Lets create user's user guide for Fongo app

[Meow]

As Fongo app gets frequently mentioned in Community, how about we create a 'real' user guide based on real life experience?

Description of benefits and limitations based on Your experience could be bundled up into nice document and posted in Community as 'sticky' and updated as new questions answered and/or features/tricks/tips discovered/explained.

[barrascuk]

@Anonymous I guess you have the makings to be an Oracle. 😂😂

[Anonymous]

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@barrascuk wrote:

should be able to be used as per the one-liner below them.

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This is not a defense. So let's review those one-liners shall we.

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Getting Started
New to Public Mobile? Post your questions here. --> Which questions? Getting started like with buying a sim and activating and choosing a plan and porting? Or just new to PM?

Using Your Service
Ask questions about how to use your service or issues using your mobile service. --> Seems pretty straight forward. Talk, text, data and service functions therein.

Paying for your service
Questions related to paying for your service. --> Seems pretty straight forward. All the various payment cards and vouchers and instant top-up.

Rewards
Ask questions about how you can earn money off your monthly bill. --> Seems pretty straight forward. The 4 rewards.

Self Serve
Trouble navigating Self Serve? Post here. --> Seems pretty straight forward.

Plans & Add-Ons
Ask questions about talk, text and data options. --> Seems to be maybe the same as Using your service above.

Phones & Hardware
Having issues with your phone? Ask your questions here. --> Seems pretty straight forward. But this could raise some contention as to how far off it goes. Note it doesn't say software. Of course there's software running the phone....

Retail
Tell us about your in store experiences at retail locations where you’ve purchased Public Mobile vouchers/SIM cards. --> Seems pretty straight forward.

Announcements
Important information from Public Mobile to you. --> We can't start topics in here anyway.

The Lounge
Want to talk about your interests, hobbies, or anything that’s not related to phone-stuff? It’s all here. --> The abyss.

Community
Ask questions about the Community and how it works. --> Seems pretty straight forward. Did this wording change? Seems to be just about the Community.
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So for this current topic...it's "phone-stuff" but does it fit anywhere else? As mentioned, it's a competitor of sorts. And talking about a service that PM doesn't provide other than maybe using the data service. It's kinda indirectly "Phones & Hardware" but again it's sorta not.

There will always be these grey area topics or off-topic off-shoots in topics.

[barrascuk]

As I mentioned over a year ago the Categories should be able to be used as per the one-liner below them. Any one else like an Oracle that puts "their" spin on the what the contents can be, is being overly authoritative.

[darlicious]

@ShawnC13 

Ok I have to question the reasoning behind the move to the lounge. As stated earlier technically its a competitor but not really......this is almost an essential app to use in conjunction with your pm service as it compliments pm service when it falls short....like with roaming anywhere else in world other than the US. By dooming this thread to the lounge you are doing a disservice to anyone trying to learn about fongo and how it can compliment your pm service.

I don't need to remind you that the lounge is supposed to be for non-phone related subjects I ask that you reconsider your decision.

[stevenanto]

@softech Yes I loved hangouts dialer, it was my favorite app to use when we would visit the US. Nothing beats it. 

[softech]

yes.. in Candaa, you have to be a Google Workspace user....

[barrascuk]

ah ok. I did find that you can get in Canada and also you have to have Gsuite which I have with my more than useless Telus Mail...powered by Gsuite Gmail. But appears the article that I read was not correct. 

[softech]

yes.. you need to be in the States to get a number now (unless you have Google business plan).  You also need a US landline or valid Mobile phone number to validate.   I got mine when I was working down there.

[barrascuk]

I just tried. I can claim a number but will not allow me to verify. Nor to I have a USA number. 

[softech]

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@barrascuk wrote:

@softech Is not Google Voice over and does with? Or soon to be done with?

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no.. it was hangout/hangout dialer that was done... i have a US number.. Google voice still working

[barrascuk]

@softech Is not Google Voice over and does with? Or soon to be done with?

[softech]

yeah.. on the Ad front.. Fongo is more reasonable. the ad are just banner.. you can 'ignore"  if you like.. ..

but as I said.. Fongo call quality is poor.. they do have quiet many settings that try to help to improve the quality.. and I would say TOO MANY.. i played around, changed something.. then everyone told me they can't really hear me (but I hear them fine).. i have to "play" around different settings and get to a more reasonable call quality. .But don't ask me what I changed

TextNow on the other hand is easy enough. .call quality is good with all the default and in fact nothing to change.. so, no worry messing up

Luckily, I also have go Google Voice with an US number.. no one can beat Google in terms of call quality

[Anonymous]

 @softech : Avert your eyes? 🙂 Yeah I don't like the ads either but I'm not paying a subscription. I'd be fine with an app-priced one-time purchase.

[softech]

@hairbag1  haha.. I knew I said it not clear..lol

cost as it  has lot of Ad for free version, without paying ad-free..  its is ver costly to pay to "mute" the Ad  (yes i am poor).  I just done a call and I have to watch a 30 sec ad before I can make another call right a way.. very annoying if you need to make couple calls in a row.

[hairbag1]

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@softech wrote:

@Meow  good idea but PM might not like it.... it's technically a competitor.  

I used Fongo myself too.. also using TextNow.. honest... Fongo is not working very well in terms of call quality..  TextNow has it problem regarding the cost.  I am still hoping to get a Fongo Alternative myself.

you have some question regarding Fongo?

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What's the problem with FREE ? To make / receieve calls to / from Canada or US...it's free using wifi.

For use while travelling...TextNow has served me well ...up until all travel ended !!  😢

[softech]

@Meow  good idea but PM might not like it.... it's technically a competitor.  

I used Fongo myself too.. also using TextNow.. honest... Fongo is not working very well in terms of call quality..  TextNow has it problem regarding the cost.  I am still hoping to get a Fongo Alternative myself.

you have some question regarding Fongo?

[barrascuk]

If you do not want to reveal your PM number and need to give it to someone....get a Fongo Number and forward it to you PM number. Then give out your Fongo number. But make sure you say NO TEXTING. 

[Anonymous]

The method is not specifically about Fongo.

Get a voip app (like Fongo...I chose TextNow) with a Canadian number.

While in Canada, use the call-forwarding on the phone with the PM SIM in to forward calls to the voip number.

If going to the states then leave the SIM behind or remain in airplane mode after turning it on in Canada. Shouldn't matter elsewhere.

Now incoming calls will go to that voip number wherever you are with an internet connection. (some restrictions apply 🙂 )

[barrascuk]

Go for it!!! But the Community should be based on PM stuff. 

I do plan on posting Tips Tricks and Savings. And will mention Fongo...but won't go into the details of how to use Fongo.