Google Voice with Monthly 4G $30 walmart plan

[bread22]

I have a problem when using GV on this plan.

Basically I add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #. When ppl call my GV #, it suppose to ring my TM cellphone. But the problem is that 70% chance it will just ring my phone once, before I can pick up it will go to TM voice mail directly, and charge me 1 minute.

I called TM to disable my TM voice mail. Even after that, the calls are still connected to TM voice mail system. TM tech support said it is a GV problem. But I do believe it is a TM problem. Because my GV works perfectly with my previous Sprint service, and it is forwarding to landline just fine.


I think I may just got bad luck with this TM #, it may somehow got problem when setting up service. I heard from someone else they don't have such issue the GV and TM.

Does anyone experience the same problem with TM & GV? Any idea what problem it could be? Many thanks.

[PL1]

I have a problem when using GV on this plan.

Basically I add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #. When ppl call my GV #, it suppose to ring my TM cellphone. But the problem is that 70% chance it will just ring my phone once, before I can pick up it will go to TM voice mail directly, and charge me 1 minute.

I called TM to disable my TM voice mail. Even after that, the calls are still connected to TM voice mail system. TM tech support said it is a GV problem. But I do believe it is a TM problem. Because my GV works perfectly with my previous Sprint service, and it is forwarding to landline just fine.


I think I may just got bad luck with this TM #, it may somehow got problem when setting up service. I heard from someone else they don't have such issue the GV and TM.

Does anyone experience the same problem with TM & GV? Any idea what problem it could be? Many thanks.

I'm not sure what you mean by "add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #. " That sounds like it's going in a circle.

First, there is no ability to forward calls from TM PAYG to Google Voice, so Google Voice Light is out, and having Google Voice take your voicemail that way is out.

Second, what you CAN do, is port your T-Mobile number over to Google Voice for $20. You would need to get another T-Mobile Sim and start a new plan, which can still be the Walmart plan, with a new number. Then, all calls that come to Google Voice can be forwarded to any number you choose (including the new TMO Walmart number), and Google Voice will THEN be your voicemail carrier.

Edit: Regarding Sprint, there is a special arrangement with Sprint and Google, which may explain why that works, AND, I believe call forwarding probably works as well. I think it is only TMO PAYG that has no call forwarding.

[whacker]

Quote: "Basically I add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #."

This is the basic primary function of Google Voice. He added his T-Mo number in GV to be forwarded to (calls made to the GV number).

Besides calls made to the GV number seeming to trip into T-Mo's voicemail too quickly, what about calls made directly to the T-Mo number? Are they behaving correctly? Obviously you should have quite a few rings occurring before it goes to T-Mo voicemail.

Other than odd possibilities with a T-Mobile voicemail problem, with T-Mo prepaid (which this plan is) you can't forward calls made to the T-Mo number to anyplace else. However, I would check any configuration settings in your GV account (online) and make sure they're set to the default.

Also, what about any GV application running on the handset? I'm not familiar with those, but in troubleshooting this I'd make sure they were first disabled/uninstalled before proceeding.

[bread22]

Quote: "Basically I add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #."

This is the basic primary function of Google Voice. He added his T-Mo number in GV to be forwarded to (calls made to the GV number).

Besides calls made to the GV number seeming to trip into T-Mo's voicemail too quickly, what about calls made directly to the T-Mo number? Are they behaving correctly? Obviously you should have quite a few rings occurring before it goes to T-Mo voicemail.

Other than odd possibilities with a T-Mobile voicemail problem, with T-Mo prepaid (which this plan is) you can't forward calls made to the T-Mo number to anyplace else. However, I would check any configuration settings in your GV account (online) and make sure they're set to the default.

Also, what about any GV application running on the handset? I'm not familiar with those, but in troubleshooting this I'd make sure they were first disabled/uninstalled before proceeding.

When ppl call my TM # directly, there is no problem at all, it just rings as normal.
I also removed and added my TM # a couple times in GV, always get the same problem.

[bread22]

I'm not sure what you mean by "add my TM # in GV, and have GV to forward all calls to TM #. " That sounds like it's going in a circle.

First, there is no ability to forward calls from TM PAYG to Google Voice, so Google Voice Light is out, and having Google Voice take your voicemail that way is out.

Second, what you CAN do, is port your T-Mobile number over to Google Voice for $20. You would need to get another T-Mobile Sim and start a new plan, which can still be the Walmart plan, with a new number. Then, all calls that come to Google Voice can be forwarded to any number you choose (including the new TMO Walmart number), and Google Voice will THEN be your voicemail carrier.

Edit: Regarding Sprint, there is a special arrangement with Sprint and Google, which may explain why that works, AND, I believe call forwarding probably works as well. I think it is only TMO PAYG that has no call forwarding.

I am not trying to forward calls from TM # to anywhere, my problem is my cellphone does not ring when calls are forwarded from GV to TM#. Most strange thing is when the call goes to TM voice mail, it uses my minutes, is this normal?

[yomuppet]

Have you contacted gv support? They take awhile to respond, but can probably help you. There is also a Google group for support.

[PL1]

I am not trying to forward calls from TM # to anywhere, my problem is my cellphone does not ring when calls are forwarded from GV to TM#. Most strange thing is when the call goes to TM voice mail, it uses my minutes, is this normal?

OK, that's why I said I wasn't sure about that first sentence. Because, the light version is to forward your calls to GV voicemail.

The only way TM Voicemail should use minutes is if you call voicemail from your cell. If you call from a landline to retrieve your voicemail, no minutes should be used.

Anyway, I know one of your questions was, if it works for anyone else, and it is working fine for me. Everything works as expected. It would be nice if all incoming calls directly to my cell phone could be forwarded to GV as well, but that's a TMO limitation.

So, yes, I would also recommend Google Support or the support groups.

[whacker]

Wow, this is quite the mystery! Full of intrigue and what not!

Here are a few thoughts: Bread22, you've stated that you had Sprint service previously, and also that it rings up your landline with no problem. Is this number on your current T-Mo service a port-in of the previous Sprint account, or did you have any other special integration of your GV service with your Sprint (postpaid) account? Just fishing here. Sprint and Google Voice do have a special relationship which could possibly have a bearing in the matter.

It would be handy if you had a friend who was on T-Mobile who would let you do a test using his cell number setup as a forward-to number from GV. Then call the GV number and see what happens. This, or perhaps at least any other cell account to forward to.

My T-Mobile Prepaid account has no problems at all with GV, and it's been the same for two years or so. I'm completely sold on it, and I don't even have app capability.

Some goofy things do occur with GV and certain numbers. I had a friend with a Net10 (using Verizon Wireless) account who switched to a Net10 AT&T account (moving the number over), who used GV, and it took forever for GV's system to properly recognize what had happened (meaning about a month). GV thought the number/account had simply evaporated from Verizon, and it would just report terminated service. GV therefore somehow sees numbers we want it to forward to in more than just a passive way.

[PL1]

One thing that I keep thinking. What makes a call go straight to voicemail? When it sees it's own caller ID. Any chance your forwarding number is your cell phone mumber? Like "Whacker", just fishing. There are two settings in the GV settings for handling CID, neither of which SHOULD matter, but you never know.

Caller ID (incoming): Display caller's number or Display my Google Voice number

EDIT: And you aren't testing this with your cell phone, that would forward your cell phone CID.

[bread22]

One thing that I keep thinking. What makes a call go straight to voicemail? When it sees it's own caller ID. Any chance your forwarding number is your cell phone mumber? Like "Whacker", just fishing. There are two settings in the GV settings for handling CID, neither of which SHOULD matter, but you never know.

Caller ID (incoming): Display caller's number or Display my Google Voice number

EDIT: And you aren't testing this with your cell phone, that would forward your cell phone CID.

I just tried, it helps!

When I set incoming caller ID to GV#, my phone rings just fine.
When I set it to actual caller #, it will behave as I described before, ring once and connected to voice mail.

Really strange. If I set this way, I can't know who is calling me. But it does ring.

Thank you!

[bread22]

Wow, this is quite the mystery! Full of intrigue and what not!

Here are a few thoughts: Bread22, you've stated that you had Sprint service previously, and also that it rings up your landline with no problem. Is this number on your current T-Mo service a port-in of the previous Sprint account, or did you have any other special integration of your GV service with your Sprint (postpaid) account? Just fishing here. Sprint and Google Voice do have a special relationship which could possibly have a bearing in the matter.

It would be handy if you had a friend who was on T-Mobile who would let you do a test using his cell number setup as a forward-to number from GV. Then call the GV number and see what happens. This, or perhaps at least any other cell account to forward to.

My T-Mobile Prepaid account has no problems at all with GV, and it's been the same for two years or so. I'm completely sold on it, and I don't even have app capability.

Some goofy things do occur with GV and certain numbers. I had a friend with a Net10 (using Verizon Wireless) account who switched to a Net10 AT&T account (moving the number over), who used GV, and it took forever for GV's system to properly recognize what had happened (meaning about a month). GV thought the number/account had simply evaporated from Verizon, and it would just report terminated service. GV therefore somehow sees numbers we want it to forward to in more than just a passive way.

My TM # is totally new to my previous Sprint #. So I don't think this issue has anything to do with Sprint.
I am glad to hear your TM prepaid working fine with GV. Maybe just this # is messed up.
I will activate a new # when I use up my balance. Hopefully I will have better luck.

[PL1]

I just tried, it helps!

When I set incoming caller ID to GV#, my phone rings just fine.
When I set it to actual caller #, it will behave as I described before, ring once and connected to voice mail.

Really strange. If I set this way, I can't know who is calling me. But it does ring.

Thank you!

Ok, I've still been thinking about this. Are you by any chance testing this with a phone that you are having Google Voice forward to? I know you can have Google Voice forward to multiple phones and if it sees any of the phones you forward to, call Google Voice, it goes right to VM.

[DannyNY]

Ok, I've still been thinking about this. Are you by any chance testing this with a phone that you are having Google Voice forward to? I know you can have Google Voice forward to multiple phones and if it sees any of the phones you forward to, call Google Voice, it goes right to VM.

You brought up two great points and what he should do is:

Uncheck all forwarding phones and only mark a check on the T-Mobile #.
Then try to place a calll from a # that isn't listed as a forwarding # on his GV account.

Incoming Caller ID should be to see the caller's # and not your own #.
I have no idea how this is going the opposite for you. Sounds very strange...why would calls go straight to voicemail when the caller ID is other callers but continue ringing when the caller ID is your own #?

[Pabster]

Google Voice has some quirks, it isn't perfect by any means. Voice quality is hit or miss and I have issues with the ringing of different phones at times as well. As for support, good luck on those forums. Google isn't known for much in the support department. Then again, it is a free service...

[sjv]

ok, with my brand new galaxy nexus GSM in hand I was all set to get my voicemail setup with google voice and I get an error when trying to activate it from both the pc and the phone. There is a note in the window that pops up when activating voicemail from the pc that says "Note: This feature does not work with T-Mobile prepaid phone plans."

How are people using this on the prepaid plan if this note is accurate?

When typing in the complicated *004* code I get error "Connection problem or invalid MMI code"
What gives?