That's right...with smartphones all that was possible using computers is increasingly becoming feasible through phones. I just now configured my Nexus S to make free phone calls over internet to USA. How you ask? Well here we go:
The site offering free calls to USA landlines and mobiles is www.voipstunt.com so I registered an account with this site.
Now Android 2.3 has inbuilt SIP support so I directly configured instead of downloading any app from market but it can be as easily done using sipdroid or csipsimple but anyway since there is good dialer integration I opted for direct route.
1. Goto Settings -> Call Settings and under Internet Call Settings click on "Accounts".
2. Untick receive calls.
3. Click on Add Account.
4. Now in username enter the username with which you have registered on voipstunt website.
5. Enter the password used for voipstunt account in password field.
6. Enter "sip.voipstunt.com" in server.
7. Untick the "Set as primary account" field.
8. Press back button till you are back to call settings. Now under Internet Call Settings click on "Use Internet Calling" and select "Ask Each Time".
This is it. All done. Try calling landline or mobile number of your US contact and before placing the call your phone will ask whether to place call over internet or cellular network. Choose internet and you are off to free calls.
-Ankit.
The site offering free calls to USA landlines and mobiles is www.voipstunt.com so I registered an account with this site.
Now Android 2.3 has inbuilt SIP support so I directly configured instead of downloading any app from market but it can be as easily done using sipdroid or csipsimple but anyway since there is good dialer integration I opted for direct route.
1. Goto Settings -> Call Settings and under Internet Call Settings click on "Accounts".
2. Untick receive calls.
3. Click on Add Account.
4. Now in username enter the username with which you have registered on voipstunt website.
5. Enter the password used for voipstunt account in password field.
6. Enter "sip.voipstunt.com" in server.
7. Untick the "Set as primary account" field.
8. Press back button till you are back to call settings. Now under Internet Call Settings click on "Use Internet Calling" and select "Ask Each Time".
This is it. All done. Try calling landline or mobile number of your US contact and before placing the call your phone will ask whether to place call over internet or cellular network. Choose internet and you are off to free calls.
-Ankit.
Works! Super! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help.
ReplyDeletei have adams honeycomb tablet...is it possible to use it for making us calls with this method ? ..eager to know..if it is then how?
ReplyDeletethanks in advance
It has been a while since I wrote this article. To be honest I have not been using this myself anymore but since google continues to provide free calls in the US, I am sure it should work.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried configuring the way it is explained in this post? Where are you stuck?
Hey Ankit, I ain't not a tech savvy. Dumbo in understanding tech jargons. I'm in Mumbai. If i need to make free calls local/national/international from my mobile, what type of mobile should I have? what is symbian ? Do I need to pay for the internet (that means the word free is not relevant here). Even if it is cheaper by dozen it is worth it. So can you explain in detail elaborately like you would explain to a layman or a baccha, how ot make free calls.
ReplyDeleteSymbian is a mobile operating system which is neither very popular nor under active development anymore. I will not reommend buying a symbian phone.
DeleteThe only real choices that you have are iOS and Android and since we are after saving money clearly iOS needs to be ruled out which requires heavy investment upfront in buying an iPhone. That leaves you with Android based phones.
Now, assuming you get a low end Android phone (you will be spoilt for choices) you will still need internet connection so yes it is not free if you will take internet connection only to make phone calls but it does become free if you anyway need internet connection for other activities and while you are at it you decide to use it to make phone calls.
The only way I can think of by which you can make the kind of "free calls" you are after is by using internet offered for free by some shopping malls and pubs but to be honest I am not entirely sure if that culture has penetrated India yet.
So assuming above is not an option, then unfortunately there is no way you will be able to make free calls if we have to go by your definition of free.It is best explained by understanding some basics of telephony. For a telephone call to work, you need to have an infrastructure (hardware set-up) in place which can support the travel of voice from your phone to that of receiver. This is usually achieved by phone line cables, radio waves or by fibre optic cables for internet. All these are costly items in which the service provider (phone companies) have heavily invested money with obviously a singular aim to make money hence no free lunch here. There are no other alternatives that I know of.