Making and Receiving Free Phone Calls via Any Computer or Internet-Enabled Device With GrandCentral

By Andrew Min

Most of the time, I’m at my computer. Or near it. And if I had an internet device like a Nokia N810 or an iPod Touch, I’d have it with me 24/7. And since most of the time I’m at a place where there’s a wifi network, it makes sense for me to use VoIP rather than a regular phone line. Now, you’re probably ready to sit back and listen to a pitch for Skype’s cheap $0.021/per minute or Gizmo’s even cheaper $0.019/minute. If you’re really tech-savvy, you might be expecting a pitch for iCall, which has free calling in the US and Canada and a free phone number. However, iCall is Windows-only and doesn’t always work. That’s not what I want. I’m talking about making and receiving calls that are completely free (that is, $0.00/minute) forever (that is, no 30 day demo) for as much as you want (that is, no 30 day trial or five hour/week limit). The key? Google’s closed-beta GrandCentral.

What the heck is GrandCentral (and why haven’t I heard of this feature before)?

When most people hear about GrandCentral, they don’t think about free calling. Actually, since this feature is pretty hidden away, most people don’t even know about this. Most people just use it for what it was originally made for: consolidating all of your phone numbers into one phone number. When someone calls that phone number, your mobile, landline, and your spouse’s mobile will ring. For more, read David Pogue’s review at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/technology/15pogue.html?ex=1331611200&en=4cf47d148f623c6d&ei=5088.

Right now, GrandCentral is in closed-beta. Additionally, I believe they have stopped letting users give out invites, so you have to sign up at the homepage and cross your fingers. For now, I’ll assume that you have GrandCentral already set up with a phone number.

Adding free phone calls

First, you’ll need Gizmo5 (formerly the Gizmo Project) and a Gizmo5 account. You can actually use any SIP program with a Gizmo5 (which is really an sipphone.com) account. To do so, just log in using sipphone.com as the domain and your username and password. But for clarity, I’ll be using Gizmo5. You can download Gizmo5 for Windows, OS X, Linux, many mobile phones, and the Nokia N770, N800, and N810.

After installing Gizmo5, go to the GrandCentral site and log in. Then, go to Settings and click Add/Edit Number. Choose an empty slot and change it from the default Cell to Gizmo. Go back to Gizmo and click Edit > My Profile (or Account > My Profile). Look at the field Sip number. Copy all the numbers in it (so if it says sip:9999999999@proxy01.sipphone.com just copy 9999999999). Now, return to GrandCentral. Paste the number (e.g. 9999999999) and put in your Gizmo5 account name (e.g. onlineapps as the name. Now, hit save and go to the Address Book. Then, click the Call button next to the contact you wish to call. GrandCentral will ask which phone to make the call from. Click the Gizmo button. Now, Gizmo will pop up and tell you that you have an incoming call. Answer it, and you will be connected to the other person. To hang up, just hit the Hang Up button in the GrandCentral window.

Update: Eric pointed me to a GUI for the GrandCentral dialer for Nokia nxxx users. So if you run Maemo, check it out at http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18802

The verdict

Is this the cheapo way to make calls? Duh. Is this perfect? Of course not. You need to be connected to the internet at all times. Still, if you mostly have wifi, the possibilities are endless. Gizmo5 will run on many mobile phones and the Nokia Nseries tablets. Using this guide, you can set up free calling on an iPhone or iPod Touch using Sip-Voip or Fring. Heck, you can even use it on a Palm with Voice over Your Palm and on Windows Mobile with SJPhone

Platforms: Any (any SIP program can be used)

Rating: 4/5

• GrandCentral
• Gizmo5
• Setting up Gizmo with GrandCentral
• Taking calls with Gizmo

Thanks to Kevin H for the great tip!