Let me start by saying this tutorial does not use Gizmo5, since they no longer are accepting signups (gee, thanks Google) I was looking for a way to make this work without using their service. When you’re done, this will allow you to make calls via your computer, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch (2nd gen and newer) to any number using your Google Voice number, all for free.
For starters you’ll need a Google Voice number, if you don’t have one, post your email address in the comments and we’ll do our best to hook you up (I have 5 invites currently available).
This tutorial is rather long and some might find it overly complicated, so consider yourself warned. What I’ve outlined here is the free way of doing things, but if you purchase iPhone software like Acrobits Softphone [$7.99] you’ll get a much better user experience.
Step 1: Register for a PBXes.org account.
Step 2: On the left hand menu of PBXes.org, click Extensions. Then click SIP.
- Extension Number: 100
- Under Display Name enter whatever you’d like
- Enter a password
- Confirm that Voicemail is disabled
- Hit Submit
Your settings should look like this:
Step 3: Edit your newly created extension by selecting it from the left hand menu.
- dtmfmode: rfc2833
- audio bypass: no
Hit Submit.
Step 4: Create a ring group by selecting Ring Groups from the left hand menu.
- Group number: 1
- Ring strategy : ringall
- Extension list: 100
- Ring time: 60
Confirm these settings and then hit Submit Changes.
Step 5: Create an Inbound Route. Click Inbound Routing from the left hand menu.
- Trunk: username-100
- Under Set Destination mark Extension: Username <100>
Hit Submit.
Throughout editing the above settings you might have noticed a little red bar at the top of the page that says “You have made changes – when finished, click here to APPLY them.” Now’s the time to do just that.
That’s it for what you need to configure on PBXes.org, now you’ll need to hook your SIP extension into the POTS network so you can call any phone.
Step 6: Go to phone.ipkall.com
- Account type: SIP
- Area code: Any
- SIP Phone number: username-100
- SIP proxy: pbxes.org
- Email address: Your email
- Password: Your PBXes.org password
Complete the CAPTCHA and hit Submit. Now check your email for your phone number.
Now this is where things get interesting, you’ll need to configure a softphone before adding your new number to Google Voice.
iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Users:
Download Media5-fone [free]. After installing, go to Settings.app, scroll down and tap Media5-fone.
Note: The free version limits you to 1 minute calls so it really is only useful for testing your settings. This is the only free SIP app I was able to get to work with my PBXes.org account and it also allows you to verify your Google Voice number, which is something a lot of apps have problems with. Once you have your Google Voice number verified, consider purchasing Acrobits Softphone for $7.99, which is virtually identical to Media5-fone for setting up but it works quite a bit better.
- Server Address: pbxes.org
- Account Name: Your PBXes Username
- Password: Your PBXes Password
- Display Name: Your name
OS X Users:
Download Blink from icanblink.com (I’m going to assume you can figure out how to save a DMG, mount it and install Blink to your applications folder).
After launching Blink, select Add an Existing SIP Account.
- Display name: Your Name
- SIP Address: username-100@pbxes.org
- Password: Your PBXes.org Password
Connecting Google Voice to your SIP number.
Login to your Google Voice account, click Settings and then Add another phone.
- Name: SIP
- Number: Your IPKall Number
- Phone type: Work
It will then ask you to verify your phone. To do so, open up Media5-fone then hit Connect on the verification screen.
Answer the call, tap Speaker, then tap Keypad and enter your verification number.
There you have it, you can place calls from Google Voice and have it ring your softphone. Consider combining this with Backgrounder and GV Mobile for jailbroken iPhone’s/iPads/iPod Touches and you have a pretty killer combo.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.