How to Use Google Voice to Prank Your Friends on April Fool's Day

In this article, I'll show you how to prank your friends on April Fool's Day with the very popular Google Voice, a computer to land/mobile calling feature. Basically, Google allows you to play whatever you like through the microphone port on your computer, and play it right through to your victim's phone. Whether it's Rick Astley ("Never Gonna Give You Up") or a text-to-speech application, general hilarity always follows. 

Tools and Materials

To conduct this prank, you'll need: 

• TRS patch cord (headphone jack patch cable)
• Gmail account, with the Google Voice plugin installed
• Small portable audio player (or separate computer)
• Some numbers to call

3.5mm mini-jack TRS stereo cord with male connectors on each end

Prank Procedure

First, chose a method in which you will conduct the prank. For example, if you decide to just "Rick Roll" your victims, get your method of playback ready (YouTube, iPod, etc.). If you'd rather use a text-to-speech program, then get the text-speech ready. Now, connect the output of your audio device (using the patch cord) to the microphone jack of the computer (in my case, the tower was the audio device, and Google Voice was running on the laptop:

 Call the number in Gmail:

When your victim answers, play the text/video, and listen to their confusion! 

Here's a video of the setup functioning:

Warnings

• Prank calling could be illegal in your country! Don't brake laws. 
• Only prank call people who you know, and who won't be offended! 
• I am not responsible for any harm you cause with this information.

Photos by Google, BI