Talkatone: Save your local plan minutes, use Google Voice over 3G or WiFi [Video Tutorial]

By Alok Saboo on February 22nd, 2011

One of the most common complaints against Google Voice is that it does not provide SIP support and consequently one cannot use Google Voice without losing local plan minutes. We have provided a work around to enable SIP support in Google Voice, however, that is not the most elegant method. Today, we review an app–Talkatone–that lets you use Google Voice over 3G or WiFi so that you do not have to use your local minutes. So far, this is the most elegant way that I have seen to make calls using Google Voice.

What is Talkatone?

Talkatone is an iPhone client for Google Talk and Google Voice. While there are other Google Voice clients available, such as GV Mobile Plus, VoiceCentral BlackSwan, and even Google’s own app, Talkatone has some great features, making it one of the must-have mobile VoIP (mVoIP) app for your iPhone. Talkatone allows making and receiving Google Voice calls over WiFi or 3G, thereby eliminating the need to use plan minutes to use Google Voice. Talkatone runs in the background and notifies you when there is any message (chat or text) or call for you.

For all its features, Talkatone is a FREE app (iTunes link), so go ahead and download it right away. Needless to say that you need to have Google Voice enabled in your Gmail account to use the Google Voice features. Even if you do not have Google Voice enabled, you can still use Talkatone as a Google Talk client.

Talkatone Features

For a free app, Talkatone has some great features. Let us go through some of the key features of Talkatone (version 0.9.3):

Google Voice Calling over 3G and WiFi: Whether you use Google Voice or not, you will love the voice calling feature of Talkatone. You can use the app to call your Google Talk friends or use Google Voice to make free calls to USA and Canada over WiFi and 3G without using your local minutes.

Please note that to receive calls your Google Voice calls in Talkatone, you will have to login to your Google Voice account and "Forward calls to Google Chat".

Chat with Google Talk friends: You can also chat with your Google Talk friends. You can add new friends or receive notifications when someone adds you to their friend list.

Location Sharing: Another small feature is the ability to share your location with the other person. Instead of typing out your address, you can just share your location with one click.

Background and Local notifications: Talkatone quietly runs in the background. Whenever someone sends you a message or calls you, you will get a notification right away.

The following video provides a detailed walkthrough of the app:

I am very impressed with Talkatone’s features and quality of the app. The voice quality is very good and the app does not consume inordinate bandwidth to make voice calls. The app also supports landscape mode for heavy typing.

If you have already tried Talkatone or you are using some other similar app, please share your feedback.

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I coworker of mine has found a way using an i*hone app call “TalkaTone” to make free calls via GoogleVoice/GMail on his iPad. I was wondering if you know of any app/script/process to make this work on an Android phone or tablet? …
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Unfortunately, it is not trivial to transfer apps across different OS. I hope the developers are working on an Android version…
Anonymous

Can we assume that this app is also available for Android, the fastest growing system on the planet?
As most people realize iphone has passed its peak so more developers are moving away from it.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  I have been an Android advocate since quite some time and I am sure that Android will overtake (if it has not already) iOS. Given that, we should hope that developers should start developing aggressively for Android. I hope Talkatone also is working on an Android version. I will keep you posted.
- Tlpelkey
  
  Pffft. Past its peak? Ignorant.
neokao

Does this work overseas?
I just tested last night.
setting: 2 activated GV accounts linked to Talkatone app on 2 iphone 3GS.
One in Asia and one in CA, USA with me.
Talkatone in Asia could make calls to my GV and my regular American cell phone number.
I could use Talkatone to make phone calls to other landlines in USA without problems.
However, when I tried to call that GV in Aisa, it ringed and I could only leave messages.The GV/Talkatone in Asia never rings.

Any suggestions? Thanks.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Are you able to call the GV in Asia without using Talkatone? My guess is that you may not be able to call the GV configured in Asia. Google Voice is supposed to work only in US/Canada and it seems Google is doing IP checks to make sure that restriction is enforced. Let me know…
  - neokao
    
    @ Alok…I just tried calling the GV in Asia directly without using Talkatone. Still not working.
    - http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
      
      Which confirms the hypothesis that I proposed earlier that Google is doing IP checks to make sure that GV is being used only in the US/Canada. You may need a VPN service with US IP address.
      - neokao
        
        Strange…We just tested it again and it worked without any problem! All the setting for talkatone and GV are not changed. The only thing different is that the GV in Asia was tested in his office today. Previously it was tested at home.
      - http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
        
        This is weird…we need more tests to confirm what is happening.
Sanjeev

GrooVe IP does something similar for Android. Works on phones and tablets. Not free though.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Thanks for the tip, much appreciated!!
Cjdallo_101

I use Talkatone to call my boyfriend sometimes because we’d be charged long distance if we use our cell. Does he have to pay when I call him through it?
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  It depends on how your boyfriend is receiving the calls. If you call his regular phone number, then he would be charged for incoming minutes.
http://twitter.com/DougDeckert Doug Deckert

Hi, I’m new to this. Trying to eliminate t-mo as much as possible. I have an iphone 3g and using talkatone. Does anyone know if I can receive calls when talkatone is running in the background? I used Prowl to push text transcripts of messages, but this only seems to work when the screen is lit up. Thanks, Doug
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  What device do you have? If your device is multitasking enabled, then it should work. Talktatone’s faq says that the following devices can receive text and calls even when Talkatone is in the background:
  iPhone 3GS
  iPhone 4
  iPod Touch 3rd generation
  iPod Touch 4th generation
  iPad
  
  Hope this helps.
http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo

No, these are different services. Loosely stated, Talkatone is a SIP client for Google Voice. WhistlePhone can be be used as a generic SIP client and it also allows FREE calls to USA, but it does not work with Google Voice.
Jasmine

Does the other person that we call using this app get charged? The number I was provided with is a 716 area code and idk where that zip belongs to. So would that count as long distance? I’m in San Jose btw. Thanks!
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Calls made from Talkatone are treated like any other calls, there are no special charges for calls made through Talkatone.
  
  Let me know if your query is still not resolved.
B_B6181

If I make a call using Talkatone on my iPhone will the call show up on my phone bill? Using the google voice app texts messages do not appear on my bill but if I make a call the number appears on my statement. Talkatone doesn’t use your plan minutes I understand because you are placing the call over WiFi but does it leave a trace on your cell phone call history bill wise? Trying to avoid drama with a nosey ex since our cell phones are under the same plan he can see my call history and potentially harass the people I’m calling.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Talkatone calls will not appear on your bills as Talkatone does not rely on PSTN to complete the calls. Google Voice, on the other hand, relies on PSTN to complete calls and hence shows up on your bills.
  - B_B6181
    
    Thank you! I was looking for a confirmation on what I had read about Talkatone and you gave me just that
Lhzhang666

I have tried to use Talkatone + google voice but end up with an error message “Voice traffic blocked by network”. Any solutions on this issue?
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Where are you located? Also, can you use any other service such as Skype on your network?
  - Chelleawhite89
    
    Just reading having the same problem I’m in Germany and I have talkatone and gvoice and can’t call home because of voice traffic blocked
    - http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
      
      If your ISP is restricting voice traffic, you need to use a proxy server or a VPN to bypass ISP restrictions.
Raj

I have a question.

Why is it that when someone sends me a text, it doesn’t notify me at all? I open up the Talkatone app and even then the text message does not show up. I have to refresh the page to see any.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Please note that Talkatone uses “local notifications” instead of the traditional “push notifications”, read more at http://blog.talkatone.com/2010/11/04/faq/
  
  Also, if you go to your Google account settings inside Talkatone, you will see an option to configure SMS receipt. Just make sure it is not set to NO.
Raj

I also forgot to mention that I am using the 4th generation iPod Touch.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Also, please note that Talkatone relies on SMS-to-GMail notifications in order to display incoming SMS notifications in real time.
  
  This is little bit fragile process and requires the following:
  
  1. You have to setup SMS to your GMail forwarding as we outlined here: http://cnt.tktn.be/howto/smsforward.html
  
  2. Please make sure you are receiving new SMS notifications in your GMail INBOX as new unread messages. Please also double check that there is no filter applied to these email notifications.
newuser

I just heard about Talkatone application and have few questions. Does it cost anything to make/receive calls using the Talkatone applocation from Iphone (with unlimited data plan). I am located in USA. Even though the provider says its free of cost I wonder if there are any hidden costs?? Thanks for your time.
- http://truvoipbuzz.com Alok Saboo
  
  Talkatone uses your Google Voice account to make and receive calls. Given that GV allows you to make free calls within USA and receive free calls, there are no charges involved in using the app. However, please note that Talkatone relies on internet connection to complete the calls. If you use Talkatone over 3G, you will use your data.