A phone without paying the phone company - Introducing GUAVA

If you've wanted a phone where you could make calls, receive calls, send SMS and receive SMS without paying a monthly or per minute fee then try GUAVA. Here's what you need:
- Gizmo5 software
- Google Voice account
- Android phone
- GUAVA android software

Step 1: Download free Gizmo5 software for your computer. This will allow you to create a free account. Once installed go to my.gizmo5.com and write down your 10 digit 747 number beginning with 747.

Step 2: Signup for Google Voice account and then in the initial setup or in the Settings: Phone section select the Gizmo option and enter and validate your Gizmo5 747 number from step 1.

Step 3: Get an Android phone. - Try Craigslist.com where you can buy one for $200. NOTE: Get an unlocked one or you will need to have access to a T-mobile SIM chip to enter in your Google identity the first time. After that you won't need the SIM.

Step 4: Install GUAVA onto your Android phone. GUAVA stands for GoogleVoice UNAUTHORIZED Android Voice Application. This means it's NOT from Google so don't call or email Eric Schmidt when it doesn't work.

Step 5: Open GUAVA and then enter in your GoogleVoice username, password and phone number. Then enter your Gizmo5 username and password.

You're ready to make calls to any US number, receive calls, send SMS and check SMS messages all for free! Please visit the GUAVA user feedback area at: guava.uservoice.com. Please also see the 'about GUAVA' post for more info on this ALPHA software.

New version available!

There's a new version of Guava available.

This new version has the most requested feature added - an easy way to turn Guava on/off so if you want to disable Guava so calls use your phone carrier.

There are some miscellaneous bug fixes as well. You can download it from your Android phone by going to: http://www.gizmo5.com/guava.

GUAVA New Version Available

New version of GUAVA to talk about with lots of fixes and enhancements. You can get it by going to http://gizmo5.com/guava on your Android phone. If you have an older version the new version will install right over it. Here's a few bugs and features:

- CallerID displayed on incoming calls (along with the custom Google Voice answer options)
- Hangup button now on call progress window
- Volume controls now work
- Fixed bug which would cause software to crash after multiple calls
- User interface improvements to primary dial screen
- and many more improvements.

Please give this new version a try and let us know what you think needs to be improved at: http://guava.uservoice.com

How to get to the copyright notice....

There seems to be confusion about how to get to the copyright notice with some saying there's no copyright notice, but apparently they don't know how to scroll on Android. Open GUAVA then look in the About section. Use your finger or the mini scroll ball to page down. You will see many pages of information on the software: what it does, what it's based on, who holds copyrights (lots of people) and what license it is available under.

I've pasted a screenshot from the About section here.

Google Voice Apps & GUAVA

Couple people have written asking for the difference between Google Voice apps (see: m.google.com/voice) and GUAVA.

The Google Voice apps are from Google and GUAVA is not - that's one big difference. Functionally while they appear to be similar they are actually quite different. The Goog voice apps let you dial numbers from your mobile phone and all calls are routed through Google's system so they can display your Google Voice number as caller ID. All calls still go through your mobile carrier (or at least the call to Google Voice does and then from there the call is placed). This solves the issue with callers seeing your mobile number instead of your Gvoice number. However you're still burning minutes when you place a call and of course you have to have a paid mobile contract.

GUAVA supports VOIP meaning it allows you to make or receive calls and SMS without a carrier - strictly over wifi. This means you can place and receive calls without paying the carriers.

Both products are useful but they solve different problems.

This is the picture of money in your pocket.

This is the lock screen on a GUAVA phone. Notice the signal strength icon in the top status area with a tiny X in the upper left corner indicating that there's not a valid SIM card in this device. The green dot in the upper left of the top status bar is the GUAVA indicator indicating GUAVA can receive and make calls. A yellow dot indicates GUAVA is not registered. If you change wifi networks GUAVA is not good (yet) about reconnecting and you will see the dot turn yellow. If it's yellow you can force GUAVA to reconnect by clicking the Menu button and then the Settings button, touch any setting (no need to change it) and then click OK. This will reconnect GUAVA and the dot will turn green.

What can GUAVA do

- Receive GoogleVoice calls anywhere you have wifi
- Make free US calls
- Send SMS messages to any US phone for no cost
- Call GoogleTalk users
- Call Skype users
- Make BLT sandwich with salty bacon, crunchy lettuce and juicy tomato.

Ok, I exaggerated a tiny bit on the last one, but since you won't have to give all your money to the telecom company you could buy a big stack of BLT sandwiches.

Tips for GUAVA

Here's some tips about how to use GUAVA:
- Look for the dot in the upper left corner of your phone. If it's green then GUAVA is working well and you can make and receive calls.
- If GUAVA dot is yellow this means it is not connected to the server. Usually this means there's a wifi net connection. You can "tell" GUAVA to try and re-register by clicking the menu button, select Settings, open any setting, click OK and then it will re-register.
- You'll always find the latest version at: www.gizmo5.com/guava
so if you're complaining about a bug or other problem please make sure you have the latest version.
- If you want to provide feedback on future features or changes to the user interface then please enter it at: guava.uservoice.com

About GUAVA

GUAVA - Is highly experimental software. Not really, but that makes it sound scary huh? Here's some facts about GUAVA:
- The name is an acronym for GoogleVoice Unauthorized Android Voice Application. You see that "unauthorized" part? This means Google didn't write it and probably doesn't even know it exists so don't complain to them.
- It's BETA software. Well everything is called beta now so I guess Alpha is the new Beta. It's alpha software then which means it could crash or if you poke a bunch of buttons at once it could set your phone on fire.
- GUAVA lets you make free calls to any US number using your Google Voice and Gizmo5 account.
- GUAVA lets you receive calls to your Google Voice number from wherever you have a net connection.
- GUAVA lets you send SMS messages to US phones.
- GUAVA lets you read incoming messages (via the browser)
- GUAVA works fine without a SIM card in fact that's how it was tested.
- You can get GUAVA software from www.gizmo5.com/guava
- This version only works on Android phones