VOIP App recommendations

SEE

Discussion of (resolved) issue found here: https://github.com/michaelkourlas/voipms-sms-client/issues/262
And here: https://community.voip.ms/t/api-problems-cant-sign-in-with-voip-ms-sms/276/12

SEE

An update: Sadly I am giving up on VOIP/SIP for now. I have been messing around with this for almost two months now and I am still having major technical issues (e.g. the other party can't hear me after a certain period of time). I Tried about 5 different apps and have been in touch with my ISP and SIP providers more times than I can count. I still don't know the root of the problem at the end (I resolved so many along the way). What I learned:

1) VOIP.ms is an SIP provider - their support is excellent. They are KYC though and they don't have their own app unfortunately.
2) Virgin Mobile technical support literally has no access to advanced settings. There is no one that can tell you Port numbers for example. Their customer service is excellent for basic things but limited.
3) Some of the apps have problems with GrapheneOS specifically around push notifications. Linphone worked the best for me. I used the independent app "VOIP.ms app" for SMS
4) Be prepared for a lot of DIY work. I was motivated and full of energy but I eventually gave up.

User2288

SEE
Thank you for all your posts and follow ups. Though people didn't comment, this subject is of high interest to many, while experience and knowledge around it is highly lacking.

Do you think trying a different voip provider could solve your connection problems?

I would isolate and test a number of things one at a time.

I would test the voip line on maybe a pc to ensure the problem is not a pixel/gos/android networking issue.
If possible test the voip using a physical voip handset. Just to ensure its not the provider.
test using another voip provider to see if the provider is the problem.

I mention this anecdotally. A friend of mine has Ring Central for his business and uses it on multiple PCs and physical handsets as well as Ring Central softphone app on his regular android phone. Very solid voip experience. But a few caveats. Ring central is expensive, and he wasn't using gos.

Jobloggs

SEE Yes, thank you for sharing your experience!!!! I second User2288's comments as this is something of great interest to me too. I follow these sorts of posts whenever they arise. Perhaps the technology is still in its infancy as far as using it outside prescribed current systems go?

I have recently made contact with someone who suggested trying something else. I'm going to give it a go and see if it works although there appears to be quite a bit of DIY involved. I'm not in this field of expertise but we'll see.

carmel_snow

Can confirm Groundwire app works really on GOS (Pixel 7a), using an Australian VOIP provider. So far calling has been great some delays with text messaging. I came from iPhone > GOS and managed to save my backup configuration file and import into Groundwire app on GOS and instantly everything was there ready to go. I've tested calling over cellular with wireguard > protonvpn configured and had no issues, will test out of WIFI over the next few days. Cavet of it all is you have to pay for Groudwire, and Aurora doesn't take payments, so had to make a burner Gmail account > purchase via google play (yep not ideal in Australia because we don't have private cards like US/Canada) > log into burner gmail in aurora > downloaded paid version of Groundwire. This probs isn't ideal for everybody and I understand that. I have 5 VOIP numbers to silo government/friends/throwaway accounts and really needed a VOIP app that was reliable for calls and text's. Tried linphone, zopier and sipnetic and couldn't even get them configured, they were pretty awful.

[deleted]

carmel_snow hey mate, do you have google play services installed with your setup?

[deleted]

carmel_snow because if you don't need GPS, I definitely wanna give it a shot.

AManNeedsAName

applesbana
When I tried to put that into JMP as a referral (to activate the service for a month without depositing money first), it says this code is a "post-activation" code. Do you also have a code for the trial/pre-activation? you can send it in PM if you like, I'd like to try it out.

Thanks!

huberto

FuzzyButtons

FuzzyButtons Currently I am using linphone, but it feels janky. It won't record incoming calls, will frequently drop calls and doesn't work well with bluetooth.

What are you using, and how do you like it?

Linphone at least works with the majority of SIP B2BUAs resp. VoIP providers.
But I prefer Jami - the only other application I found on android which provides a working SIP phone solution (tested with PBX and public providers).
Jami primarily was meant as a ring based/compatible chat application, but since it basically uses SIP over WebRTC, SIP+RTC over UDP/TCP is also available and officially supported. But the android port doesn't get much attention and it happens that you are left with a broken update for months... be careful before installing updates.
Always wondered why Jami isn't well known in GrapheneOS community - the chat on it's own features outstanding security and privacy benefits too, while having a really nice UI for avarge users at the same time - as long as you omit broken updates...

Panda7878

Hello Everyone: I recently joined this forum and realize the last post was almost a year ago. I am not into setting up my own VOIP app, I have used Hushed and I love it. I use it for phone only, as I don't like the insecure nature of texts. For texting, I use the secure app, "SimpleX Chat". My only issue with Hushed is when I upgraded from one line to three lines is that Google gets involved. In other words, payments instead of being charged by the Hushed website goes thru Google Payments. When I asked customer service to change this, they said I would need to cancel my account and then sign up again. I am looking at Voiply, 1-VOIP, and Burner App. So, if you decide to use Hushed, don't change your mind or you will need to cancel or let Google Payments take your payment. That is main reason we all use GOS to get rid of Google as much as we can, right?

job_shredder69

Panda7878
Incorrect. Graphene isn't about getting rid of Google. You have the ability to choose.

I have settled with jmp.chat because it doesn't rely on Google Play for payment and notification. In addition, their support is top notch.

Panda7878

job_shredder69 That is true, it's having the ability to choose. I will look into jmp.chat. As long as it's easy to setup, I should be okay. I have heard great things about it, but didn't look into it, as I like things that work without a complicated setup, like Hushed or Burner App. As long as Google Payments aren't involved, I will give it a look. Having great support is an awesome plus!!!

blusterpilgrim

Panda7878 https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.cheogram.android/ Install this app (developed by the same team that develops jmp.chat) and just follow the prompts. They've made it really simple to just set and forget. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rKNBTHvitT8 here's a video of what the setup looks like. Also note you do need $20USD initially to get started.

Panda7878

blusterpilgrim I finally got my jmp.chat account and have been using it for a few weeks. The interface was a little clunky for me to use at first, but now I am used to it, I do really like it. My favorite thing is that it has no connection whatsoever to Google. I also figured out that to call someone not in your contact list, you have to first add that number to your contacts. Not a deal breaker for me, but could be for some. Overall, I do love the app and have heard of it, but didn't know really much about it. I wasn't sure if it would be easy or not to setup, but I was shocked how easy it really was to get everything working together. Thanks, again, for the recommendation.

W1zardK1ng

Panda7878 you dont have add the contact to call, there is option to enter phone number and call in the cheogram app or if you enable the default phone app integration you can use the phone app to call like on any normal carrier.

Panda7878

W1zardK1ng Thanks for the info. I will play with the settings and see if I can figure it out. If not, I will just add someone to my contacts to call them, not a big deal! :)

W1zardK1ng

Jmp.chat is the best voip service i ever used. I got 2 numbers ported to it and got an data only sim from them. Only issue is it get costly for people who make lots of calls and use data. Also they cant transfer data only sim to a new device. We need to by a new esim if we switch the device or delete the current esim but they can transfer the data balance to the new esim.

Panda7878

I didn't know jmp.chat sold data-only sims. I will need to look into that. I have been looking into a sim card for emergency only. I am thinking of keeping my current mobile provider, as it's only $13.60 or so a month (talk and text only) and only use it for emergencies, such as my car breaking down and needing to contact someone. The rest of time I will use wifi data either at home, at work, restaurants, etc.

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