How to turn your Android WiFi Tablet into a free phone

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How to turn your Android WiFi Tablet into a free phone

First of all, there are a lot of options out there for being able to turn your Android tablet into a phone to make and receive phone calls and text messages. I'm going to focus on this one method. Why? Because I've tried many options and I am convinced this is the best solution, for now. To make this happen, you will need two things.

Google Voice
Groove IP app. ($3.99 in the Android Market)

Let's start with Google Voice. This is a must have anyway! Google Voice will enable you to use one number across multiple devices. You can set up your Google voice number to dial your computer, your smartphone, your work phone, your home phone, and with the Groove IP app, your tablet! Best of all, this Google number is free and gives you several options, a few of which are:

A single number that rings you anywhere
Online voicemail–transcribed messages delivered to your inbox
Free calls within US and Canada, and competitive rates to call the World
Incoming call recording

Once you have this number, Head on over to the market, install the Google Voice App and purchase Groove IP, and install it on your Tablet. Feed it your Google Voice information, and you are set. Text messages can be handled through Google Voice and you can send and recieve Phone calls through Groove IP. The Groove IP interface is simple, attractive and just works. Best of all, it imports your Google Voice Contacts, retains history, and allows you to create favorites so your numbers are always close at hand.

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Call Quality? I did have some duplex issues at first. I tweaked the mic and speaker volume but it seemed that there was an echo either on my end or on the other caller's end. I solved this by adding headphones, and haven't looked back!

If you use Google Voice from a PC or Mac, you know that you don't need a third party app to make Google Voice work. I really wish that Google would step up and add the ability to use Google Voice via WiFi to smartphones and tablets. I'm sure there are some carrier issues to deal with here.I'm hoping that somewhere down the line, Google Voice will be a built in feature of the Android Operating System. Until then, Groove IP is an excellent solution to turn your tablet into a phone.

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NOTE: Groove IP can also allow you to use your WiFi connection on your Android Smartphone, to save you even more.

More of my thoughts on Google Voice

Have an iPad? Talkatone is what you need!

Comments

+1 #1 GOOGIE VOICE — 2012-01-06 22:48

I don't have google voice as an option, it's not in my Android Market. Any other app that I can use that's similar?

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+1 #2 Groove IP — Duke 2012-01-10 12:22

Bill, get google voice on your PC or phone. On your tablet, install Groove IP. It will allow you to send and receive phone calls over your WiFi connection.

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+1 #3 RE: How to turn your Android WiFi Tablet into a free phone — 2012-02-20 09:59

Works lovely on asus transformer tablet but it only works on wifi bc tablet is not a carrier but it works and thats what count.

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+1 #4 RE: How to turn your Android WiFi Tablet into a free phone — 2012-03-08 05:02

May u be a blessed person ... I've only had my Acer a200 for a few days, but I know exactly how I'm trying to configure it , that it may serve it's purpose in my life efficiently and your advice helped me get one step closer. You are an angel to me.

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