Develop Bugs

Block My Caller Id

This is my first Andoird, I'm coming from a Blackberry Curve. On the Blackberry I had an option to block my caller id when I make calls. Is there an app or setting for the Evo that can do this for me?
The reason I'm asking is I'm on call for work one week a month, and when I'm on call I take about 300 after hours calls a week and I don't want customers getting my cell phone number. And I really don't want to dial *67 before each call.
I did some searching and wasn't able to find anything. I checked the market and found a prefix dialer, but going off the description and the reviews it didn't look like anything I wanted.
I am rooted and running Baked Snack 9.7.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe get a google voice number? It will allow calls to show your google voice number or a random number, you can enable and disable it as needed. I don't have one personally but i do know a few people that do. Might be a pain in the butt for you though.

Google voice is your best option. No pain either. You get an extra new number and when you dial out gv will ask what number you want to use.
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yea google voice is the awesome !!!!

Either google voice or you could call customer service and ask them to turn on block caller id for your phone number so it will block all the time. I don't know if they do that now but years ago I did that with sprint. I would say google voice is the best bet. It's kinda confusing at first but just keep reading and googling. I'm only using it for voicemail. You could, if you are lucky, choose/search for the same number you have now, just with a different area code. You better check your plan and talk to customer service to make sure you don't get charged for conditional or unconditional call forwarding. The kitchen sink plan, don't worry about it. Lesser plans might charge for full call forwarding and not conditional (your phone rings, and if you don't answer, it will forward to gv. I could go on and on explaining this...
Verify with your plan, and the fine print, if you are charged for any type of call forwarding or if goes against your monthly allotment of minutes. Make sure before you do this so you won't get hit with surprise charges.
Wrong word choice and misspelling courtesy of swype.

Thanks for the information. I just setup a Google Voice account. It's not quite what I'm looking for beacuse customers will still get a number to call me on, but at least now when I answer it'll ask me if I want to accept or decline the call when it goes through Google. That way I'll have an idea how's calling me. And my plan should be fine. Due to the number of calls I take they have me on an unlimited plan.
Thanks again.

You can disable the number when needed by setting it to do not disturb.

Yeah but you can have it so it displays the google voice number instead of your real number if you call someone. I don't know how your work sets it up but maybe they could, if they're call forwarding to your phone, have them call forward to your google voice number instead. That way you might be able to take advantage off all the bells and whistles gv offers. Like say, monitoring someone leaving you a voicemail and you decide if you wanna talk to them. Kinda like if you had a physical answering machine at your house, idea.
Wrong word choice and misspelling courtesy of swype.

There's a lot of stuff that can be done if you can get them to call the gv number instead of your real number.
I hate it when customers get my personal number and call when they have a complaint. Speaking of which, I need to see if I can change my settings so that my outgoing caller id shows my google number instead of my personal one.
Wrong word choice and misspelling courtesy of swype.

The "do not disturb" option is just what I was looking for. Thanks again.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=How+to+Call+%26+Block+Your+Number+With+Sprint

Google Voice

How many people have sprint setup to forward :
* Busy Call Forwarding (Busy Call Transfer)
* No Answer Call Forwarding (No Reply Forwarding)
* Unreachable Call Forwarding (Phone Off Forwarding)
to your google voice number? Are there any added fee's or complications you've run into? Did you just have to call customer care? I heard it takes twice the amount of rings as normal to hit the google voice mail is this true?
I could see a huge benefit of receiving my voice mails via email and read them during meetings where I cannot answer and return an answer via email.
Thanks!

I've got mine set up that way since they made it free months ago. I still had a touch pro back then.
Works great.
Edit : Google had instructions on how to do it via phone. Press a few buttons.

I'm not going to quote something I'm not 100% sure of. Go to sprints site and search conditional call forwarding. Then look up your plan and see what it says about call forwarding and fees.
I have the simply everything plan so both conditional and unconditional call forwarding are included. I "think" some thing like everything data with mobile to mobile free calling, might have free conditional call forwarding. That's what you're talking about. Go check and make sure though. One of those there's a 20 cents a minute charge, so make sure.
Search a lot on google voice help. Calling someone that has free mobile to mobile, it's considered a landline call and not mobile. That means out would go against their minutes. Like I said, go research it yourself.
I went so far as to change my sprint number and not giver that out to anyone. I only give out my google voice number. The reason behind that is I want to take full advantage off all the features that gv had to offer. If you use your sprint number, you can only use gv for voicemail.
Go read up, that's what I did. Oh, btw, the transcription accuracy of your phones voice to text is noticeably better than google voice's voice to text. I like gv so far. I'm finding out new things it can do just about every day!
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I reread your question. Conditional call forwarding is what you are talking about. You don't have to call sprint customer service for that. All you do to connect (after setting up the online end and phone end of settings and program) is *28xxxxxxxxxx from your sprint phone. The x's is your google voice number. To disable conditional call forwarding from your sprint number it's *38 call. Seriously though, you need to do the homework yourself because there's way too much info about it to answer in a forum reply.
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I set that up last year on my sprint number, it's nice because even when my phone is off I still get voicemails that might come to my real phone number (I use my gvoice number for everything)

I've got Google Voice as my main number that I hand out to clients and co-workers, and everyone calls me on it. If I have no service, I'll almost always have a WiFi connection, and just have GVoice forward calls to my Sipgate number, which I have tied into Fring.
Free unlimited calls!
Now if only I'd stop using the damned Messaging app and do texting from GVoice instead, and if I could get Sprint's AnyMobile AnyTime to recognize Google Voice access numbers as cellphones...
EDIT: Here's the link for info on how to do conditional forwarding: Manage the Conditional Call Forward feature from your Sprint phone

drmacinyasha said:
I've got Google Voice as my main number that I hand out to clients and co-workers, and everyone calls me on it. If I have no service, I'll almost always have a WiFi connection, and just have GVoice forward calls to my Sipgate number, which I have tied into Fring.
Free unlimited calls!
Now if only I'd stop using the damned Messaging app and do texting from GVoice instead, and if I could get Sprint's AnyMobile AnyTime to recognize Google Voice access numbers as cellphones...
EDIT: Here's the link for info on how to do conditional forwarding: Manage the Conditional Call Forward feature from your Sprint phone
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Click to collapse
Wait...
So when I use GV to make/receive a call or text, i can use my "minutes" or get charged differently as the #'s are "landlines" ?
Am I misinterpreting what you said ?

Found this:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=7162282a0c817918&hl=en

Question about Google Voice.

I'm just now getting into using Google voice as it seems to be an awesome way for me to call my customers and keep them from having my real number and calling me at crazy times..
So here's my question.Sprint has unlimited mobile to mobile.While using Google voice does it go against my minutes?...For example,if I were to use my regular number to call my fiancée cell phone it would be free.Would it still be free if I used GV to my fiancée cell phone?
I really don't want to go overboard with using this thigh if its going to count towards my minutes.Thanks for any help you can give me.
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I believe it still uses your minutes, ie cell phone will be free, land lines will cost against anytime minutes.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4g

Here's what I can tell you from my own observations, but I could be wrong:
Google Voice numbers, both actual account numbers (ie, your GV number), and the access numbers (the numbers you call and/or are called by when you make a call via GV or someone calls your GV number, respectively), are all considered landlines.
Now, you can set up your GV settings on the website, so when someone calls you, it will either show their number, or your GV number. If you have it set to the former (show their number), and they call you from a cellphone, it will count as a call from a cellphone.
If you were to set it so the caller ID shows your GV# when someone calls you, it would count as a landline call, and therefore, against your minutes. When you call someone, what really happens is that GV calls your phone from one of their access numbers, and then connects that call to your destination. Because of that, it's counted as an incoming call from a landline, and thus does count against your minutes.
Finally, if you call someone or are called by someone who has their GV settings so that it shows their GV# on the recepient's caller ID, then it will count against the recipient as a landline call, not a cellphone call.
I hope someone corrects me if I am mistaken.

Google Voice works perfect on AT&T. I have an Android on AT&T and added my GV number to my A-List (kind of like a fave 5) so when I use GV it counts as an unlimited call.
Sent while sitting on the toilet.

Kinda related and i dont want to hijack the thread, but..
My Girlfriend wants to cancel her voice plan and use google voice to make free calls with her gv number, is this possible for free? or will she get charged by her company because google voice is wasting minutes. or if the calls are being made over the 3g/wifi
Hopefully this can answer OP's question also.

xemerge said:
Kinda related and i dont want to hijack the thread, but..
My Girlfriend wants to cancel her voice plan and use google voice to make free calls with her gv number, is this possible for free? or will she get charged by her company because google voice is wasting minutes. or if the calls are being made over the 3g/wifi
Hopefully this can answer OP's question also.
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Click to collapse
Google voice isn't voip... you actually need service for it to dial out...

Call Sprint tell customer care you want "phone to home" for $5 give the rep your Google vice number. Now you can make and receive unlimited calls to that number but you have to have the setting in Google voice show your GV number on caller ID. Post any questions I will check back to this thread.
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[Q] Google Voice

Anyone else here using Google Voice? And I don't just mean for the voicemail part. I just set up a number online with them and I'm considering dropping my unlimited SMS with VZW and using the Google voice SMS instead.
I'm just curious to see if anyone else has tried this? The number I got is the same last four as my current one, but the prefix is different, so that's not too bad. I figure I could drop my bill almost $30 by no longer using VZW's SMS service.

This is one of the first reasons why Android interested me. I've never paid for txt messages & never will.
Limitations:
1. You can't send an email-to-txt to a GV number
2. You can't receive MMS
3. You can't send txts to short numbers (like "Text REDCROSS to 90999")
Unless those features are worth $360/year, I think it's an easy decision...

Been using GV as my primary number for over a year now. My most recent VZW bill shows 0 text usage even though any of my friends would tell you that we exchange tons of texts
The biggest shortcoming is the lack of MMS support. If your friends aren't in the habit of sending you picture messages though (my circle just uses email), then it's a non-issue.
It's also great that using the Local Google Voice Settings Plugin with Tasker allows me to tweak GV call forwarding on the fly. Call me while I'm at work and you'll hit my desk phone. Call me in the evenings and you'll hit my cell.

Ok everything sounds pretty good to me then, the lack of MMS support is kinda weak though, I do that pretty frequently. I was considering just straight porting my number to them, but then I decided it wouldn't be worth it with my ETF. I'll give it a shot though with email instead of MMS, with Androids and all the options to share media, I'm sure I could live without it.

Afterthought: next question about GV, anyone have a way to integrate the incredible's messaging app with the SMS of GV? Mostly because I like how I have my widgets set up and would like to continue to use them. And secondly because GV isn't the most aesthetically pleasing to me at the moment

Well, you can choose to have your GV# forward text messages to your cell#. That way you could still use your stock messaging app/widget. The problem with that approach is that people's numbers won't come through looking like their number. Instead, you'll see another number that GV is essentially using as a proxy.
Before I had an Android device, I had my contacts set-up to take this into acct. So Johnny Smith might have phone number 444-555-6767, but when he called or texted my GV#, my phone would show incoming from 999-111-2323. I would store both the regular number and the 'proxy' number into someone's contact.
Your life will be a lot easier if you just use the GV app/widget. I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day, but that's your call.

But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting. I'll give it a shot, I future dated the change on my online account to start next billing cycle. Should give everyone enough time to take down my GV number. Thanks for the help guys! Anyone else that has something to add whether they're pros/cons please let me know.

Hypcrsy said:
But the problem with forwarding the messages to my current carriers number is that it defeats the purpose of dropping the unlimited texting.
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Click to collapse
Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)

I was actually thinking about this the other day....interesting responses, thanks guys

One thing great that has gone unmentioned is the browser accessibility of google voice....phone issues? Can text anywhere you can get internet via browser. I've used that a fair amount. The way the number can be routed to other phones is always a useful thing as well. I like not being attached to my physical phone numbers anymore.

I just got a google voice account the other day. I am still trying to figure out if I like it. So far it is pretty good. The voice to text is not that accurate yet but I hear that it improves over time. I have not given it out to people yet so not sure how it will work once I do that.
Thanks for the info...
SoBBie

I use GV as a business line. Complete with a business VM message. I love the fact u can screen the VM live then chime in if u wana talk. MMS is the only reason I will not use ot as a vzw replacement #.... Other wise I use it daily.
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byrong said:
Indeed. But you asked how to use the stock messaging app with Google Voice. That's how.
No stock messaging system is going to integrate with Google Voice while also keeping your text usage at 0. Your phone doesn't 'think' it's receiving SMS. An SMS app isn't going to 'see' the GV text (unless you have it set to forward to your existing #)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
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that's correct, you will be charged if you have texts forwarded to your carrier phone #. Think of the google voice app on phone as a chat interface that is linked to a phone #. I have also thought as mentioned it's not the prettiest app...but there are some themed versions out there to be sure.

2faroffroad said:
So if I have fowared on, will the phone company still charge for the txt message from my GV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. If you have forwarding on, your phone treats it the same as receiving a regular text, since Google is forwarding a regular text to your Verizon phone #

I just use it to see how transcribing works. It is funny on many people but it usually gets the numbers right, which is awesome

I am with you 100% on the transcription - it is hilarious. It has no idea in the world what my wife is saying - 1 in 10 words right, I would guess! I only keep it on for the entertainment value.

So far I'm pretty happy with it. It does have those neat screening features for incoming calls. One weird thing I got was a voicemail recording of the phone ringing and my mom picking up and going "hello? hello?" Hopefully bugs like that don't happen too often. The one thing I will miss is the MMS ability, but hey, I have a Droid Incredible, there are many ways around that.
As for the themed versions of GV, can you point me in the right direction? I'd like like to see what I can find. Thanks again for all the responses, definitely made the decision a lot easier for me.
The best part of GV thus far is that I dropped my bill almost $30 a month. Sprint can suck it with there $69 simply everything plan....mine is Simply Unlimited Everything for $55 a month.
EDIT: Nevermind I found some solid looking themed GV inboxes. Thanks again everyone for responding!

[Q] Let's say we cross the border (assuming the border patrol allows us)...

A couple of my friends and I are planning on going to visit Seattle in the Winter right after Christmas, and staying with a friend in Vancouver (Canada) most of the time through the new year and the first few days in January.
How would I go about not tacking on ANY charges on my phone? I know there is a way to have it so the data will shut off (I assume because this is a CDMA phone) automatically without tacking on any charges.
But, what if someone tries to call me while I'm in Canada. If I don't answer, will I be charged? More importantly, will THEY be charged even if I don't answer the call?
What about text messages? I know that I can receive text messages and send text messages to Canada with no charges (while in the US) for sure. But, what if I'm in Canada texting to US numbers (outgoing and incoming texts).
How would I go about setting up my phone so that I would not be tacking on any charges whatsoever when in Vancouver? In other words, what are my options -- what can I do while in Vancouver (data/text/call/dance) without tacking on any charges on my plan, or what FAILSAFE work-arounds are there?
Any homie G's in the Northwest that can help me out so that I don't have to worry about this? I would GREATLY appreciate this!
TIA!
P.S. I could call Sprint about this, but I don't trust 50 year old Betty to answer my question correctly. I would greatly appreciate your inputs! Personal experiences would be nice

dkarol said:
A couple of my friends and I are planning on going to visit Seattle in the Winter right after Christmas, and staying with a friend in Vancouver (Canada) most of the time through the new year and the first few days in January.
How would I go about not tacking on ANY charges on my phone? I know there is a way to have it so the data will shut off (I assume because this is a CDMA phone) automatically without tacking on any charges.
But, what if someone tries to call me while I'm in Canada. If I don't answer, will I be charged? More importantly, will THEY be charged even if I don't answer the call?
What about text messages? I know that I can receive text messages and send text messages to Canada with no charges (while in the US) for sure. But, what if I'm in Canada texting to US numbers (outgoing and incoming texts).
How would I go about setting up my phone so that I would not be tacking on any charges whatsoever when in Vancouver? In other words, what are my options -- what can I do while in Vancouver (data/text/call/dance) without tacking on any charges on my plan, or what FAILSAFE work-arounds are there?
Any homie G's in the Northwest that can help me out so that I don't have to worry about this? I would GREATLY appreciate this!
TIA!
P.S. I could call Sprint about this, but I don't trust 50 year old Betty to answer my question correctly. I would greatly appreciate your inputs! Personal experiences would be nice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My personal Experience.
If you are root.
I often travel to south border and was getting alot of charges, but now I relay in Wi-Fi only. I will use Google Voice for text messages over Wi-Fi and Google Voice with SIP over Wi-Fi as well. ( i just recently upgraded to E4GT and haven't root so i use Tango, or Google Talk ) I Used to have my Hero rooted and only work like that as there is alot of wifi spots i can connect to.
If i was you ill just turn off any data services on the phone it self so nothing will sync.
for charges:
The phone running regular Sprint line will go into roaming - whoever calls you will not get charge and you will not get charge unless you answer.
Text messages are .50 cents each , minute if you answer its .69 cents
Also when i recieve a call shows as "unknow number" so i will not know who called me. but again thats in mexico roaming.

You can send texts to US numbers (even if that person is sitting next to you in Vancouver) for free - you don't need to call Sprint for this. If you're going to do a lot of calling, call Sprint and add Canada Roaming for Voice. You can have it set for a certain # of days. They will prorate the charges so it's pretty cheap. The calls are then like a dime a minute instead of 40 cents? Eitherway its cheap.
Do NOT use any mobile data. It's retarded expensive. Just turn off the Mobile data but leave on voice (so you can get texts or calls). Then leave on your WiFi.
I do this to Canada frequently - Whistler last year in particular. It works well and doesn't cost too much. I usually have them add the Canada Roaming voice just in case I get a bunch of calls.... But I generally change my voicemail message to say text me.
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Sorry, sending texts and receiving texts are free for you if you are sending to US numbers while in Canada if that wasn't clear.
To turn off your data go into Menu, Settings, Wireless and Network, mobile data.
As far as people calling you from the US, they won't be charged anything because your number is a US number. I'm not sure if you're charged for the incoming call in that case.... I think that you are.
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Wow!
Thank you so much guys! I really appreciate your inputs!
Okay, so in Wireless and Networks, I go into "Mobile networks" and turn off 3G data, then I go into "Roaming" and uncheck both voice and data under "International" correct? Can I leave domestic checked for voice and data and not have any problems? And also, "Roaming guard" is a bit ambiguous, would I leave everything unchecked under "Domestic" and everything checked under "International"? This seems redundant.
I would be able to use wifi in Vancouver, so could I have it so that I can see who is calling me? Can I have it so the person I am calling can see my name? -- I could call them over wifi and they would know who was calling, see me in the caller ID?