Making free VoIP calls on Android Froyo | habdas.org

Making free VoIP calls on Android Froyo | habdas.org
Making free VoIP calls on Android Froyo
Published on January 3, 2011 in Mobile Computing. View Comments
Tags: android, mobile, modding.
During a recent trip to South America I needed a way to call back to the States without spending a lot of money. After a little research I found a good price: gratis. With Android Froyo it was possible for me to make VoIP calls from Argentina to the United States free of charge. In this post I’ll explain how you can make free calls to the US using Android Froyo too.


If you’re traveling internationally with your Android device and would benefit from free worldwide VoIP calls to the US read on for instructions to get set up.

Note: These instructions are written specifically for Android Froyo (v2.2) and may not work on other versions of Android.

First, sign-up for a free account at sipgate.com or pbxes.org and choose to create a US-based telephone number. The account and phone number provide a method for connecting Internet calls with an existing phone network using a SIP client on the Android mobile device.


Sipdroid QR code
The SIP client I’ve used to is sipdroid. Head over to the sipdroid website for up-to-date guides on getting it set-up. Recent versions of the app have introduced tools to streamline account creation at PBXes, though I have not used them personally.

Once the SIP client is installed and correctly registered to the services provided by sipgate or PBXes the mobile device can begin receiving calls at the new phone number created. Outbound calls can be made using Google Voice and a little more effort.

To begin making calls download and install the Google Voice and GV Callback FREE apps from the Android Market. The Google Voice app allows users to make free domestic calls. It can be used in along with GV Callback to allow for outgoing calls to any number specified. Some assembly required.

Once set-up properly the Android device can be used for call any US-based telephone number from anywhere in the world with a Wi-Fi hotspot. I was able to use this system to make several hours of calls from Argentina to the US without paying a dime, and you can too.

Bonus: Install the Keep Wifi app from the Android Market to prevent the phones Wi-Fi connection from turning off when the phone goes to sleep.

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