quietly install some software that will let you see what is going on with your phone. I know there are apps which will email an alert when accessed, snap a pic from the front-facing camera, log SMS to email, remotely lock the phone, etc etc. Based on what you need to accomplish, get these set up and then BE PATIENT. wait a few days (unless you normally leave your phone at home) and leave it again when the person in question might be around.
A pic would be sufficient proof I would think for confronting a roomie. If nothing else log your sms's. I use integrated Google Voice so I'd get an alert on my PC even if I didn't have the phone (very handy, that), but that may not be an option for you.
I also use SeekDroid for remote locking, and I -think- there's a remote camera provision, but it's at a higher paid level than I am subscribed to. At any rate that's my suggestions.
Or, the simple solution: Put a better lock code on your phone.
-JB
A lock code would help prevent the behavior in the future. For catching the vandal red-handed, I believe an app like Gotcha! may do what you need.

[Q] New android phone, multiple questions

Hi all, I just received my new handset, a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact as an upgrade to my Samsung Galaxy S4. I'm not a noob per se, but these are noob questions I have, any answers for which I would be most grateful. My otherwise stellar google-fu has failed me these past two days and some clearer, direct advice and answers would be immensely helpful.
- A general question re: the Play Store. If I purchase a paid app, does it remain available to me to re-download and update forever after? Does it last between multiple/new devices? I want to buy Navigon Europe, but wanted to know if it's a once-only deal or remains available to me to download permanently.
- Contact syncing. On my past android phones, I've always somehow managed to import all my contacts from various online accts (eg. FB, GMail, etc). I have all my contacts (up-to-date) in Outlook on my PC and ideally want them, and only them, on my device contact list. I don't want the phone to synch anything with anything except my Outlook contacts but don't know what steps I can take to avoid that.
- Battery: I've had mixed messages about the first charge (currently in-progress at the time of writing!). Do Li-Ion batteries need to be charged for 16hrs or just until they're full?
- Converting the SIM Card: My S4 uses a MicroSIM, the Z3 Compact a NanoSIM. I heard they can be cut manually...is it safe to do that, or should I wait 3 days for TMobile (UK) to send me one?
I have two last questions that are more general advice than anything, but answers still appreciated!
- What apps/services are best to transfer my data over from my old handset to the new one? I can figure this out, but any recommendations from experience in doing the same would be welcome. I can figure out how to use them, just a general idea of apps/services to make sure I don't miss anything (texts, calendar, apps). Presumably I can download an app, *export* a file to my SD card, install the app and SD card on the new phone and "import" the file?
- This is a tough one...I have Barclays Mobile Banking app and kept my S4 stock since it apparently stopped working on rooted phones. I'd like to root my Z3 Compact but would have to stay stock for the Barclays app alone. Is there a good way to like trick the phone to believe it's not rooted, or stealth it, etc?
Any advice would be most gratefully received. I think I've answered the battery question but am still concerned about the rest. Many thanks in advance.
KingsGambit said:
Hi all, I just received my new handset, a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact as an upgrade to my Samsung Galaxy S4. I'm not a noob per se, but these are noob questions I have, any answers for which I would be most grateful. My otherwise stellar google-fu has failed me these past two days and some clearer, direct advice and answers would be immensely helpful.
- A general question re: the Play Store. If I purchase a paid app, does it remain available to me to re-download and update forever after? Does it last between multiple/new devices? I want to buy Navigon Europe, but wanted to know if it's a once-only deal or remains available to me to download permanently.
- Contact syncing. On my past android phones, I've always somehow managed to import all my contacts from various online accts (eg. FB, GMail, etc). I have all my contacts (up-to-date) in Outlook on my PC and ideally want them, and only them, on my device contact list. I don't want the phone to synch anything with anything except my Outlook contacts but don't know what steps I can take to avoid that.
- Battery: I've had mixed messages about the first charge (currently in-progress at the time of writing!). Do Li-Ion batteries need to be charged for 16hrs or just until they're full?
- Converting the SIM Card: My S4 uses a MicroSIM, the Z3 Compact a NanoSIM. I heard they can be cut manually...is it safe to do that, or should I wait 3 days for TMobile (UK) to send me one?
I have two last questions that are more general advice than anything, but answers still appreciated!
- What apps/services are best to transfer my data over from my old handset to the new one? I can figure this out, but any recommendations from experience in doing the same would be welcome. I can figure out how to use them, just a general idea of apps/services to make sure I don't miss anything (texts, calendar, apps). Presumably I can download an app, *export* a file to my SD card, install the app and SD card on the new phone and "import" the file?
- This is a tough one...I have Barclays Mobile Banking app and kept my S4 stock since it apparently stopped working on rooted phones. I'd like to root my Z3 Compact but would have to stay stock for the Barclays app alone. Is there a good way to like trick the phone to believe it's not rooted, or stealth it, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paid apps are transferrable between devices, assuming you use the same Google account that it is linked to.
When you sign into Google (and your other accounts) it will ask if you want to Backup and Restore. Just leave it unchecked and then when finished importing Outlook contacts, you can go into your Google account and just make sure to only sync the options you're interested in by checking/unchecking whatever boxes you need.
I find a good way to transfer texts, call logs, apps, etc from device to device is by using an app like Go Backup. You were on the right path with the idea of backing up on the phone, transferring to PC, and switching it to a new phone. If you don't have access to a PC at the time, you can use something like Wifi File Explorer Pro to connect to it, assuming you have access to wifi or can wifi tether between the 2.
Cutting of the SIM is possible manually, but if you don't have access to a good SIM card cutter tool (obviously you don't have one in your possession, but any respectable repair shop or cell phone provider will have one. It only takes 5 seconds, but still there is a slight risk of damaging the card. It is best to get a new one. It is possible to cut with a sharp Exacto knife or something of the sort, but when going to nano, the margin of error is so small that I don't recommend.
As far as root and Barclay's, I don't believe it is an option. There have been attempts to bypass this restriction, but I believe that it has been without success. See:
http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.devadvance.rootcloak
Thank you for your helpful reply! I've moved most of my data over successfully, installed/copied most apps and setup most accounts. I did however ruin my MicroSIM in my attempts at converting it to Nano size. Have ordered a replacement but currently unable to call or text. Ah well!
I took the plunge and blew some money on the Play Store. I have the apps working now, and hope that they will remain available to me hereafter.
Thanks for the info on the Barclays App. I think I will skip rooting again *sigh* It's very annoying. There's a bunch of bloat I cannot freeze/quarantine, the ability to move apps to the SD card isn't available...all for one app If I found an APK of an old version, from back when it worked on a rooted phone, that might be an option?
Only issue I now have (apart from getting used to a few changes!) is with Email. On the S4, I set up my email as follows: Email: Forwarding Address - Incoming Server: BT Internet - Outgoing: Gmail (Set to send using my forwarding address). It worked fine. Now on the Z3C, I no longer have a box to enter my "Email address". Only "Username" and "Password". I can get my Emails from BT, can send via Gmail but it comes with "On behalf of..." in the sender field which is driving me mad! These are the little things that reallyget aggravating. Spent 2 hours already trying to work it out

[Q] Need advice on Lollipop native / apps please

Hi All.
I've taken the plunge and ordered my S6 Edge 128gb in Emerald Green.
I'm sure everything will be just fine, but I was hoping for some pointers from the Android users for certain apps and features I use on the BlackBerry.
I've been using BlackBerry for a few years now (Z30 and a Passport) but I'm wanting a change and LOVED the look of the Edge. Just wondering if you fab people could give some assistance in either clarifying what Lollipop does natively or suggesting apps I could use to achieve a similar effect.
1. One of the things I think I will miss quite a bit is the notification light on the BlackBerry. Hence why I ultimately went with the Edge. I know the edge can have notification lights for the top 5 contacts (thats enough for me) showing when placed face down.. however. just two questions connected to this:
* Does the notification light continue to flash if you miss the call / message? i.e. continue until you pick the phone up and look
* I'm sure the notification doesn't work with the phone facing upwards or stood on a stand, but do you think this is something that a rom flash could fix? or even, maybe an app..
2. BlackBerry Hub really is very good. You have all your communications in one location, save opening text apps, Social media, then mail apps etc. How does Lollipop 5 handle messaging? Does it have a similar type of hub?
3. I run an app called Hubb++ on my Passport. Here I can tell notifications to switch off and on during certain time periods. Ideal after a long hard day in the office, get home and my phone automatically goes into silent from 8.30pm until 7am. (except for contacts I've highlighted as important and to break the silence). Again, does Android lollipop have anything like this or is there an app that does similar?
4. Bluetooth connection to the car. I have to be honest and say the BlackBerry really does nothing special in the arena for me. It's a basic rSAP connection type which allows contacts etc to be sent to my car (Audi A7). How is Bluetooth within Android Lollipop? Last time I used Android, rSAP was not working and I had to root the phone and install all sorts to get it going. To be honest, my days of rooting and messing are over (I know, that's part of the fun of Android) I'm too busy these days to spend the time learning and testing etc. I just want the connection to work. Any input please.
That's basically it. Any input and recommendations would be received with thanks.
1. There's notification light blinking on the top left of the phone for miss call, message /SMS or social app/ voicemail, email etc... You can get a short vibration when you pick up your phone and you have miss call or SMS message as well /not sure for other notifications/
2. I'm sure there's some apps you can find for the most messaging services on Google play, buy better give it a try on few and see what's best for you
3. There's apps to switch your profiles according to time settings, but I thing S6 has option to do that as well with detecting your GPS location /home, work, etc.../
4. The bluetooth should be just fine. I have no problem with Audi A5
pacho_bs said:
1. There's notification light blinking on the top left of the phone for miss call, message /SMS or social app/ voicemail, email etc... You can get a short vibration when you pick up your phone and you have miss call or SMS message as well /not sure for other notifications/
2. I'm sure there's some apps you can find for the most messaging services on Google play, buy better give it a try on few and see what's best for you
3. There's apps to switch your profiles according to time settings, but I thing S6 has option to do that as well with detecting your GPS location /home, work, etc.../
4. The bluetooth should be just fine. I have no problem with Audi A5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to answer.
Sent from my Passport using Tapatalk

Android 8.1.0 unable to save contacts?

Not particularly mobile-savvy and days of forum searches have yielded nothing, now heartily sick to the back teeth with this data hungry time-vampire and at this point would quite happily drop kick it across the yard and revert to my little Pixi3 so here goes...
Bought a pair of Wileyfox Swift 2+ phones for myself and one of my sons, my lad's happy to leave the Google defaults ex-factory and can enter and retrieve contacts without issue via something called Google Play which seems to have delusions of grandueur and one eye on world domination 8-{ I on the other hand am totally old skool when it comes to handing over personal data to who knows who and cannot see any good reason why Mr. Google should have any involvement with or access to my contacts so have disabled its permissions. Trying for the first time to save a mate's phone number as a new contact threw up a "Couldn't save contact changes" message. Why not? Wot's yer problem??
Restoring permissions for all apps to do what the hell they liked when ever they liked made no difference at all, it still wouldn't and still won't save a contact? Nothing I've yet done has had any effect, it really wants me to use Google Play (whatever that is)
A functional contact directory would seem to be fundamental element of a mobile phone so why on Earth does this now have to be farmed out to an off-device server??? It's insecure, unnecessary, raises all sorts of privacy issues and frankly is taking bloody liberties in my book Why is their no option to either save a contact to the SIM or SD card, what's so hard about that?
The Guv's now pulling out what remains of his prematurely greying hair and needs to know where all the hidden switches are to get this thing to remember that at the end of the day (and the reason for its purchase) ... it's not a life coach, bank clerk and change agent rolled into one - it's a damn phone.
many thanks in advance folks for any assistance
Guv

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