Even if you hold your laptop up to your face like a flip phone, talking into your computer is lame. You want to use Google Voice like a real phone—with buttons and stuff. Here is how.
You're going to need a Google Voice account. You can get a Google Voice number right here, for free. Do it. This will be your new "Home Phone Number".
The key to all this fun, is the little device I got for christmas this year. The Linksys PAP2T, only $49.99 on amazon.com.
The Linksys PAP2T is a little box that turns your home phone into a VoIP phone. It's simple: You just plug your home phone into the PAP2T's jack and plug the PAP2T into your home network (Internet). That's it; your hardware setup is done.
The real magic (and a little bit of work) is in the VoIP service Sipgate. Sipgate is a VoIP service that gives you a free phone number and free incoming calls.
Google Voice gives you free outgoing calls in the US.
Sipgate's free incoming calls combined with Google Voice's free outgoing calls, is a perfect $0/month solution.
You won't notice any difference when it comes to receiving calls. Your home phone will ring, just like it did with your landline.
Making outgoing calls is a little less convenient because you'll need to use Google Voice's website to set up calls. Google voice will call your home phone and then connect you with the phone number you entered at the website. This is a small hassle but that tiny trade leaves you completely free of monthly bills. The other option is to just make outgoing calls with your cell phone.
Two other items of note. Sipgate will allow you to call 911 for approximately $2/month if you sign up and configure it, otherwise no 911 from the home phone. Also, if you have a home security service, they generally require a more formal landline service.
Here's how to do it:
• Sign up for Sipgate and get your free phone number. (mine was a California phone number, but it doesn't matter)
• Set up Google Voice to forward calls to your new Sipgate number.
• Plug a phone into your PAP2T, grab a pencil, and dial "****"
• After the prompt, dial 110# (here's why you need the pencil), and write down the IP address it recites back.
• Type that IP address in your browser
• On the resulting page, go to "Admin Login" and choose "Line 1"
• Insert the proper info, Sipgate's website has detailed instructions on the exact information you'll need to plug into your PAP2T.
1 comment:
So this is why you no longer have a land line...cool.
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