Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Excellent! This is EXACTLY what I want, I just to stir the pot by throwing SIP and CC in the mix!!

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Dang! my coding skills, defeat me again. :confused:

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

The problem with the current VICaR design is that there is no way for the app to know "when" the user wants to make a call and which number to call. It is just a daemon. There is no dialpad or contacts list within the application. So we let the user make a call, verify whether it is an international number (not excluded), capture the number and then cancel the call. This could get delayed if the Phone is busy running multiple apps. This is definitely not the best way.

AFAIK there are two ways to improve the scenario.

1 - Use a custom application (like MyContacts) to display contacts and initiate the call from that application.

Pros: Can customize UI as much as we want.
Cons: Cannot use Maemo/N900's built-in features and phone shortcuts. (like launching contacts by sliding keyboard and typing).

2 - Integrate with Maemo's contacts (Screenshot from Dawid).

Pros: With few additional steps can use Maemo's contacts.
Cons: Contact page looks cluttered if multiple phone numbers are stored.

With both of these options, VICaR knows which number to dial and will directly place the call to CC and send DTMF. So the current risk of getting charged for directly calling international numbers will be avoided.

We already have solution #1 in place with MyContacts-VICaR integration. I am working on solution #2. Most of the calling card based apps I know use either of these solutions.

If any of you could think of some other approach, do let me know :)

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Solution #2 is also better in the way that it doesn't require external dependency in place (installing MyContacts app/widget) to make it "just work" - direct integration with interface already provided by OS is just perfect. Btw, don't get me wrong @fcrochik, I don't have anything against MyContacts in particular, however personally I'd rather avoid installing additional applications which I don't originally intend to use, just in order to use that one particular feature.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

@scifi.guy, this works well for my kind of calling card. I have a problem though, I am unable to get a comma when trying to entire multiple number formats in the exclude field, can't find anything on this in the thread.

As regards the call routing discussion that is underway, I am not an expert, I just dabble with these things. I had a Linksys Sipura ATA a while back and that used to something called a dial plan that you could configure to route calls through lowest cost providers based on dialled number format.

Not sure if links are permitted, but I am pasting a link that Linksys-Sipura provided for help in configuring these devices.

http://ui.linksys.com/files/SIPURA/S...nced_Voice.htm

Look at Voice -> FXS 1 ->Dial Plan, not sure if this helps you gentlemen.

I can also see if there is a User Guide/ Technical Guide somewhere if it helps.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Hi, do you think this app would work with Google Voice? How shall I set it up to make international calls via Google Voice? Thanks!

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Yes, it can work by calling your "gv phone number", pause, 2, phone number, ...

EDIT: I forgot about the PIN...look at the second post down for more details.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

pmudgal - This is a bug. Will fix it asap. Thank you for the info on Sipura configuration.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Also, If you are calling international numbers with GV make sure you set the "Format required for DTMF tone" to 011<Country Code><Area Code><Phone Number>

If you have set your voice mail PIN, enter in the prefix before DTMF tone field (eg: 1234p2p where 1234 is the pin)

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Thanks.
So here is my VICaR setting:
Basic:
International Call Routing: Enabled
Calling Card Number: my GV number
Country Codes to Exclude: +1

Advanced:
Format required for DTMF tone: 011<Country Code><Area Code><Phone Number>
Prefix before DTMF tone: 1234p2p
Suffix after DTMF tone: (blank)

When I dial an international number, it did call the google voice number. But after that, I can hear the GV talking to me, asking me to enter my PIN etc. But my phone didn't do anything.

Anything I did wrong? Thanks!

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Enter "Suffix after DTMF tone" as # and try.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Wow, that worked perfectly. Thank you so much!
One more question, do I need to keep VICaR running to make these international calls?

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

You can enable the call routing and close the settings window. VICaR daemon will run in the background all the time.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Great, thanks.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Glad I read the whole thread through... was just about to file a bug report for "unable to enter comma in country codes to exclude" but found it's already been reported.

There's a couple of North American metropolitan areas where this is an issue because they're run out of numbers and created overlays. For example I have a +1604 number but can also dial +1778 as local (eg my wife's cellphone is 778) so I need to exclude "+1604,+1778"

[Annoyingly there are some 604 and 778 numbers which ARE long distance, but they're the minority]

You've probably found the issue already but, in case you haven't, it's cos you specify the ImhDigitsOnly InputMethodHint for the lineEditCountryCodesToExclude field

Great app by the way - one of the core missing features on the N900 as far as I was concerned.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

@JonJennings - The fix for the Country Codes to exclude is already included in the next version. But because of an unresolved issue with Telepathy code I haven't released it yet. It should be available soon.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

Thanks! It's apps, people and community like this that makes the whole Maemo world so wonderful :-)

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper) released to extras-devel
 

VICaR v0.4 released to extras-devel. Here is the change log.

* Added Maemo contacts integration.
* VICaR will no longer intercept calls, calls have to be initiated from Dialpad, Maemo Contacts or MyContacts only.
* Fixed a bug that prevents comma in Country Codes to Exclude field.

Thanks to Alberto, Ed and Felipe for helping me with those never-ending telepathy issues :)

Starting with this release, All calls to be routed through VICaR should be initiated from contacts page using 'Call via Vicar' or from dialpad by selecting Vicar from drop down menu.

Please keep in mind that if you initiate a call by selecting the regular phone button (Green phone icon) your call will routed via your cellular operator and you will be charged as per international rates.

Edit: In previous versions of Vicar, there was a risk that an international call is not disconnected on time and you would be charged for that. The purpose of this change is to avoid such issues. There is no intercepting concept from now on, Vicar will directly call the CC/Google-out/Skype-Out number.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

There are couple of installation issues with version 0.4-1.

1) Call via Vicar button is not displayed after installation.

2) Calls to CC/GV/SO are not initiated (Only the call ending screen appears).

I submitted bug fix release 0.4-2 for issue #2, but #1 seems to be intermittent. If you installed the latest release of VICaR and are facing issue #1, please post a reply here.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Unfortunately, I have trouble upgrading Vicar. Firstly I've tried with fapman, selected few packages to upgrade, including Vicar, yet it thrown some error before even downloading anything. I didn't take too much care about that, as I assumed it's an issue with fapman itself. Then I tried with HAM, upgraded only Vicar, but it said "Unable to upgrade". :-o I've looked briefly in HAM log, which said something about creating telepathy account error.

Sorry for being a bit vague on this, I'm at work and can't investigate that closely, but I'll keep trying.

UPDATE:
HAM now shows Vicar with status "Broken but updateable" (see screenshot attached), when I try to update, it throws "Unable to upgrade" error followed by crash-reporter popping up about Vicar-telepathy crash. I've sent that crash report away, but don't know whether you get them at all. Then I looked in HAM log, which says:
Hope that helps.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Failed to open connection to "session" message bus: (null)

is the key. The post install script is being run as root and cannot connect to session bus. I'm trying to fix it.

Meanwhile command-line based update is working fine (apt-get install vicar) as root.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Works indeed. Thanks!

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Another bug fix version 0.4-3 released to fix the post installation error. Unfortunately there is no way for me to test the new command other than pushing a release.

So, if any of you get the update soon, let me know how it went.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Fapman has successfully installed the upgrade this time round, yet again just after the upgrade I've got vicar-telepathy package crash, which crash reporter has notified me about.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Can you send me the log if possible?

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

I didn't save it anywhere. Do you know whether it's stored in some file to retrieve after install/upgrade? Otherwise I might remove and install Vicar again.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Spotted issues with Vicar after the latest upgrade:
1) vicar-telepathy package crashes quite frequently. Died first during cellular phone call, second time after establishing internet connection (cellular).
2) It is unable to place call via Vicar by tapping a button in contact card, as it complains with "Internet connection required" message - even when connection is established.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

@evad - I have lot of questions for you.

Before we start troubleshooting, can you reproduce these issues at will? Or is it intermittent?

Send me the output of this command:

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

I can reproduce it - it crashes each time internet connection is established, both wifi and cellular.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

@scifi.guy, the exclude numbers works fine now for multiple entries with commas used.

Quick question, the Contacts integration is fab, but is it supposed to provide a Call via Vicar option for those numbers that are excluded too? What happens if you use Call via Vicar for those numbers?

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

If a number is excluded, the call will be placed directly via your mobile operator (as intended).

Unfortunately it is not possible to hide/display the "Call via VICaR" option selectively.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

ATM there are two known issues with the latest release.

1) The message "This contacts application does not support calls" appears whenever you select "Call via Vicar" option. However call is placed.
2) Enabling/Disabling vicar does not do anything.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Did anyone try to do messaging after installing VICaR and setting up the calling card number? Everytime I go to just read my messages (SMS), it does not display them and it tries to dial the calling card number through VICaR. Is there any workaround or fix for this?

Thanks scifi.guy for all the terrific work you have been doing.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Confirming. If you open any SMS from an international number, the calling CC interface shows up. At this point, I am not 100% sure whether a call is actually placed. But it is a bug nonetheless. Will fix it asap.

I also get the error "Text message delivery failed for xyz" for all other SMS. Do you get that too?

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

Yes. I get the same error message too and the message contents is not being displayed.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

found the same bug here http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...290#post790290

also when i install the update of vicar it says unable to update.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

I am unable to update for the past couple of releases. It gives me an error saying unable to update ViCAR, anyone else seeing this or this is a known problem?

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

This is a known problem. I thought I fixed it in the previous release but apparently it is still there. I released another version (0.4-4) that should fix the update error.

I am still working on the fix for SMS issue that julian167 and drangina reported.

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

I can only say taht uninstalling the app fixes the problem for me. I will wait until ths bug is fixed. Convesations are more important ;)

Re: [Announce] VICaR: Value International Call Router (Calling Card Helper)
 

@scifi.guy - strange issue, just went through the threads, didn't find anything relevant - i reflashed my n900, installed vicar, it installs fine, set it up, but neither does it show up in the dialer nor does it show up in contacts?

i also uninstalled and reinstalled, no happiness...:confused: