Yep, we discussed this in some earlier comments. Existing credit still works for calls (not SMS) via the dialpad until it runs out, but you can’t top it up unless you’re on a corporate account.

I went with yada because as you said, nothing to install, very fast to set up!

I sail. Im presently in Tonga teying to figure out how to call a luddite relative. Will try suggestions here. Info greatly appreciated from someone pre info hiway days!

My apologies, you said Google Voice doesn’t have a desktop app, but when I read it, for whatever reason thought I was still reading about Skype.

I’d gone through my GV settings before, but I went through them again now, and it turns out there is a setting for how to make and receive calls that controls whether a local voice carrier is required. For whatever reason this was set to “Use carrier only” rather than “Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data.” Perhaps way back when I first started using GV it only worked via a local carrier? It’s been so long I can’t recall for sure.

I don’t know how you’ve got your GV configured, but mine has always worked by creating a VoIP connection over Wi-Fi or mobile data, long before Wi-Fi calling was ever a thing. It’s never tried to route a call over the voice network that I’ve seen, at least not while I’m outside the US. Not sure about inside the US, as it’s been a very long time since I’ve used it there. I don’t have phone service with a US carrier, and haven’t since throwing away the prepaid SIM I originally used to set GV up, about a decade ago.

Where do I say that Skype doesn’t have a desktop app? I can’t find it in the post, unless I’ve missed it. I used to use it on Windows and Android until I grudgingly uninstalled them a few weeks ago.

I don’t understand how you are using Google Voice as a Skype replacement. In all the years I’ve used it, it works by initiating a call to a U.S. number and routing your call over that connection. Thus, it can’t be used when in a data-only environment. If it can’t place that call to a U.S. number, it errors out. I can use it if I’m somewhere with reasonable Wi-Fi and I have Wi-Fi calling via my U.S. cellular carrier. I can’t see how it could work with a data-only service.

One minor nit: you write that Skype doesn’t have an app. It does, at least on MacOS as well as iOS.

Yes, but once your Skype credit runs out or your subscription ends, that’s it. There’s no ability to add credit or renew a subscription. (Corporate accounts can add credit, but not individuals using Teams Free.)