Google Voice on your iPhone, VoxOx for extra cheap int'l calls on clarkhoward.com

There's a real donnybrook going on between AT&T, the federal government and Google. Google has figured out a way to let iPhone users text and make unlimited calls with the cheapest AT&T data plan.

It's all possible with Google Voice. You can bypass AT&T's block of Google Voice and use the iPhone web browser to access this free service. Google Voice requires an invitation to join. Sign up today because there is a waiting period of 4 to 6 months to get your invitation.

This is just one of the new telecommunications changes coming in the near future. The idea of a company charging you per call is so yesterday's news -- whether the cellular providers like it or not. In short order, Clark predicts we'll be making all calls for free!

If you travel overseas, the consumer champ wants you to know about VoxOx.com, which is in beta and still having the bugs worked out.

VoxOx makes it possible to use your cell phone to call back to the United States for mere pennies a minutes -- instead of $1/minute or more. Once you signup for this free service, all you need is a local SIM chip to start saving.

One man is paying as little as 2.2 cents/minute to call from Thailand to the United States using VoxOx.

Now that's cheap!

What others are saying

t-mobile
Maria, I'm worried now cause today is my first day trying this out with T-mobile. I will keep you updated...
By jenny @ 10/07/09 01:21:53 PMreport abuse
Free calls with google voice
I set up google voice to my cell phone and T-Mobile send me a bill with charges for using a "free call"-0.45c/min.
Has anyone figured out how this "free call" system works???
What I see on the bill that it is not working at all. I think,it is a big rip off.
Any suggestions???
By Maria @ 09/30/09 12:43:20 AMreport abuse
VoxOx International Not Available
I downloaded VoxOx 2.0.2, and both my computers kept crashing. I upgraded to VoxOx 2.0.4 and the desktop, but not the Netbook, got a stable install.

I cannot find anywhere on the user interface to pay for minutes. The VoxOx forum says to pay through "My Account" but I can find no such icon. Has anyone else found a way?
By Joe McLean @ 09/01/09 05:31:42 PMreport abuse
Calling to the US from Overseas with VoxOx
Visiting VoxOx's Web site didn't help me find just HOW Clark meant it to be used for calling back to the U.S. from abroad, using the cell with a local chip. Can someone who has used VoxOx for this purpose explain it in slow-motion for me and others who would like to know?
By Robert Kissel @ 08/27/09 02:28:43 PMreport abuse
It Will Only Work If Your Google Number Your Favs
It does not make a difference with Iphone because you do not get free minutes. If you have Verizon or TMobile and your Google voice number is one of your favorites, then it will work.
By ptra @ 08/24/09 08:19:23 PMreport abuse
RE:Yes to Google Voice
NO to Google Voice! lol

I just verified that both calling and texting by using google voice through your cell is NOT FREE. Your carrier charges still apply. lol They just added this information to the google help site in the last 48 hours because this info was not there as of this last Saturday night. And my online cell bill was just updated and I now have over 100 incoming and outgoing text messages which will cost me .15c each. yay

The only thing google voice will be good for is having that second number you can use as you "all in one." I'm very disappointed and angry about the misinformation I was given and that I gave, I apologize.
By Chris @ 08/24/09 06:40:20 PMreport abuse
YES to Google Voice
First off, to Travis below. Yes, you can make FREE(no minutes off phone plan) calls within the US through google voice using your cell. All you do is call your google number from your cell, enter your 4-digit PIN, then press 2. Now dial the number you wish to call, done. The only minute you may lose is the initial call to your google number. When you use this service from your pc, it uses ZERO minutes off you phone plan.

Being I have a smartphone where the cheapest plan is $60 a month, and the fact I never go over my 500 minutes(free weekends and nights)the calling feature on google voice doesn't do me much good. But the texting is GREAT! I would have to pay another $20 a month to get an unlimited text add-on package to my current plan, with google voice it's FREE baby, can't beat that. Plus it's nice to have that extra number.

I believe AT&T and Verizon are already suing or planning to, but they will get nowhere. Either way this is GOOD for us customers.
By Chris @ 08/24/09 02:31:10 PMreport abuse
Free Calls?
I pay close attention to Google Voice and the cellphone industry. I'm a user of Google Voice and and iPhone owner. There is no way to use Google Voice to make free calls to my knowledge. You use the broser interface, punch in the # (or contact) to call, and then Google Voice dials your mobile back and connects you to the number. THis uses voice plan minutes.
By Travis @ 08/24/09 12:11:40 PMreport abuse
google voice cell phone service
I would love to see the day when Google starts their own cell phone service with Android on it. We are going to have to cancel our alltel/verizon service, because we can no longer afford it. Unfortunately, we are in a rural area, and Metro PCS & Cricket aren't in our area, so we'll have to use Net10 instead.
By jamie @ 08/22/09 11:17:30 AMreport abuse
big phone co ripoff
clark is rightabout changes coming in telecommunications. att hates to see customers dropping landlines but each month they keep raising rates mon junk fees. their latest is charging $2 more for flat primary rate. no wonder customers are throwing out their landline
By alan @ 08/21/09 04:57:15 PMreport abuse

t-mobile

Maria, I'm worried now cause today is my first day trying this out with T-mobile. I will keep you updated...

By jenny @ 10/07/09 01:21:53 PMreport abuse

Free calls with google voice

I set up google voice to my cell phone and T-Mobile send me a bill with charges for using a "free call"-0.45c/min.
Has anyone figured out how this "free call" system works???
What I see on the bill that it is not working at all. I think,it is a big rip off.
Any suggestions???

By Maria @ 09/30/09 12:43:20 AMreport abuse

VoxOx International Not Available

I downloaded VoxOx 2.0.2, and both my computers kept crashing. I upgraded to VoxOx 2.0.4 and the desktop, but not the Netbook, got a stable install.

I cannot find anywhere on the user interface to pay for minutes. The VoxOx forum says to pay through "My Account" but I can find no such icon. Has anyone else found a way?

By Joe McLean @ 09/01/09 05:31:42 PMreport abuse

Calling to the US from Overseas with VoxOx

Visiting VoxOx's Web site didn't help me find just HOW Clark meant it to be used for calling back to the U.S. from abroad, using the cell with a local chip. Can someone who has used VoxOx for this purpose explain it in slow-motion for me and others who would like to know?

By Robert Kissel @ 08/27/09 02:28:43 PMreport abuse

It Will Only Work If Your Google Number Your Favs

It does not make a difference with Iphone because you do not get free minutes. If you have Verizon or TMobile and your Google voice number is one of your favorites, then it will work.

By ptra @ 08/24/09 08:19:23 PMreport abuse

RE:Yes to Google Voice

NO to Google Voice! lol

I just verified that both calling and texting by using google voice through your cell is NOT FREE. Your carrier charges still apply. lol They just added this information to the google help site in the last 48 hours because this info was not there as of this last Saturday night. And my online cell bill was just updated and I now have over 100 incoming and outgoing text messages which will cost me .15c each. yay

The only thing google voice will be good for is having that second number you can use as you "all in one." I'm very disappointed and angry about the misinformation I was given and that I gave, I apologize.

By Chris @ 08/24/09 06:40:20 PMreport abuse

YES to Google Voice

First off, to Travis below. Yes, you can make FREE(no minutes off phone plan) calls within the US through google voice using your cell. All you do is call your google number from your cell, enter your 4-digit PIN, then press 2. Now dial the number you wish to call, done. The only minute you may lose is the initial call to your google number. When you use this service from your pc, it uses ZERO minutes off you phone plan.

Being I have a smartphone where the cheapest plan is $60 a month, and the fact I never go over my 500 minutes(free weekends and nights)the calling feature on google voice doesn't do me much good. But the texting is GREAT! I would have to pay another $20 a month to get an unlimited text add-on package to my current plan, with google voice it's FREE baby, can't beat that. Plus it's nice to have that extra number.

I believe AT&T and Verizon are already suing or planning to, but they will get nowhere. Either way this is GOOD for us customers.

By Chris @ 08/24/09 02:31:10 PMreport abuse

Free Calls?

I pay close attention to Google Voice and the cellphone industry. I'm a user of Google Voice and and iPhone owner. There is no way to use Google Voice to make free calls to my knowledge. You use the broser interface, punch in the # (or contact) to call, and then Google Voice dials your mobile back and connects you to the number. THis uses voice plan minutes.

By Travis @ 08/24/09 12:11:40 PMreport abuse

google voice cell phone service

I would love to see the day when Google starts their own cell phone service with Android on it. We are going to have to cancel our alltel/verizon service, because we can no longer afford it. Unfortunately, we are in a rural area, and Metro PCS & Cricket aren't in our area, so we'll have to use Net10 instead.

By jamie @ 08/22/09 11:17:30 AMreport abuse

big phone co ripoff

clark is rightabout changes coming in telecommunications. att hates to see customers dropping landlines but each month they keep raising rates mon junk fees. their latest is charging $2 more for flat primary rate. no wonder customers are throwing out their landline

By alan @ 08/21/09 04:57:15 PMreport abuse

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Aug 21, 2009 -- Google Voice on your iPhone, VoxOx for extra cheap int'l calls

What others are saying