How to: Make free inbound and outbound calls with Fring for iPhone.

Recently I relocated to an area that doesn't have any AT&T service at all. This was a pretty big deal, as I was job hunting and expecting calls from potential employers, so I had to be reachable by phone, and I couldn't afford a landline, but I did have Wi-Fi that was always available at my house. So I found a solution that uses a combination of the free Fring app, Google Voice, and a free VOIP service called Sipgate. Here's how to get the same setup.

Step 1: Sign up for a Sipgate account

Sipgate is a VOIP service that offers different levels of service at varying prices, but for our purposes we'll use the free Sipgate One. Head to Sipgate here then click on "Sign up now." You'll need to enter a cell phone number that can receive text messages and your provider, which you'll need to use later on to receive an invitation code, so when you get to this step, you'll want to make sure you're in an area where you do have cell phone signal. Sipgate will then send you a code, which you'll enter and then continue through the signup process. It will ask for some information plus your e-mail address, and make sure to use a real address because you'll have to verify it later. After this, you'll give your approximate location so Sipgate can give you a choice of area codes. It doesn't have all area codes, but this won't matter because you can have Sipgate display whatever number you want for Caller ID, or you can have Google Voice display your Voice number.

Once you get through this, you'll be asked to download the Sipgate software. You will need to have this just once so that you can set up Sipgate with Google Voice, but I kept the software installed on my laptop so I could make calls straight from the computer. After installing, go back to the Sipgate site and click on "settings." From here you should see the cell phone number you used earlier. Click on "Delete device" as you won't be using this number for making or receiving calls over VOIP. In the end, "Phone of Your Name" should be set up as as the call taker. Next, still under the settings area, click on the "Voicemail" button then the "Voicemail, Call Forwarding & Hunting" button. We're going to disable voicemail for Sipgate because we'll be using Google Voice to handle it instead. Turn off all voicemail forwarding, then we're done with Sipgate for now.

Step 2: Set up Google Voice

Next we'll set up Google voice, if you don't already have a Google Voice account, go here and sign up. Then to the "Phones" settings and click "Add another phone." Add your Sipgate number and create a name for it, then uncheck the "Receive text messages" option. When you hit "save" Google Voice will ask to to call your Sipgate number for verification. Before doing so, make sure that you have the Sipgate software you downloaded earlier open and ready to go, then have Google Voice call for verification. When the call comes in, answer and switch to the dialpad in the Sipgate phone. Google Voice will give you a code, then just punch in the numbers it gives you. Now go back to the phone settings in Google Voice, and make sure your Google Voice number forwards to your Sipgate number.

Step 3: Set up Fring on iPhone

Now that everything's set up on the computer, grab your iPhone and download the free Fring app from the app store. It will walk you through setting up a Fring username and password. After you're done with this, hit the "More" button in the app, then "Add-ons." Hit the "SIP" button, which will give a list of VOIP services. Scroll down to the bottom and hit "Other." It will ask for your username and password, which is different from the login info you used to set up Sipgate. Go back to your computer and log in to Sipgate, open up settings, and on the right click where it says "SIP Credentials." enter the information from the pop-up box into the box. Now you're all set to receive inbound calls. You'll be able to make outbound calls using Sipgate from Fring as well, but it will use your Sipgate minutes, which aren't free. For making outbound calls we'll using Google Voice on the iPhone so calling will be free.

Step 3: Set up Google Voice on iPhone
Since there's no Google Voice app, we'll have to use the web app. Open Safari and go to google.com/voice/m. Google has a nice HTML5 version of the app, but dialing a number from this version uses the iPhone's built in dialer to make the call. We don't want this because we want the call forwarded to the Sipgate number so the call will be free and will work over Wi-Fi. Scroll down, and at the bottom of the page hit the "Older version" button. This will open up Voice in a way that isn't as pretty as the HTML5 version, but when you make calls it will call your Sipgate number.When you call someone it will appear as an incoming call to Fring, hit answer and it will start dialing the number you wanted to call. You'll also be able to access all voicemail, SMS messages and call history from the web app.

Something handy to do is to sync your phone contacts will your Google contacts, so you will have all your numbers ready for you in Google Voice. Then give your friends your Google Voice number, that's the number they'll need to call to reach you via Fring.

One good thing about Fring for iPhone is that it will keep you logged in even if the app is not running, so you can make and receive calls without having to keep the app open at all times. If you have an iPhone 4 or a 3GS, Fring adds multitasking, so you can leave the app to open other apps while on a call. Also, Fring works over Wi-Fi and 3G, so you'll still be able to make and receive calls anywhere, as long as you have some sort of signal.

Now you're all set to make outbound calls using Google Voice and receive inbound calls via Fring. It's not as easy or integrated as the iPhone's built-in calling system, but it's infinitely better than not being able to receive calls at all.