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Need to clarify a couple of things before buyin this phone:
1. Does GS2 provide free turn by turn voice navigation in India (like Ovi Maps in Nokia devices) and does it work offline?
2. Is it possible to do video calling through the network (NOT through internet or wifi, but through the network operator like voice calls. Again like in Symbian OS)
3. Also does it have smiley support in messaging? Not the green android smileys but standard yellow ones
Thanx!
Sorry to post again. But someone can please answer this? I am new to android..
1. Does GS2 provide free turn by turn voice navigation in India (like Ovi Maps in Nokia devices) and does it work offline?
There is Google Maps Navigation, it's free but its not offline. You can use a certain Google Labs option to download a part of the map to your phone. But here's the catch. It's not available in India.
There is no other free GPS software out there. There are trials, but no free ones.
2. Is it possible to do video calling through the network (NOT through internet or wifi, but through the network operator like voice calls. Again like in Symbian OS)
No, you NEED wifi. Plus, it's impossible to transmit video without a data connection. The standard calling-protocol has such little bandwidth which makes it impossible to transmit video.
3. Also does it have smiley support in messaging? Not the green android smileys but standard yellow ones
Nope. There are custom SMS apps you can download from the android market that have their own smilies and plugins.
Other countries have standard video calling via the cellular network, nothing data or wifi related. Unfortunately the sgs2 does not support this standard for some reason like Nokia phones do.
prodygee said:
1. Does GS2 provide free turn by turn voice navigation in India (like Ovi Maps in Nokia devices) and does it work offline?
There is Google Maps Navigation, it's free but its not offline. You can use a certain Google Labs option to download a part of the map to your phone. But here's the catch. It's not available in India.
There is no other free GPS software out there. There are trials, but no free ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats too bad that there are no offline maps off hand and even more badder for no free turn by turn navigation in India Google need to increase their services in India. Hope they wil soon
prodygee said:
2. Is it possible to do video calling through the network (NOT through internet or wifi, but through the network operator like voice calls. Again like in Symbian OS)
No, you NEED wifi. Plus, it's impossible to transmit video without a data connection. The standard calling-protocol has such little bandwidth which makes it impossible to transmit video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well over Nokia you can actually call through 3G cellular network like RogerPodacter said.
prodygee said:
3. Also does it have smiley support in messaging? Not the green android smileys but standard yellow ones
Nope. There are custom SMS apps you can download from the android market that have their own smilies and plugins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx! Can I easily search for that app in the andorid market when I get my phone?
RogerPodacter said:
Other countries have standard video calling via the cellular network, nothing data or wifi related. Unfortunately the sgs2 does not support this standard for some reason like Nokia phones do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah over here the cellular comapnies provide the facility over 3G network. No need of fringe or other apps. Its not just Samsung, even over HTC you cannot video call over 3G network! So guess its an andoid limitation over its features.
EDIT:
So another Clarification regarding Voice Call
This is how it works is it:
1. Get connected to the Internet
2. Have an 3rd party app like Fringe or Skype
3. Call the another person.
So it looks like the other person MUST and should have this 3rd party app. So in other words i cannot do video call over android to another person if he will not be having the Fringe/Skype?
1: No there are no free offline navigation aps. Like ovi you have to pay for the navigation. There are a few good ones e.g. sygic, ndrive
2: yes you can do video calls as long as you are on 3g
3: I use handcent that supports full emoji emotes can't remember what the stick one does.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
thelestat said:
2: yes you can do video calls as long as you are on 3g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh so it is possible to make a direct video to call! So is just HTC that does not support this? My friend tried it over HTC Desire S and he could not find the video call options to the number.
Hello! I'm going to travel to Cancún, Mexico for a few days and I was wondering if I am able to use my HTC Thunderbolt while I am down there. Am i able to make calls and use data and text? Will there be roaming charges? If there are huge roaming charges, is there a way around that such as by using Google Voice with Wifi? Please help!
I assume you are in the official froyo rom. Use sipgate (set up your free account on a pc) to forward your calls through google voice to sipdroid (app available in market) . At least when you are in wifi area (most resorts I have been to have free wifi), your calls will be free. Do not use mobile data at all, out is ridiculously expensive. Switch mobile network off in settings since data still leaks. Your phone will work fine otherwise as well but why waste your money?
Sent from my thunderbolt
you can now download maps in google maps... Turn it on in Labs
Yeah. Turn off mobile network and forward all calls to google Voice.
You will have the ability to use your GPS with Google Maps (no navigation though).
Maps in your pocket! have fun.
Thank you guys! Also is there a way to forward text messages also and a way to send text messages? And will the Google Voice thing work for outgoing calls?
i will be spending a week in japan (narita/ tokyo) next month and would like to stay connected (voice, texting, data) while there. however, i'd like to do this in the most cost-effective (ie cheap as possible) way.
i am currently with an AT&T plan. my SGH-i777 is rooted, running CM7, and is sim-unlocked.
where do i go from here?
will i be able to use this phone at all?
can i buy a prepaid sim and use that instead for the duration of the week?
rental phones? (i have read about rental phones, etc, but it seems you may be required to present local (japanese) id.)
sweetrobot said:
i will be spending a week in japan (narita/ tokyo) next month and would like to stay connected (voice, texting, data) while there. however, i'd like to do this in the most cost-effective (ie cheap as possible) way.
i am currently with an AT&T plan. my SGH-i777 is rooted, running CM7, and is sim-unlocked.
where do i go from here?
will i be able to use this phone at all?
can i buy a prepaid sim and use that instead for the duration of the week?
rental phones? (i have read about rental phones, etc, but it seems you may be required to present local (japanese) id.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My guess would be a prepaid SIM. I THINK the I777 has support for the bands that NTT DoCoMo uses.
I don't know how much prepaid SIMs in Japan cost or their cost effectiveness though. Probably better to ask in a forum related to travel/tourism in Japan since that's a generic non-phone-specific question once you go beyond band support.
I have used this:
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/travel-guide.jsp
Click on "Use the Travel Guide" and select your country and phone. It says the I777 is compatible with both voice and data.
But prepaid SIM is definitely the way to go.
stone_ship said:
. . . But prepaid SIM is definitely the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
10char
Forget about a prepaid sim from docomo they want all sorts of paper work. Either long term stay or id papers (Japan is rather xenophobic) softbank does have prepaid but you will need a Japanese friend to get it for you. Other than that check with some sellers online that sell multi national prepaid sims. Att will screw you over with international charges
I forgot to mention you may be able to find a raku raku phone ( prepaid ) not sure if it comes with a sim or not though
Go to Howardforums.com and look in the Japanese phone section. They may have some more answers for you
Check out xcom global WiFi hotspot. Easiest way to stay connected.
hexproject said:
Check out xcom global WiFi hotspot. Easiest way to stay connected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn! Wish i saw this earlier- leaving in a few hours.
I will 100% keep it in mind.
Anyway, definitely not going the prepaid phone or sim way, as the rates, aside from all the paperwork as mentioned, are higher thant he romaing rates i will gfet by simply using at&t. also, at&t will work on nttdocomo and softbank networks, which have the biggest presence in the regions i will be visiting.
thanks for the suggestions and ideas!
so, i just got back.
first, after calling at&t, i had to enable roaming on my account (free setting so one can connect to the carriers while romaing), which enabled me to connect to either softbank or ntt docomo, both of which had equally great signal in tokyo- ginza area. worked well in shibuya, and roppongi as well.
i had disabled data while roaming, and also disabled the auto-retrieve of sms. for some reason, sms messages came through anyway... is that an issue with my rom (cm7)?
since we had wifi in our room, i used the Viber app for voip calling, text and picture messages, while google voice via the Groove IP app for calling anyone who didn't have Viber, including landlines in the US and canada. Groove IP is a must if you plan on calling any US/ canada numbers while away- the voice quality was nearly flawless, and you can also receive calls if you enable call-forwarding on your carrier, and set google voice to forward calls to google chat (which end up in Groove IP).
if anyone else is travelling, and needs some suggestions, just post a reply. i think now, after the fact in my case , i have it all down.
I'm deploying to Kuwait. Definitely keeping this thread in mind!
MaxRabbit said:
I'm deploying to Kuwait. Definitely keeping this thread in mind!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Foremost, no matter the country you represent, thanks for your support!
Now, this sounds like you will be there a while. I'm guessing you will have some basic wifi access while at base. If that's the case, I recommend a few things:
1. Get Viber. It's completely free. No ads, no signup! It automatically scans your contact list and will tell you what other users in your existing contact list have Viber installed. It works on Android and iOS, so be sure to tell those you most often talk to to also get Viber. It's by far one of the most transparently integrated applications I've used in that it has no learning curve, and works immediately out of the box.
The downsides are: requires a data connection (in your case, wifi), and both parties must have the app installed. Other than that, sending pictures and texts is a breeze, and voice quality is superb over wifi. Keep in mind, the other party can receive your communication via Viber simply over their 3g/4g, and don't necessarily have to be on wifi themselves.
2. Assuming you are based in the US or Canada, get yourself a Google Voice account setup asap, if not already done. This allows you to call any phone (mobile or landline) in those regions entirely free. You can call using your computer while on wifi.
3. Get Groove IP. Grovoe IP requires a Google Voice account. Pairing the two allows you to make and receive calls on your mobile, using data, or wifi.
The power of using Google Voice paired with Groove IP is that, while you're on wifi when abroad, you can call a mobile or landline directly- unlike in Viber's case, whereby you can only call another Viber user on their mobile. Also, this combination, allows you to send sms, though not any picture messages- can always use email for that.
Additionally, you can receive calls via the Groove IP setup from any number(you must setup GV to forward to Google Chat- this step is in the setup instructions of Groove IP).
So, the ideal setup is this:
Get Viber, and tell all your family members and friends to get it as well
Setup Google Voice and Groove IP
Before leaving, get your phone setup to forward all calls to your GV number, and in turn, setup GV to forward calls to Google Chat (which ends up in Groove IP on your mobile).
So, when you are at the base, and have your handset connected to wifi, as long as GrooveIP and Viber are running, you will be fully connected. Anyone calling your regular number as if you had never left will be able to reach you, as will any of the Viber users calling via mobile.
Sorry for the long-winded rant, but I hope I've covered some useful ground, which worked well through my experience anyway.
UPDATE
Just to mention the obvious- don't forget google chat- as long as you are on wifi, and so is the other party, you can do voice or video chat. There is modded version of google talk so at least the other party with 3g/4g access does not have to also use wifi.
MaxRabbit said:
I'm deploying to Kuwait. Definitely keeping this thread in mind!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lucky, we aren't allowed to bring cell phones.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
sweetrobot said:
Foremost, no matter the country you represent, thanks for your support!
Now, this sounds like you will be there a while. I'm guessing you will have some basic wifi access while at base. If that's the case, I recommend a few things:
1. Get Viber. It's completely free. No ads, no signup! It automatically scans your contact list and will tell you what other users in your existing contact list have Viber installed. It works on Android and iOS, so be sure to tell those you most often talk to to also get Viber. It's by far one of the most transparently integrated applications I've used in that it has no learning curve, and works immediately out of the box.
The downsides are: requires a data connection (in your case, wifi), and both parties must have the app installed. Other than that, sending pictures and texts is a breeze, and voice quality is superb over wifi. Keep in mind, the other party can receive your communication via Viber simply over their 3g/4g, and don't necessarily have to be on wifi themselves.
2. Assuming you are based in the US or Canada, get yourself a Google Voice account setup asap, if not already done. This allows you to call any phone (mobile or landline) in those regions entirely free. You can call using your computer while on wifi.
3. Get Groove IP. Grovoe IP requires a Google Voice account. Pairing the two allows you to make and receive calls on your mobile, using data, or wifi.
The power of using Google Voice paired with Groove IP is that, while you're on wifi when abroad, you can call a mobile or landline directly- unlike in Viber's case, whereby you can only call another Viber user on their mobile. Also, this combination, allows you to send sms, though not any picture messages- can always use email for that.
Additionally, you can receive calls via the Groove IP setup from any number(you must setup GV to forward to Google Chat- this step is in the setup instructions of Groove IP).
So, the ideal setup is this:
Get Viber, and tell all your family members and friends to get it as well
Setup Google Voice and Groove IP
Before leaving, get your phone setup to forward all calls to your GV number, and in turn, setup GV to forward calls to Google Chat (which ends up in Groove IP on your mobile).
So, when you are at the base, and have your handset connected to wifi, as long as GrooveIP and Viber are running, you will be fully connected. Anyone calling your regular number as if you had never left will be able to reach you, as will any of the Viber users calling via mobile.
Sorry for the long-winded rant, but I hope I've covered some useful ground, which worked well through my experience anyway.
UPDATE
Just to mention the obvious- don't forget google chat- as long as you are on wifi, and so is the other party, you can do voice or video chat. There is modded version of google talk so at least the other party with 3g/4g access does not have to also use wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Groove IP sounds awesome! That seems like the most practical solution since everyone already has my Google Voice number!
And thank you for YOUR support!
skatin707 said:
Lucky, we aren't allowed to bring cell phones.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who is "we"?
MaxRabbit said:
Groove IP sounds awesome! That seems like the most practical solution since everyone already has my Google Voice number!
And thank you for YOUR support!
Who is "we"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep finding these threads trying to make calls out of mexico.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO USE GOOGLE VOICE GOOGLE VOICE DOES NOT WORK OUTSIDE OF THE US
bobsled sounded like a good alternative but no one can hear me on the other end
redking117 said:
I keep finding these threads trying to make calls out of mexico.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO USE GOOGLE VOICE GOOGLE VOICE DOES NOT WORK OUTSIDE OF THE US
bobsled sounded like a good alternative but no one can hear me on the other end
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you need to necro this 4 month old thread though?
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
redking117 said:
I keep finding these threads trying to make calls out of mexico.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO USE GOOGLE VOICE GOOGLE VOICE DOES NOT WORK OUTSIDE OF THE US
bobsled sounded like a good alternative but no one can hear me on the other end
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why did you have to tell them that. I don't think they need to know that since it's been 4 months.
The answer is, people don't look at dates. They just see a problem and think "hey, my post count could use a boost...feck it!" And dive right in. In all fairness he could be blind and have everything being read to him. In which case maybe he missed it telling him how old the thread was.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
ok so i bought this phone and it's delightful. I dont get the speeds i would normally get on a native tmobile 4g phone, but most of the time i'm either working or at home so wifi is always available
however, i've recently moved into a new apartment with my fiance and i only get about 1 bar of reception in my bedroom, and pretty much no bars in my living room and bathroom. Unfortunately, it dosen't appear as though this phone has any native wifi calling, and was wondering if anybody had some sort of resolution for this?
Yes i thought of some of the other apps out there but what i dont like is the fact that i either have to subscribe a new number, or there are advertisements before ringing, or how i have to disable an app when i go out because my data connection isn't as fast as a native tmobile 4g, so im kind of in a bind... i really love the phone and would prefer to keep using it, i just wish that i had something that would be able to run as smoothly as any of my previous tmobile android phones...
anyways i know it's probably asking for alot, but if someone has a solution, please let me know, i tried searching but i didn't come up with much
This would be awesome.
tekhnologia said:
ok so i bought this phone and it's delightful. I dont get the speeds i would normally get on a native tmobile 4g phone, but most of the time i'm either working or at home so wifi is always available
a
however, i've recently moved into a new apartment with my fiance and i only get about 1 bar of reception in my bedroom, and pretty much no bars in my living room and bathroom. Unfortunately, it dosen't appear as though this phone has any native wifi calling, and was wondering if anybody had some sort of resolution for this?
Yes i thought of some of the other apps out there but what i dont like is the fact that i either have to subscribe a new number, or there are advertisements before ringing, or how i have to disable an app when i go out because my data connection isn't as fast as a native tmobile 4g, so im kind of in a bind... i really love the phone and would prefer to keep using it, i just wish that i had something that would be able to run as smoothly as any of my previous tmobile android phones...
anyways i know it's probably asking for alot, but if someone has a solution, please let me know, i tried searching but i didn't come up with much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to recommend this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5ndm9pcCJd
It will do everything you are wanting, plus you can make calls and save your minuets even if you have service, if your in an area where your data is fast enough. It integrates with the phone well and even uses the built in dialer.
I bought this app back when i got my first tablet that didn't even have cell capabilities and I've used it on various devices since. i think you will find the call quality is excellent.
tekhnologia said:
ok so i bought this phone and it's delightful. I dont get the speeds i would normally get on a native tmobile 4g phone, but most of the time i'm either working or at home so wifi is always available
however, i've recently moved into a new apartment with my fiance and i only get about 1 bar of reception in my bedroom, and pretty much no bars in my living room and bathroom. Unfortunately, it dosen't appear as though this phone has any native wifi calling, and was wondering if anybody had some sort of resolution for this?
Yes i thought of some of the other apps out there but what i dont like is the fact that i either have to subscribe a new number, or there are advertisements before ringing, or how i have to disable an app when i go out because my data connection isn't as fast as a native tmobile 4g, so im kind of in a bind... i really love the phone and would prefer to keep using it, i just wish that i had something that would be able to run as smoothly as any of my previous tmobile android phones...
anyways i know it's probably asking for alot, but if someone has a solution, please let me know, i tried searching but i didn't come up with much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, this is like 99% of what i want, i just want people to call my NATIVE phone number to call me when im on wifi.
I dont want to hand out an alternative number, that's my biggest issue at the moment
for example:
if my family is in an accident, and they have my native number listed in their emergency contact, and they try calling, then that could be rather bad...
but yea, if you have any other ideas, i'm all open to it
When you set up your Google Voice number, you put your "native" number in google voice, when someone calls it, your google voice number will ring, the person calling is not aware of your real number... i'll give my google voice number out... 731-412-0080. When you call it, it automatically rings my house and my cellphone and which ever one i pick up on, you will have no clue, all that matters is when you call my google voice number you get me, I have several forwarding filters set up...
You would simply set up your native number calls forward to your Google voice automatically.
So If your native number was 555-121-1234 and I called it, I would be silently fowarded to your GV number and your cell would ring... (google voice it's self is completely free) go here to see: https://www.google.com/voice
tekhnologia said:
Ok, this is like 99% of what i want, i just want people to call my NATIVE phone number to call me when im on wifi.
I dont want to hand out an alternative number, that's my biggest issue at the moment
for example:
if my family is in an accident, and they have my native number listed in their emergency contact, and they try calling, then that could be rather bad...
but yea, if you have any other ideas, i'm all open to it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i already have google voice but never considered forwarding my tmobile number to it... hmm.. you may have made my day =)
Glad I could help... Google voice + that app oi told you about in my 1st post = awesomeness
tekhnologia said:
i already have google voice but never considered forwarding my tmobile number to it... hmm.. you may have made my day =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use google voice on that app but the call quality is not decent at all. Ive only used it on wifi and its terrible. Voce gets distored some lag, and even some echoing.
ok so here was my ultimate solution
got the app that was mentioned and also got tasker
i set it so that whenever i would enter my home wireless network exclusively, tasker would make my phone forward calls to my google voice number, which in turn forwarded the calls to my app =)
also set it so that when i leave my network, it would automatically disengage the ipgroove app, so all in all i gotta say it worked out ok, thanks!
I use groove ip
Sent from my BAMF Samsung G/Note
Yup that's what I recommended I have had it for a year now.
Felinos11 said:
I use groove ip
Sent from my BAMF Samsung G/Note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if anyone chooses to go this route and there's no wifi calling app in the future, just let me know, it was a wonderful way to get to do what i needed to do, and with the help of tasker, it will auto engage/disengage features, almost as if we did have the native wifi calling feature that the s2 has, but yea, i'd be glad to help anytime =)
Taking up on technologia's offer to help
@tekhnologia: When you are at home connected via wifi, are you forwarding your t-mobile number to your google voice number (perhaps using "conditional call forwarding")?
Otherwise, I think I more or less understand your setup, but a brief list of steps would be awesome!
Thanks for the offer to help.
tekhnologia said:
if anyone chooses to go this route and there's no wifi calling app in the future, just let me know, it was a wonderful way to get to do what i needed to do, and with the help of tasker, it will auto engage/disengage features, almost as if we did have the native wifi calling feature that the s2 has, but yea, i'd be glad to help anytime =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I root it, can I somehow find a way to make a phone call? Thanks.
You can send and receive phone calls with Groove IP. You don't have to have root, but you have to have a data connection (3g/wifi).
Or you can use talkatone...
I know there are apps like that. But is there a way to use a normal phone call without a data plan?
Is it hardware problem? Or just the tab didn't come with phone app?
groove IP and talkatone only needs wifi... im using both now on my tablet s... all you need is a google voice number and wifi connection... talkatone seems to have a better sound quality but both have about 1/2 second lag on voice...
Kreaninw said:
I know there are apps like that. But is there a way to use a normal phone call without a data plan?
Is it hardware problem? Or just the tab didn't come with phone app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not possible. There are all kinds of problems with this.
For one, there's no hardware. Phones need all kinds of things; special antennae, special modems, basebands, and radios. Although the 3G version of the Tablet would have some of these things, I doubt they are set up for telephony.
Biggest one, however, is the complete lack of software support. Honeycomb (and ICS in tablet-mode), do not feature any of the phone support included in handset releases of Android. There's no phone.apk or any of the other system files required to make phone calls.
So barring any kind of radical upgrade from Sony, or a complete fluke with hardware and better custom ROM support, Voice over IP is your only real option.
OK that's clear now. I read the specification at http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_tablet_s_3g-4138.php it told you that this tablet has no GPRS and EDGE.
Is it means that you can't use internet connection if your place is out of 3G coverage?
thats not true...the 3g version has 2g too...so gprs and edge...i dont know why sony in not fixing the technical details...
greets emil