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Groups > comp.mobile.android > #37218

Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi?

From VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH>
Newsgroups comp.mobile.android
Subject Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi?
Date 2017-01-03 04:37 -0600
Organization Usenet Elder
Message-ID <ed1d7tF214lU1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <bkag6cpbe7d5rq4jqjmmt3fkj19tu3s29g@4ax.com> <311220162058043379%nospam@nospam.invalid> <z8-dnVNKhvbW7PXFnZ2dnUU7-XWdnZ2d@earthlink.com> <ecrkloFk5rkU1@mid.individual.net> <e9qm6cd9dc4s20bmd01neg8a0ov2ob3u5m@4ax.com>

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"M.L." <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:

>>With the Google Hangouts Dialer app (a companion to the Google Hangouts
>>app), you can make wi-fi calls out through your Google Voice phone
>>number.  You can also use the Hangouts Dialer app to pickup incoming
>>calls via wi-fi made to your Google Voice phone number.
> 
> Google Duo video chat app can also be used for inbound/outbound GV
> Wifi calls.

https://duo.google.com/
Almost zilch for describing the app there.  Yeah, it does video calls -
using what protocol?  Don't even see Google Voice mentioned there.
Looks like another VOIP-only (no phone number) Skype equivalent which
means you only get to make pseudo-calls to other users of the same app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.tachyon&hl=en
Hopefully, as you say, it will use wi-fi for Internet connectivity.
"*Data charges may apply. Check your carrier for details."  You don't
want to suck up your cellular data minutes, and the son wanting wi-fi
calls doesn't have any cellular service.  From a review at the Play
store, "When you start out you are inviting everyone on your contact
list to download the app and hoping they will get all of their family
and friends to get the app."  That sure makes it sound like it is only
an app-to-app video calling service.  I wasn't trying to find a
VOIP-only Skype equivalent as that sucks to make/receive phone calls
from the vast majority of callees/callers, like your doctor, dentist,
car shop, bank, store, or anyone else that either doesn't know about the
app, won't install the app, or is just using a regular phone rather than
a smartphone loaded with tons of apps they rarely use.

Half the requested functionality was phone calling.  The other half was
texting.  Does Google Duo do texting?

The OP expressed no concern regarding doing video calls, just phone
calls.  You sure Google Duo isn't another proprietary video caller so
only the son's friends also using it can video call to/from him?

Adding video calling means requiring a much better wi-fi connection than
needed just for voice only.  At home, the son might have an okay wi-fi
connect to his parent's wi-fi cable modem.  When travelling, wi-fi
hotspots are often not nearly as wide a pipe (for bandwidth) plus that
is available is being shared.  Some of the comments on the app at the
Play store mentioned the video cuts out (halts, freezes) during a call
but the audio continues okay.

If it does it, I was not aware that Google Hangouts even does video
calling.  Never used it that way.  Even if Hangouts has video calling,
I'm not going to require those I call or those that call me to have the
Hangouts app.  

https://www.cnet.com/products/google-duo/
"Whereas Hangouts can be used on desktops, supports messaging and group
chats, and has multiway video for collaboration (and its interface
reflects these extra features), Duo does one thing and one thing only:
video calls on your phone or tablet."  The author apparently missed the
Hangouts Dialer companion app where he said, "Unlike Hangouts, it
reaches people through their phone numbers, not their Gmail."  If the
Hangouts Dialer app did not exist, I wouldn't be bothering with Hangouts
but then, unlike the son, I do have cellular service for phone calls and
texting.  Only after the Dialer app showed up did I then start looking
at what the Hangouts app can do.  Instead of getting locked into one app
at both ends, I can call or get calls from anyone with a phone number
regardless of how they access their phone service.  I does look like
Google will be replacing Hangouts with their Duo app, so I'll put Duo on
my to-do list of apps to look at.

For wi-fi phone calls, I don't want to require extra bandwidth at wi-fi
hotspots not controlled by me and not for my sole use to handle the
video load.  Does Duo do voice-only calls?  To me, video is just glitz -
but if I do get into free video calling then this app is yet another
choice.  Too bad there is so damn little info about how it works on
Google's pages.  Is Google Duo using an open protocol that other apps
can also use so there is no requirement that each endpoint has to use
the same video calling app?  I'm not going around to my family and
friends telling them they must use the Google Duo app, especially since
many just have dumb phones (home phones, flip/bar cellphones) or they
are using someone else's non-smartphone phone.

https://blog.google/products/duo/meet-google-duo-simple-1-to-1-video/
So maybe that's where you got the link up for the app to use a Google
Voice service where you get an actual phone number.  However, it looks
like both endpoints in the call are locked into using the same app but
maybe that is just for the video side of a call.  Maybe it will do
voice-only (audio-only) phone calls, too.  Can't tell from Google's
pages with no information.

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Thread

Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 13:01 -0500
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-12-31 13:08 -0500
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 13:27 -0500
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-12-31 13:47 -0500
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> - 2016-12-31 12:15 -0700
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 17:01 -0500
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 00:54 +0100
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 22:03 -0500
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-12-31 20:58 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? ANTant@zimage.com (Ant) - 2016-12-31 21:02 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-01 00:07 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? ANTant@zimage.com (Ant) - 2017-01-01 20:21 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-01 20:57 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 03:01 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 03:08 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-03 04:37 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 13:10 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-03 14:02 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 14:42 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 05:02 -0500
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 14:21 -0500
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 19:57 +0100
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 14:20 -0500
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 23:29 +0100
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 18:02 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? mike <ham789@netzero.net> - 2016-12-31 15:49 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 01:00 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-12-31 20:26 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 00:54 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-01 14:30 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 18:50 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> - 2017-01-01 19:47 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-01 20:20 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> - 2017-01-01 20:59 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-01 21:34 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 03:18 -0600
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 18:51 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-01 11:56 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 03:06 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-01 14:14 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 18:49 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-01 20:43 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 03:23 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 10:47 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 14:23 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 12:02 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 16:15 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-03 02:48 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 03:04 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-03 02:48 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 16:00 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-04 06:05 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-04 01:51 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-05 01:54 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-05 09:49 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-06 00:06 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-06 00:23 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-06 19:48 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-06 20:51 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-07 13:36 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 13:47 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-07 13:37 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 13:47 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-07 20:50 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-07 13:49 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 14:05 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-07 20:37 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 15:40 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-07 21:40 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 18:23 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2017-01-08 17:03 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Dave Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> - 2017-01-07 23:23 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-07 18:45 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-08 00:59 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-08 22:32 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Dave Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> - 2017-01-09 15:23 +0000
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-09 10:30 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 04:33 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-03 02:48 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 18:14 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 20:55 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-03 21:00 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-03 02:48 +0100
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 18:05 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-03 08:41 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 06:01 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 21:04 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 20:57 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-03 21:00 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 04:19 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-04 10:03 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 21:09 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-03 21:18 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 04:26 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-04 10:03 -0500
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@invalid.es> - 2017-01-03 05:54 +0100
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 20:48 -0500
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@invalid.es> - 2017-01-03 05:48 +0100
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 04:30 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@invalid.es> - 2017-01-07 22:06 +0100
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Ken1943                     <kenw@no295no.net> - 2016-12-31 11:27 -0700
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 19:57 +0100
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 14:36 -0500
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 23:29 +0100
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 18:12 -0500
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 00:54 +0100
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2017-01-03 16:09 -0500
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Joerg Lorenz <hugybear@gmx.ch> - 2016-12-31 19:38 +0100
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-12-31 12:37 -0800
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 23:29 +0100
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-12-31 20:58 -0500
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 14:02 -0500
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2016-12-31 14:53 -0500
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 03:46 -0600
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 23:29 +0100
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 18:25 -0500
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 00:54 +0100
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 22:20 -0500
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2017-01-01 12:12 +0100
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 02:34 -0500
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2016-12-31 14:08 -0500
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 04:17 -0600
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 08:30 -0500
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 13:23 -0600
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-03 18:18 -0500
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 17:58 -0600
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-04 03:59 -0500
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-04 20:28 -0800
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-01-04 23:29 -0500
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2017-01-03 21:56 -0500
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> - 2016-12-31 16:11 -0500
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Yanis Bernard <YanisBernards_jonque@orange.fr> - 2016-12-31 23:29 +0100
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-12-31 19:58 -0800
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 02:35 -0500
          Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 10:35 -0800
            Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> - 2017-01-02 12:28 -0700
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2017-01-02 12:05 -0800
                Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? micky <NONONOmisc07@bigfoot.com> - 2017-01-02 16:16 -0500
              Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? Piet <www.godfatherof.nl/@opt-in.invalid> - 2017-01-03 11:24 +0100
  Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2016-12-31 17:02 -0600
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? M.L. <me@privacy.invalid> - 2017-01-03 03:37 -0600
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-03 13:27 -0600
    Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2017-01-03 16:21 -0500
      Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-01-03 19:04 -0600
        Re: Free texting and calling via WiFi? "TomR" <TomR@TomRhjghgl.ncm> - 2017-01-04 15:14 -0500

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