The best VoIP iPhone app to use w/ a limited calling cell plan

[JJMR]

I wanted this to have its own thread so people can realize how amazing this voip app is from the apple app store. It is the Vonage mobile app and it is completely free. For those on the $30 t-mobile plan or similar (5GB data, unlimited txt, 100 min calls), this vonage app helps tremendously to avoid going over the 100 minute allotment.

If you have good network data speeds or surrounded by wifi, the free vonage app gives you 3000 free minutes a month to any United States phone number and it even spoofs your calls to your mobile number (when the recipients gets your call it shows your mobile number).

I have been using this for a month, and the calls are great using the t-mobile network. I had a 1 bar on my phone and the data speeds was good enough.

Keep in mind, that the vonage app is only useful for outgoing calls. If someone calls you, the vonage app doesn't have a call forwarding feature(vonage does not assign you a phone number) to redirect the calls to the app. Usually if someone calls me, I decline it and call them back using the vonage app. I don't get a lot of incoming calls, so it's not annoying for me.

I hope this thread brings awareness to people stuck on limited calling but rely heavily on their network's data plan or wifi.

 

[paulbennett95]

I ported my number to Google voice and use Talkatone for calling and texting.
Its free and unlimited, although the call quality is unbearable on edge but on 4G its fine, and texting works with any connection.
Its great because I don't need T-Mobile coverage as long as I have WiFi, which is great when I'm at home.
So I'd suggest that route.

 

[JJMR]

I ported my number to Google voice and use Talkatone for calling and texting.
Its free and unlimited, although the call quality is unbearable on edge but on 4G its fine, and texting works with any connection.
Its great because I don't need T-Mobile coverage as long as I have WiFi, which is great when I'm at home.
So I'd suggest that route.

what about mms or group txt? Tmobile $30 plan offers unlimited txt/mms.

 

[paulbennett95]

what about mms or group txt? Tmobile $30 plan offers unlimited txt/mms.

Talkatone has MMS and I don't use group text, so it doesn't affect me, but if needed I could just use Facebook or Hangouts.
Of course GV and Talkatone doesnt work for everyone, so if group texting is a must then there are other options.

 

[JJMR]

Talkatone has MMS and I don't use group text, so it doesn't affect me, but if needed I could just use Facebook or Hangouts.
Of course GV and Talkatone doesnt work for everyone, so if group texting is a must then there are other options.

I'm glad it works for you, but for me it doesn't. I have a google voice number and there is still some reliability issues with it. During my occasional testing using the talkatone, I noticed some messages are not pushed correctly to my iphone and sometimes incoming calls don't go through. Using the vonage app helps avoid using my 100 minute allotment w/o any compromises to my other services. I don't trust google voice yet.

 

[eyoungren]

I'll second Talkatone. Works great on 3G too. I use it on my iPhone 3GS which is WiFi only. The only downside, and it's a Google limitation, is SMS shortcodes.

Add in the fact that iMessage works with an email address and you're covered.

Too bad Talkatone doesn't seem to work for the OP. The fact that you can't receive calls with the Vonage app is a dealbreaker for me. For the person who mentioned bad call quality, you can actually pay for the app (versus the free ad supported one) and it gives you access to much better call quality. I haven't done that though since the quality over WiFi is just fine for me.

 

[The Green Man]

Ya. Vonage is a good company. 3000 minutes is quite a good offer. I should consider them.

However, I'm looking at this website http://voipbands.com.

They have an extensive cover for the top 5 VoIP. Which I think is good for me for reference. Will consider the Phone Power. Seems like a good deal and I'm the person into customer support more than features. I don't use much advance features.

 

[Beeray]

I'll second Talkatone. Works great on 3G too. I use it on my iPhone 3GS which is WiFi only. The only downside, and it's a Google limitation, is SMS shortcodes.

Add in the fact that iMessage works with an email address and you're covered.

Too bad Talkatone doesn't seem to work for the OP. The fact that you can't receive calls with the Vonage app is a dealbreaker for me. For the person who mentioned bad call quality, you can actually pay for the app (versus the free ad supported one) and it gives you access to much better call quality. I haven't done that though since the quality over WiFi is just fine for me.

You can receive calls with the Vonage, providing the caller has the Vonage app also.

 

[eyoungren]

You can receive calls with the Vonage, providing the caller has the Vonage app also.

Right. And that is the problem.

When I was originally looking for a calling app so that I could make phone calls on my WiFi only 3GS my requirement was an app that did not demand anything of anyone else. Talkatone works and does not require the people I call to install anything.

Asking friends, family or contacts, many of who do not have an iPhone, to install an app just so I could call them from the 3GS wasn't going to work. Especially since the 3GS was not my main phone and they could just call me at my regular number.

 

[Ike17055]

Talkatone a winner for me

Yup. I use the paid version which is 20 bucks a YEAR, and it works great. Only hassle is that it so,e times takes a second or two or three to establish that great connection. On wifi not much of an issue. On cellular it can have a bit more trouble and take a longer time (increasing the chance the receiver will just hang up on you since no one is there apparently...but overall it is very workable for calls and a great SMS app as well. Far better than I expected. Ditched my smartphone as a result.

 

[psghosh]

Google Voice & Hangouts integration

Talkatone is great for the iOS device, but something else to consider is that GV is now integrated into Hangouts as well. If you are frequently parked at your laptop, you can use Hangouts via Chrome to initiate & receive Google Voice calls. I especially prefer to use my Mac where at all possible since it has a better/larger WiFi antenna (and I can still use my BlueTooth headset). When I am mobile/away from my Mac, Talkatone immediately kicks in.....

You will continue to see performance improve as MS/Skype goes head-head with Google/GV.

 

[edtorious]

so anyone else has any other suggestions for a voip app? is there any free or paid app there that let you call anyone whether they have the app or not?

 

[mwqsnasir]

Yello is the winner for me

so anyone else has any other suggestions for a voip app? is there any free or paid app there that let you call anyone whether they have the app or not?

I have heard always about Skype and Google voice to make cheap calls, free calls or conference etc... But I,ll suggest you should try Yello a FREE VoIP App for smartphones to dial anyone whether they have the app or not.

How to dial any number through Yello, free VoIP dialer app?

To make a call through Yello,
1- you should have internet activated on your Smartphone either Wi-Fi or Dataplan.
2- Install the app from your respective app store.
3- activate your app with the activation code that will be displayed after you have installed the app.
4- Check you SMS/TXT to register yourself on the web www [.] myyello [.] com, to manage your account online.
5- Once registered, you will get a Free balance of $0.20.
6- Open the app in your smartphone and find the person in your contact list, within the app, you want to dial OR click on the menu button and Go to dialpad.
7- Enter your number. App will display the cost/min to dial to the destination number.
8- If you are satisfied with the call rates - boom the call.
9- Otherwise test the call quality with the Free $0.20 amount in your account.


How to make a Free call to other Yello User.

To make a Free Call through Yello to other Yello User,
1- you should have internet activated on your Smartphone either Wi-Fi or Dataplan.
2- Install the app from your respective app store.
3- activate your app with the activation code that will be displayed after you have installed the app.
4- Check you SMS/TXT to register yourself on the web www [.] myyello [.] com, to manage your account online.
5- Once registered, you will get a Free balance of $0.20.
6- Open the app in your smartphone and find the person in your contact list, within the app, you want to connect with.
7- The other person who have Yello installed on their smartphone will be appeared with circle in front of their name.
8- Ask the person to activate his/her Wi-Fi or Dataplan to let Yello connect to him/her.
9- Once the other person is connected make the Free Call and talk as long as you content.

Remember the name Yello once you are searching in your respective app store.

 

[martin1977]

I use Smartgroshen app, simple, good quality of voice and sync with your phone contacts. Get 0.5 euro at start.

 

[apphunter]

I think Viber is a good app

 

[BrianBaughn]

Talkatone had to drop support for Google Voice last week. The Hangouts app works well enough for GV, though.

We have a VOIP phone system here with voipo.com. Additionally, I've set up a couple of VOIP/SIP apps (SessionChat, Media5-fone) to use with it, if needed.

 

[iMacBooked]

Skype or Viber for me.

 

[iiaincorp]

Vaani Voip App for cheap calling,sending voice messages and scheduling calls

Description

Vaani is a Voice over IP application that provides following functionality :-

— Make cheap long distance calls.
— Send pre-recorded voices to traditional landline and mobile phones.
— Schedule a call at later time and send pre-recorded voices to traditional landline and mobile phones.

Signup by specifying mobile number,password and email address.On successful signup, $0.10 free credit will be added in your account to test the services provided by Vaani. Once free credits are exhausted you can buy more credits using In-App purchases.

Vaani app provides easy user interface to navigate between various screens to make calls,record and select voices,buy more credits,check calling rates,check call reports,schedule calls etc.

For best voice quality and results, use Wifi as a preferred network to make calls and use other options provided by Vaani. While using Wifi please ensure that firewall is not blocking access of Vaani to its server for making calls and provide voice content.

 

[turtlecat]

iphone app for VOIP Germany to USA

Hi Everyone,

I'm using skype on my phone and on my computer - Gmail through the chat box on the email interface... i guess that is google voice.

I make a lot of calls everyday and realize that Skype charges a connection fee of ~ 7 cents, then 2 cents per minute (to the states). Gmail doesn't have a connection fee and is only 1 cent... hense I often use my phone as a hotspot and call using my computer because I am so cheap...Is there a cheaper app/service I can use? I hear Viber is good...

Also,

I now live in Germany, where i have a German SIM in my iPhone. I have a Verizon acct. back in the states taht is currently suspended. I would like to keep my US number but instead of keeping the verizon contract I could port it to Google voice?

How do I go about making cheap-as-possible calls from my iPhone in Germany back to the states. Is there a way I can have them be "spoofed?" to show my number.

I will be living in Germany (or overseas) for the foreseeable future but often have to make business or personal calls in the states/.