Hacking with Google Voice

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Let me begin by stating I do not condone or even hint at taking advantage of the features and tools that are available to you to circumvent "the system". Please only use this post for educational purposes :)

Due to Google (officially) releasing Google Voice applications for the BlackBerry and Android smart phones a subscriber with T-Mobile, Verizon, or any service that allows a "MyFaves" type of service (where you may call certain numbers for unlimited minutes) can lower their cell phone bill to the lowest voice plan (saving lots of money: $39.99 for 300 minutes and unlimited Faves on T-Mobile is lowest plan you can get). Read the first paragraph in this post.

Google Voice was released to certain privileged individuals for testing, for free. I posted my first impressions on this so this article assumes you at least read that and know how Google Voice works.

What you need:
Google Voice Account - Request Invite
T-Mobile or Verizon MyFaves account
BlackBerry or Android smart phone
Google Voice application for your smart phone

Setup
First setup the Google Voice account by creating a phone number and add your cell phone number as a forwarder. If someone calls your Google Voice phone number the call will be forwarded to your cell phone (test with another phone). Next download and install the Google Voice application for your phone - from your phone visit: http://m.google.com/voice
Now open the application and login with your Google Voice email and password. Select the phone you are on. Now you should see a Dialer tab. Dial any number and hit the dial button on your phone. Now you know how it dials out. Take note of the number it called. My phone dials 13472345001 but I am not sure this is the same for everyone (I have tested this multiple times today and it always dials that number). Now go to your T-Mobile account and add this number AND your Google Voice number to your "Fave 5".

How it works
If you haven't figure it out yet, you will now use this as your method of calling. Instead of dialing through the default phone dialer (on BlackBerry, Android uses default dialer!), you now dial through the Google Voice application. So all your calls on your bill will show as calls out to the Google Voice application number. Next, give your Google Voice number to everyone and have them call it. All your incoming calls will appear to come from your Google Voice number.
Additionally, you can send SMS through Google Voice which will use your data connection and not count towards your carriers SMS plan (this is on all phones with Google Voice).

References?
After thinking of this hack I Googled a bit and found these articles that explain the hack before with GrandCentral and not the Google Voice application, however this is now MUCH easier and convenient!
CopyRunStart.net
Consumerist.com
Also I found this forum thread that suggests T-Mobile can shut down your Fav5 and that it may only work on certain phones. Again refer to paragraph 1.


Conclusion
It is possible that someone with Google Voice, a BlackBerry or Android phone and T-Mobile or Verizon MyFaves plan, can make unlimited phone calls and SMS! What does this mean? This further shows that voice plans are becoming more and more obsolete. Soon we will just be paying for data plans. If you currently have an unlimited data plan lock on to the cheap price now as we will see all providers moving to this form of billing. Comments welcome!

**UPDATE**
I have received numerous emails confirming this does works. Quoted directly from one: "
Been using this idea since favs were invented and it was still Grand Central. Only used 3 minutes out of 300 last month on my plan and had over 5000 minutes to my favs. It works."
Now it just works much easier and less inconvenient to dial out.

Till Next Time,
Jorge Orchilles

Comments

6 Responses to “Hacking with Google Voice”
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Anonymous said...

They have a Google Voice app for the iPhone as well, called GV Mobile.

July 16, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Anonymous said...

Jorge need help, did as you wrote, but do not see the Dialer tab on my G-1 Google Voice app to get the other # (13472345001). I was able to call a contact from g-1 cell, and number showed my GV #, but cant figure out where to find that other number?

July 17, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Jorge Orchilles said...

I do not have an Android however I read that the dialer integrates with your phones dialer. In various tests in the South Florida area it has been the same 347 number. Check out the Google Voice Help Forum: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice?hl=en

July 18, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Unknown said...

I currently use GV app on my iphone to dial out and having GV number as one of five favorites on tmobile avoids any charge on my cell. How would adding this 13472345001 to tmobile favorite enhance what I have setup or help save money on cell minutes with tmobile since I have limited minutes. AS of now I think I'm receiving all calls through GV and making all GV, without the 1347 #, Am I missing something?

August 11, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Anonymous said...

So what about this. You grab an unlimited data only plan through Sprint for $29.99/mo.
http://www.sprintrelaystore.com/data_only_plan.htm
So you make all outgoing calls through GV. Question, without a voice plan, is there any way to pick up a GV incoming call on your sprint handset?

August 20, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Anonymous said...

Using google voice callback it does all the work for you and keeps it all to just one number. Best option if you don't want to use two faves for your calling!!!

January 25, 2011 at 9:49 PM