OBi100 $39.99, OBi110 $49.99 FS @ Amazon

OBi100 - Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge for $39.99 + free shipping

http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Tele...234&sr=8-1

Cutting the land line out of the monthly expenses is a great way to save $30, $40 or even $50 per month. Google Voice is super-useful because you get a free phone number, 'in-the-cloud" voice mail and of course, FREE calls to the USA and Canada (and cheap calls to other countries too). Add an OBi device with a GV account and you can now yap, yap, yap away to anyone in the world for next to nothing -- actually it is nothing if you only call USA and Canada numbers. Really, the only thing keeping Google Voice with an OBi from being a pure replacement for a land line is emergency 911 calling.

This can be solved by getting a low cost VoIP service that supports 911 calling and making it the second service on your OBi. You just check a box in the OBiTALK [obitalk.com] service provider configuration settings to make 911 calls go to the secondary service.

Since the OBi100 supports two VoIP service accounts, you can set-up the primary service with Google Voice and the secondary with a service like one offered by Callcentric [callcentric.com]. You get E911 Emergency Services for $1.50 per month from Callcentric ($1.50 set-up fee - so 1st mo. is $3.00). This second service can also serve as a second line / back-up to Google Voice.

Does anyone know how secure this system is? I noticed that the setup process is done on a connection that isn't secured (http) and requires Google user name and password.

I got one of these for my sister, I made a "disposable" google account, while the sound quality isn't as nice as Ooma with a bit of latency and echos the price was right and it's much handier than running around and looking for your cellphone or in some situations is great for finding that darn cellphone.

I still don't quite get what it does/how it works... just a bunch of uesless info on their website...
Why not just call with Google? 911 call? Don't you have a spare cellphone, no matter how old it is, you can still make 911 calls even it's not activated...

Quote from realdreams : I still don't quite get what it does/how it works... just a bunch of uesless info on their website... Why not just call with Google? 911 call? Don't you have a spare cellphone, no matter how old it is, you can still make 911 calls even it's not activated...

you get to use your old cordless answer machine multi phone system, so if you're in the pot and get a call, you can use your bathroom phone. make calls from home for free only on tmobile, the other carriers usually charge you. have your dedicated number for businesses and solicitors. i don't get what you don't get?

Quote from realdreams : I still don't quite get what it does/how it works... just a bunch of uesless info on their website...

The main premise behind it is that it allows you to have a land line phone that works with google voice (or any VoIP provider) over your internet connection vs your local telephone company via standard land phone lines. (and in my signature below, you can find my review! ::insert shameless plug:: )

This deal has been running back and forth for ages... I picked up my ticket in the queue at one such offer and has been happy with Obi...

Dumpped Ooma a year ago, this is much clearer, just read the reviews.

I use Ooma and I have a few issues with it. I got this for my dad and he hasn't complained once. Waiting for the New Year to see what Google does. Google said they would start charging so this won't be free anymore next year.

Quote from bluscale : I use Ooma and I have a few issues with it. I got this for my dad and he hasn't complained once. Waiting for the New Year to see what Google does. Google said they would start charging so this won't be free anymore next year.

They haVe been saying that for years, I would pay for a google number.

Quote from gypsys : They haVe been saying that for years, I would pay for a google number.

They were clear that they were going to start charging in 2011 then they moved it to 2012. Not sure if that counts for years but Google charging something is a very real possibility. People getting in on this should be aware.

Quote from realdreams : I still don't quite get what it does/how it works... just a bunch of uesless info on their website... Why not just call with Google? 911 call? Don't you have a spare cellphone, no matter how old it is, you can still make 911 calls even it's not activated...

Their info is definitely not useless. I suggest you look up videos on Google Voice and how it works to understand what exactly you're getting. Then, once you understand what Google Voice does and it's features, go to Obihai and see how to set it up.

Either way, this is great for people trying to cut ties with telephone companies. By using Google Voice, you can keep your current landline number and continue using your cordless phones just as you did in the past. Using Google Voice adds tons of value as you can have calls routed to multiple phones as well as transfer incoming calls to other phones on the fly.