Making telephone calls without a telephone

I have just had an experiment with telephoning from Apple's iPad; any microphone-equipped iOS device can do it (even if by use of a headset such as Apple's earbuds with in-line mic).  (Actually, the oldest of the iPod touches may not run a sufficiently recent OS for the required software.)  Instead of using the cellular voice network, it uses wi-fi or 3G to connect to the world; therefore it does not "use minutes".

For quite some time, Apple banned software that could imitate or replicate iPhone functions, but through whatever change or policy alteration there is now a way of making non-phones seem very much like telephones.

Required:

• iOS device, microphone equipped: The first iteration of iPod touch lacked a real speaker, and the first two generations lacked microphones.  I am not certain offhand about the original, but in the second generation both deficiencies can be made up by use of a set of earbuds with in-line microphone.
• Wi-Fi: Network access to the outside world.
• Google Voice telephone number: A popular and free-of-charge way of connecting with real telephones <http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html>. Originally, a way to use a computer as a telephone and to add "features" to one's existing telephone service(s). Will take voice-mail and notify you of a missed call. (With a transcript--although those can frequently seem /odd/.)
• Talkatone: iOS software "telephone" <http://www.talkatone.com>.  (UPDATE: there may be other apps that can serve here.  MagicJack <http://www.magicjack.com> and Skype <http://www.skype.com/en/offers/skype-number/> can also imitate telephones.  There may be others.)

After installation and configuration, the combination of hardware, network access, account, and software permits the iPod touch and iPad to work as telephones, both originating and receiving calls from real telephones out in the world.  Not a bad thing to have on a real iPhone, too; permits having free calls via wi-fi with telephones that don't have your cellular provider's _no-minutes_ privileges.  (In which case--at home--don't have it receive calls over wi-fi; the interface gets confused when both the iPhone and Talkatone receive the same call simultaneously; yes, this can happen.  When you explore Google Voice features, this will make sense.)

So: When a household has only one celephone, the _other_ spouse can still have a telephone number with access to the device's iOS addressbook--which is much superior to what most cordless (or other?) household telephones have.  That "virtual telephone" would work while it had access to wi-fi at home, at a friend's, at the library, or at a coffee shop.  Hardly as ubiquitous as real cellular, but perhaps good enough to seem attractive to people who already have iPods touch or iPads, and who would be interested in extending their functionality in that way--with no charge whatever.

If that sounds intriguing--and if I have explained it badly here--get in touch.  It does seem to work pretty well (so long as nobody is running the microwave, of course).

Mark_
06 July 2013

Cindy has left her job.

Briefly, Cindy has retired a year earlier than she had anticipated being able to.  It was pretty sudden, and we are still processing it, but it is an accomplished fact.

Also, we are headed for Yellowstone in caravan with Phil & Ann R. (_Andy_), Dick & Dorothy S. (Bigfoot), Dick & Evalyn L. (Forest River), and Henry & Miriam S. (rented 27' something MH).  We hope to see Charless & Marjorie F., who live near part of our itinerary, and Larry & Cheri C. (Lance), who will be passing by on their way home from the Canadian Maritimes.  We will be in our very new-ish hard-side travel trailer, the Casita Liberty _Arcadia_, for our second big trip since acquiring it only seven months ago.

Our original plan was to do the trip (roughly three weeks), then head home so she could resume her duties as principal.  Now she doesn't have to consider that when considering when to end the trip.

We expect to post pictures to our two Picasa albums.

In other news, reliable cellular coverage has finally filled in at our house; we have abandoned our household LL telephone in favor of our two cellphones.  Those and our four wi-fi-based comms systems should permit us to remain in contact with the outside world during Retirement.

All excellent!

Mark_
06 July 2013