Google's Call Phone application

McLaren Rulez · 26th August 2010, 21:54

Just got this new thing in my Gmail chat box. Apparently, its an app that lets you call phones from Gmail. It says that you can call any phone in the US or Canada for free while phones in other countries can be called at low rates.

I tried calling my own mobile phone and it rang too. Thing is, if I had picked it up, how would it charge me since I'm a merely an anonymous Gmail user. Or is it going to charge me in my mobile phone bill for receiving the call?

vivekiny2k · 26th August 2010, 22:03

it's free, isn't it?

blue_pulsar · 26th August 2010, 23:04

Google actually credits $0.10 as soon as you create your account. May be that's the reason.

jkdas · 26th August 2010, 23:20

From web: Google voice calls within the United States are free, while international rates start at two cents per minute. Google has stated that domestic voice calls will remain free through 2010, but beyond that things may change as Google figures out how to monetize service if it catches on.

Google

Technocrat · 26th August 2010, 23:26

Yes I have been using the Google Voice service since I came here & its pretty neat. The free calling feature is currently available only in USA

emkay456 · 27th August 2010, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

I tried calling my own mobile phone and it rang too. Thing is, if I had picked it up, how would it charge me since I'm a merely an anonymous Gmail user. Or is it going to charge me in my mobile phone bill for receiving the call?

are you in U.S ? doubtful whether ur Indian phone could be called from the application !!

dmplog · 27th August 2010, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by emkay456

are you in U.S ? doubtful whether ur Indian phone could be called from the application !!

I think you can. I tried my brother's Indian Cell number and it rang. Also, works in UK.

But, the feature just appeared on Wednesday on my Gmail and vanished when I saw it on Thursday. Anybody noticed this? Or is it just a teaser and they are trying out few things?

Gandhi · 27th August 2010, 14:37

When I VPN to a US server and then open my gmail, I get the call phone button, otherwise not.

csentil · 27th August 2010, 15:26

If you are in India and call someone in India you will get charged around 6 cents a minute. I called my friend and could only speak for a minute+. They give you 10 cents free credit.

manolin · 27th August 2010, 15:33

Isn't this VOIP (voice over internet protocol)? IIRC it is banned in India (at least between two domestic parties.

vivekiny2k · 27th August 2010, 18:18

I thought so too. skype etc block telephony if they detect an indian IP. one of those archaic laws to protect department of telecom.

anilisanil · 27th August 2010, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by manolin

Isn't this VOIP (voice over internet protocol)? IIRC it is banned in India (at least between two domestic parties.

All VOIP traffic terminating on Indian telephone lines is banned. You can still have VOIP traffic over gtalk(sure)/yahoo(sure)/skype (AFAIK)

Google calls also has a facility of giving you a single number for all your phones (?) so you can direct all the calls you may get over different phones to the Google number and set it to receive those calls on the device of your choice (correct me if I am wrong)! It is an awesome feature but is now on limited availability!

sbraj · 27th August 2010, 23:24

Ok, so next time the google ads will be on what we had just finished discussing over phone. Am sure, just like email, people will get used to this.

McLaren Rulez · 28th August 2010, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by emkay456

are you in U.S ? doubtful whether ur Indian phone could be called from the application !!

No, I'm in Singapore. Like someone said, Google gives everyone $0.10 in credit. That's why I was able to do it. Once that gets exhausted, you need to recharge using a credit card

As for India, I'm not sure why the law doesn't allow Skype, Google etc. to connect to the phones. Is it just landlines in India or both mobiles and landlines?

anekho · 28th August 2010, 11:53

Just tried it out now with a call from Sweden to India, as well as a local call in Sweden.

Worked quite well and clarity was good. The number that shows up at the receivers end appears to be a US one.

Cheers!

26th August 2010, 21:54	#1
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,390 Thanked: 5,107 Times	Google's Call Phone application Just got this new thing in my Gmail chat box. Apparently, its an app that lets you call phones from Gmail. It says that you can call any phone in the US or Canada for free while phones in other countries can be called at low rates. I tried calling my own mobile phone and it rang too. Thing is, if I had picked it up, how would it charge me since I'm a merely an anonymous Gmail user. Or is it going to charge me in my mobile phone bill for receiving the call?
	() Thanks

26th August 2010, 22:03	#2
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	it's free, isn't it?
	() Thanks

26th August 2010, 23:04	#3
blue_pulsar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 403 Times	Google actually credits $0.10 as soon as you create your account. May be that's the reason.
	() Thanks

26th August 2010, 23:20	#4
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	From web: Google voice calls within the United States are free, while international rates start at two cents per minute. Google has stated that domestic voice calls will remain free through 2010, but beyond that things may change as Google figures out how to monetize service if it catches on. Google
	() Thanks

26th August 2010, 23:26	#5
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Yes I have been using the Google Voice service since I came here & its pretty neat. The free calling feature is currently available only in USA
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 14:37	#8
Gandhi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 958 Thanked: 206 Times View My Garage	When I VPN to a US server and then open my gmail, I get the call phone button, otherwise not.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 15:26	#9
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,349 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	If you are in India and call someone in India you will get charged around 6 cents a minute. I called my friend and could only speak for a minute+. They give you 10 cents free credit.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 15:33	#10
manolin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delhi/Cuttack Posts: 390 Thanked: 202 Times	Isn't this VOIP (voice over internet protocol)? IIRC it is banned in India (at least between two domestic parties.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 18:18	#11
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	I thought so too. skype etc block telephony if they detect an indian IP. one of those archaic laws to protect department of telecom.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 23:24	#13
sbraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: B L R / T V M Posts: 1,071 Thanked: 9 Times	Ok, so next time the google ads will be on what we had just finished discussing over phone. Am sure, just like email, people will get used to this.
	() Thanks

28th August 2010, 11:53	#15
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,995 Thanked: 684 Times	Just tried it out now with a call from Sweden to India, as well as a local call in Sweden. Worked quite well and clarity was good. The number that shows up at the receivers end appears to be a US one. Cheers!
	() Thanks