Call Download

[sunrise7bi]

i'm looking for some suggestions. What is the most simple voip app to use for calling overseas? i know the obvious one, skype, but i want to try out a few more... the more choices the better!

[MikeB]

I've been using Groove IP with Google Voice for almost 2 years and it works great but on May 15th Google Voice will no longer support the protocol that it and the other 3rd party VOIP apps use so they will cease to work. According to the Groove IP Facebook page they have a new provider and the same free calls to US and Canada will be available before the 15th. It will be a new free app. Hope so. Viber is another free option but both parties need to have the app installed. I used it and it worked fine. 

[robert k]

Viber has worked well for me. :)

[BrettGC]

Viber is really good, been using it for a couple years.  It has a desktop app that is good for IM and VOIP and Vidcon.  With the phone app you just have to ensure neither party is on Vodafone; they block VOIP. It can be solved by changing the APN from the IP to the URL but it's country specific and I don't know all the regional settings.

Edited April 17, 2014 by BrettGC

[jon1]

I have a Magic Jack Plus. It is a standalone device that is about the size of an Iphone USB power adapter. You connect it to your wireless router and connect a 2 wire phone to it. It cost me $180 for the device and 5 years unlimited US/Canada calls. Another advantage is that you get a US number in the area code of preference so it will be local calls for your stateside family. If you buy 2 devices, you can have one in the Phil and another in whatever country you are travelling too or relative is living in. There is also an application for both Android and IOS that you can load on your smart phones. You then login with your account credentials and then you can use the Magic Jack from your smart phone. The only downside is that you have to have Internet and the quality of calls with be affected by the quality of your Internet connection.

 

I have used Viber also and it is free (Viber to Viber).

[pongpong12]

I made a similar thread last year and receieved many recommendations. Here is what I found out from my experience. Skype and Viber are good if you have unlimited data plan or very good network. 

Edited June 11, 2014 by MikeB
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[MikeB]

Groove IP is now using Ring.to as carrier since Google Voice dropped support for all 3rd party VOIP apps. Works fine, no difference I can see. 

[Tukaram (Tim)]

Magic Jack is great!  Even on my slow, crappy, internet the calls works great.  You can use it at the house with or without a computer (just need network access), and there is an Android app for it ... probably an apple app but I don't know for sure.  I love having a Texas phone number for dealing with my bank and credit card companies.  They don't know I moved overseas.  :tiphat:

[i am bob]

A lot of this all depends on where you want to call to...  USA?  Canada?  Japan?  Most of these are for North American calling.  I have heard that there is suppose to be an international version of MagikJack coming out but I don't know the details.  

 

The best thing to do is just do a Google search using the Google brand for that area for which you want to call to.  ie:  Google in the Philippines is Google.ph - but don't use that one!  You want to use the one for the area you want to call to.  Enter a search for Free VOIP Telephone.  You can also try Free Telephone, Free International Telephone Calling, or anything else you can think of.  Don't forget to try each search again changing "Free" out for "Low Cost".  When you have entered each search, look for what fits your bill.  

 

I found one here in Canada that works well for me...  It's called Fongo (formerly Dell VOIP) and it's free to download onto a smartphone.  Simply download, install, register (it will set you up with a local telephone number) and away you go.  And it will work at any time you have either Wifi or an Internet connection through your phone.  Don't worry, it's a Push service so it only uses data when you get a call.  And, when I am anywhere away from my home in Canada - and that includes the Philippines, I have free telephone service to everybody at home.  Also a nice feature, as it's a VOIP connection, is free long distance calling throughout Canada.  Anyway, something like this is what you should look for in the area you want to call.

[sjp52]

I also have Fongo, Great app. You have to use it at lease once in a 3 month period or they will cancel your number.      I have viber too, Best voice quality of all the apps I have tried.         A lot of people dont know this but you can download the Magic Jack app and when registering it you can chose a free number, So no cost at all but you will not get an Canadian or American phone number.      Text+  is a good app for texting free back to States or Canada