Yeah, that's what I was going to do. At the time I set up the OBi Google was saying they were going to stop Google Voice, plus I needed to port a normal landline number, which was an added hassle. I actually use GV for our mobile phones. No need to pay ridiculous prices per text message, free Wi-Fi calling, and we can port our own phone number as needed.
Alternatives to Ooma
- Thread starter Sojourner
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Yeah, that's what I was going to do. At the time I set up the OBi Google was saying they were going to stop Google Voice, plus I needed to port a normal landline number, which was an added hassle. I actually use GV for our mobile phones. No need to pay ridiculous prices per text message, free Wi-Fi calling, and we can port our own phone number as needed.
This mainly. Seems that bad actors in the VoIP space have ruined things a bit with spoofed numbers and spam calling. I gave up on Vonage and Cable VoIP years ago due to cost and their voice centric features. I use my cell phone plan for casual use (short calls) and texting. Then apps like Skype, WhatsApp, etc for voice/video chatting.
Henry Lili
Recycles dryer sheets
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Have had Ooma for two years. No issues. An initial $89 to buy the device then just under $6 a month in Fcc fees and taxes.
Kroeran
Full time employment: Posting here.
One thing I discovered is that file sharing such as Kodi on an Amazon Stick with downloaded files can be uploading to file sharers 24/7 if left connected and open.
This uploading can mess up Ooma calls.
This uploading can mess up Ooma calls.
Murph
Recycles dryer sheets
Cell phone (AT&T) for everything. Lost the landline years ago. VOIP doesn't seem mobile enough.
I have Ooma basic for my home phone with an answering machine. The ringer on that phone is always kept OFF. Ocassionally I check the messages. EVERYONE who is not a friend or family member gets the home phone number, even medical. My cell number does not go in any databases. That is the value of Ooma. Having a number to give out that is not your cell.
I also like having a "home" number to give that isn't my cell. I like to have most of my friends and family calling the Ooma/home too. Maybe it's a luxury but it is one I value.
isisdave
Recycles dryer sheets
I have this too -- in fact three of 'em, one for home, one for office, one for incoming office messages and faxes. The one at the office worked for outgoing faxes for years, but became unreliable one day, so I switched to Ooma for that.
We travel a lot and used to take MagicJack with us. But that was before Skype and WhatsApp. Even now MagicJack includes a phone app so you don't actually need the device, although I use it to connect wired phone devices.
easysurfer
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Been on Ooma Premier for about two weeks. Overall, I'm pleased. But still not 100% robocall free. Most robocallers don't leave a message longer than 5 seconds (my allowed time setting). However, been getting some (I think from same caller, spoofed numbers) that's leaving calls to my VM about 17 seconds each time.
I may have to take more drastic measures and block everything outside of my whitelist. But kind of don't want to do that in case of an emergency or legit call not on my list
.
I may have to take more drastic measures and block everything outside of my whitelist. But kind of don't want to do that in case of an emergency or legit call not on my list
.My dentist was having his receptionist call reminders in from her cell phone on evenings and weekends so having his office number on my white list wouldn't have sufficed. I accept that spam callers will get to voice mail and don't worry about it. For a while I was adding bad numbers to my block list that doesn't ring through to voice mail but I don't know if it worth the effort.
easysurfer
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Yes, I may have to accept that there is no 100% effective solution to catch all situations. Block all except for whitelist runs the risk of too restrictive. Leaving a voice mail option, callers sneak through.
I put a number from that 17 second robocall on my block list (the number called twice). Then hours or next day later, I get another 17 second call, different number but same sounding voice. Like you said, may not worth adding to a block list.
W2R
Moderator Emeritus
Since 2015 I have just used my cell phone for all telephone calls or texting. Works just fine for me.
Normally I get one or two spam phone calls a week on my cell phone so that is not much of an inconvenience. It is so nice to not get all of the additional spam phone calls that I used to get on my landline.
easysurfer
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Got my final ATT bill after switching to Ooma.
Bill is a $28.55 credit. Music to my ears
.
Bill is a $28.55 credit. Music to my ears
.
easysurfer
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Yep, the begging has started by ATT. Since switching over to Ooma, I've got about 3 letters from ATT wanting me to take advantage of some of their bundled "deals".
Nope! Ain't gonna happen. What part of "I left" don't they understand?
Nope! Ain't gonna happen. What part of "I left" don't they understand?
steelyman
Moderator Emeritus
This doesn’t address the topic of this thread (alternatives to Ooma) because I’ve been and remain an Ooma subscriber for about 4 years and am pleased with it.
But I realized something this week that probably should have been obvious but wasn’t: the Telo box you buy when you move to Ooma really doesn’t need to remain connected unless you want a traditional phone connected to the Telo.
The Ooma mobile app does everything I want for incoming/outgoing calls on my iPhone and even iPod Touch. Voicemails are accessible too. To be sure, I contacted Ooma support and they verified that the Telo box can be unplugged without disrupting service.
So I’ll put the Telo in its box and reclaim the small counter space that it’s been occupying.
But I realized something this week that probably should have been obvious but wasn’t: the Telo box you buy when you move to Ooma really doesn’t need to remain connected unless you want a traditional phone connected to the Telo.
The Ooma mobile app does everything I want for incoming/outgoing calls on my iPhone and even iPod Touch. Voicemails are accessible too. To be sure, I contacted Ooma support and they verified that the Telo box can be unplugged without disrupting service.
So I’ll put the Telo in its box and reclaim the small counter space that it’s been occupying.
Please, forgive my ignorance as I am not very familiar with Ooma. I thought Ooma is used in lieu of a landline. If that’s true, then why do you need Ooma service at all if you are forwarding your calls to your iPhone? Am I missing something?
steelyman
Moderator Emeritus
That’s not ignorant at all and a good question. I have Ooma to use as an alternate number apart from my iPhone which I try to use only for personal contacts (friends, family).
I first set up Ooma as I was preparing to move from one region of the country to another and wanted an area code in the destination region. As I’ve gotten used to it I like the setup but strictly speaking I don’t need both. iPhone by itself should be enough.
I don’t forward Ooma calls to my iPhone, the app receives them directly.
RetiredAndLovingIt
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
+1 for the OBI200, been using service since 2013 and never paid a penny except for the box. Obi connects to my router and a regular phone with caller ID screen. I also added a $1 line splitter so I could plug a phone cable into my old phone jack so now all the phones in house are live and can still be used to make and receive calls. Very rarely do I get Spam on my GV number but at least 5 on my cell number daily. Google has a very good spam blocker so I only give out my that number and I it set up to ring the house first for 4 rings and if unanswered forwards to my cellphone. I also get an e-mail from Google with any voice mail message left if I don't answer a call. It's a very reliable free service.
Not sure I understand what you did to be able to plug a phone in a different room in the house. Can you elaborate on that?
RetiredAndLovingIt
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Normally you would plug a phone cord from the phone to the back of the OBI and an ethernet cable from the OBI to the router and you are no longer using your old wall jack. I simply plugged a line splitter into the OBI, so I had 2 female plugs instead of one, cord to the phone sitting by the OBI and cord goes to the old unused wall jack. Now all the jacks in the house work and you can plug in phones in every room that has a wall jack. Hope the pics help, cost $1.
https://www.ebay.com/p/1-to-2-Female-Rj11-Telephone-Phone-Jack-Line-Y-Splitter-Adapter-Connector-Beige/1384295634?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170706093515%26meid%3D1d1343996e354a05a8515f4bde793729%26pid%3D100831%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D3%26%26itm%3D173549587158&_trksid=p2349526.c100831.m5025&iid=173549587158
https://www.ebay.com/p/1-to-2-Female-Rj11-Telephone-Phone-Jack-Line-Y-Splitter-Adapter-Connector-Beige/1384295634?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170706093515%26meid%3D1d1343996e354a05a8515f4bde793729%26pid%3D100831%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D3%26%26itm%3D173549587158&_trksid=p2349526.c100831.m5025&iid=173549587158
RetiredAndLovingIt
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Can't figure out how to add photos, working on it...
RetiredAndLovingIt
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Thanks, I posted a Google album link but it's waiting on moderator approval meantime I will check out your link to make sure I did it correctly.
RetiredAndLovingIt
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
OP
OP
Sojourner
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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+1
Google Voice does have a great spam filter, and I also only ever give out my GV number to companies/websites/people. The one thing I don't like about GV is that sometimes it can't receive text messages when I sign up for certain things online. For some reason, certain websites think that my GV number is not a legitimate cell phone number that can receive text messages.
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