Information Madness

Google Voice is the latest buzz in technology sector and telecom/VoIP sector. Those who are using it knows what Google Voice has to offer and those who doesn't have it, wants to enjoy the Google Voice. The only problem is that Google Voice is currently only offered within USA .. so if you are living outside USA, you are out of luck. Well here are few things you can try to get your self into Google Voice from outside USA. If you are living in India, Pakistan, Australia or New Zealand or China, you can now use Google Voice

 

If you have received Google Voice invite and you are living outside USA, you may have noticed that Google Voice shows you a message that it is not supported in your country. Well.. you can use some Proxy to make your location look like within USA..

• Go to Google.com and search for "USA Proxy List". You will probably get hundreds of results. Just pick the first site (google is good in keeping the best sites on the front page). You will see a list something like below. Now check the column that says IP:Port we are going to use that information to morph our browser to look like its making requests from USA.

• Now open your Internet Explorer/FireFox or whatever browser you are using. I am using Firefox so here are the screenshots for FF internet proxy settings..If you are using IE, you can go to Tools-->Internet Options-->Connections-->LAN Settings and Check the "Use Proxy Server"..fill out the IP:Port information.

• Now once you set the proxy, check your IP address by visiting any site that shows you your IP. like checkip.dyndns.com. It should show you your new proxy IP instead of your regular IP. Ok so now you are browing as a USA user.
• Now go to your Google Invite and click on the link to register with Google Voice. It should take you to the proper registration setting.
• Once you register to Google Voice, it requires you to verify your home phone or mobile. Here you will need a Gizmo5 account or any other SIP or Skype account. If you are using Gizmo5, check out how to get Free DID (incoming number) for Gizmo5. If you are using Skype, check out how to get a free DID number for Skype. If you don't have Gizmo5, you are out of luck because Google formally announced the Gizmo5 aquisition and it has freezed the new registrations for now.
• So now you have one USA incoming number that you can use to verify your Google Voice number to. Enter your new incoming number as your home number in Google Voice to verify your account. Google will call you on that number.. once you pick up your Gizmo5/SIP or Skype.. just punch in the verification code and you are all set to use your Google Voice from outside USA.

I hope this should help you use Google Voice from outside USA. If you have any questions, please feel free to post your comments and share your experiences with Google Voice registration from India or Pakistan or China or Australia.