Sipdroid 1.3.x Primer
Introduction
This document is a basic guide to getting Sipdroid 1.3.x set up on a typical Android phone in conjunction with Google Voice and Gizmo5/SIPPhone. As the Sipdroid software as well as GV/Gizmo5 are constantly in flux, at times this document may contain some factual errors due to obsoletion. I will try my best to not get lazy and keep it updated, but be forewarned.
The previous version of this primer was written for Sipdroid 0.9.4 and incrementally updated. After a few months without updates, it became terribly obsolete, and instead of going through it to make fixes, I decided to leave it as-is and write a new version with more of an emphasis on Gizmo5/SIPPhone (hereforth "Gizmo5") and Google Voice. Note that at the time of this writing, the Gizmo5 service has been acquired by Google and is not currently accepting new users. It is predicted that Google will relaunch Gizmo5 as a rebranded component in Google Voice, at which time it is likely this primer will become outdated. Until then, enjoy!
Overview of Sipdroid + Gizmo5 + GV
I'm assuming that most of you have an idea of what SIP is and what it can do but i'll do a brief overview so we are all on the same page before we get into the details and instructions. Those of you who just want the meat of the primer can skip to the next section.
SIP is a signalling protocol that allows two or more clients to signal to each other their intent to perform some sort of communication. Commonly the communication is voice over IP ("VOIP"). With the right client software, SIP can be used for initiating a video call, but in our primer we will only cover voice. There are just a few elements in a SIP system. There is client software (what you install on your device), SIP providers (the servers your client software connects to), and there may also be providers that reroute your call into other networks (e.g. into Skype or into the public switched telephony network).
In our primer, Sipdroid is the SIP client which you install on your phone and interact with. Gizmo5 is the SIP provider that Sipdroid will connect to. Gizmo5 will also act as a call-out service (allowing you to call to the public switched telephony network (hereforth "PSTN"). Google Voice is an additional service which will provide you with a DID, a direct inward dialing number. A DID is basically a phone number that someone on the PSTN can dial with a regular telephone that can then be routed to a VOIP call. With all these ingredients, you can therefore create a setup whereby you can: 1) Make and receive calls to other SIP clients for free from your Android phone and 2) Make low cost calls to any number in the world and receive calls for free from anywhere in the world from anyone who calls your US Google Voice number. So let's get started...
Setting Up Gizmo5 and Google Voice
The first thing you will need to do is set up Gizmo5 and Google Voice. Unfortunately, at the time of writing (2010-02-26) Gizmo5 is closed to new members and Google Voice is still invite-only. The only way to get a Gizmo5 account if you do not already have one is to find someone who already has one and convince him/her to let you have or use it. There are many ways to receive an invitation to Google Voice. The standard method would be to request an invitation from Google and wait. Alternately, current users of Google Voice may also have up to 3 invitations they can pass out. You may search some internet forums (such as xda) to find people offering GV invitations. Anecdotally, running the Google Voice app built into the Google Nexus One will also activate GV for you if it is not already activated on your Google account. If you cannot acquire a GV invitation/activation, you can still use Gizmo5 with other DID services like ipkall. If you cannot get a Gizmo5 account then you will have to find another SIP provider. In either case, simply skip the relevant steps in the primer.
Now then, your first order of business is at Gizmo5. Log into https://my.gizmo5.com/ and make a note of your SIP number. Also turn off the voicemail service. We want Google Voice to perform voicemail for us, so we have to make sure that Gizmo5's voicemail isn't going to kick in before Google Voice's voicemail.
Now that Gizmo5 and GV are set up, you need to set up Sipdroid. On your Android phone's browser, visit http://code.google.com/p/sipdroid/ and tap the link under Featured downloads. When your download is complete, tap the download and select install. If your phone does not have Unknown source installation enabled, it will prompt you to enable this. (It is the Settings>Applications>Unknown Sources checkbox).
As long as Sipdroid is active when you shut down or reboot your phone, it will automatically startup and connect when the phone is booted. To turn off Sipdroid, simply press menu from the Sipdroid main screen and tap the Exit option. The colored dot indicator icon should disappear.
Make Test Calls
We will make three types of test calls. First, we will call another SIP device using its SIP address. A SIP address take the form of sip:user@domain or simply user@domain. To make a SIP call, enter the SIP address in the form of user@domain into the entry bar of the Sipdroid main screen and press the return key. For this test we will use echo@proxy01.sipphone.com, which is an automated number run by Gizmo5 for the purpose of testing SIP setups. When the call connects you should see a call indicator in the notification bar, colored emerald to differentiate it from a standard voice call.
Next, we will make a call to the same service, but instead of using its SIP address, we will use its SIP number. Some SIP users may have both a SIP address and a SIP number, while others may have only one or the other. To call a SIP number, you will need to open your dialer. Press the green call button on your phone or start the Dialer app from the launcher. Enter 17474743246+ (to enter a plus sign, long press the 0 key). Tap the number to dial it. Again you should notice the emerald colored call indicator and hear the Gizmo5 echo test service. Hang up by pressing the back button or dragging the square down.
Finally, let's try making a call to a real PSTN phone number. Gizmo5 provides free outbound calling for toll free numbers in the United States (e.g. "1-800 numbers"). From the Android dialer, enter 18005558355+ and tap to call the number using SIP. You should hear Microsoft's Tell Me service, which provides a variety of useful information over the phone. When you are satisfied, hang up the call by pressing the back button or dragging the square down. Another useful automated 800 number is 18004664411+, which you may recognize as the GOOG411 directory service. In order to make a direct call to a non-toll-free number, you will have to deposit some credit into your Gizmo5 account (hint: There is a workaround for making free calls to US numbers which I will cover further down.)
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