Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Google Voice, Skype, Gizmo, and getting something useful for (almost) free

I am currently trying to figure out how to take advantage of this whole google voice/VOIP/SIP revolution. Here is what i've come up with thus far, let me know if there's a better way. (cause there probably is)


(Outgoing)
I have a $3 a month skype plan that allows me to make unlimited (fair use =10,000 minutes/6hrs a day.) outgoing calls to landlines and cell phones in the US via skype application on my laptop or iPod touch within a wifi hotspot. The number shows up as "unknown caller" or something to that effect, to get caller ID, and a number that people can call me on, would cost $30/year.

(incoming)
(this is where is gets messy)
If someone calls my Google Voice number, it is set up to forward to my cell phone only during the free anytime minutes (7pm-7am), if it's not a free calling time, the call gets routed to my Gizmo number that is set up within Google Voice, from there, the call is routed to my Skype Account, so that I can receive the call on my laptop or iPod Touch via Skype (if the iPod is on and I'm in the skype app) and if I am in a Wi-Fi zone. EDIT: ok this sucks because when this happens, (through Gizmo5/OpenSky service, you only get 3 minutes of call; alternatively you can pay $20 a year with garbage limitations.

(what then?)
If any one of those things fails, (not in skype app, not in wifi, dont have lappy out etc) the caller can leave me a GV voicemail. Which is then transcribed to and sent to my cell phone via text message. (all for free with unlimited texting plan). At this point I can choose to respond to the caller with my cell phone, call my GV account from my cell and listen to the voicemail, (uses cell phone minutes), OR I can get to WiFi and listen to the voicemail and return the call via skype.

This is messy. But it works. Now here is my question. (EDIT: ok this sucks because when this happens, (through Gizmo5/OpenSky service, you only get 3 minutes of call; alternatively you can pay $20 a year with garbage limitations. )

Can this setup be made better in any obvious way? Am I paying the $3 a month skypeout fee for nothing? I am too involved in this to be able to see the whole thing all together. I need a fresh set of eyes to look at this.

Feedback appreciated.