OBi110 Voice Service Bridge and VoIP Telephone Adapter $40 + Free Shipping

It might be a dumb question, but why is this necessary when you could just use microphone and internet to use google voice (or not, is it possible)? This device also uses google voice right? Thanks in advance!

Quote from pinochionose : It might be a dumb question, but why is this necessary when you could just use microphone and internet to use google voice (or not, is it possible)? This device also uses google voice right? Thanks in advance!

With this you can use regular phones. Much more convenient for most people. It's just like having a traditional landline from an end user experience.

On the Ooma side ...

Not thrilled about the email that was just sent out (haven't received mine yet). I have two lines and my annual renewal is coming up. Wonder if I should just buy two Obi devices and call it day. Would be cheaper than a subscription renewal though it is a pain in the neck to set-up. I'm less than thrilled to pay $130 to upgrade my current Ooma system + $60/year in taxes + $120/year for Premier. Decisions, decisions ...

Quote from plantmatter : CAN ANYONE CONFIRM OR DENY THIS ITEM IF IT WILL WORK SENDING AND RECEIVE FAXES. I used to have ooma (totally free) but the box was taken and ooma will not grandfather me back in, I used that for fax sending, which sometimes took a couple trys and other times it went right through. receiving fax on old ooma box never was worth the trouble. wondering if anyone can say they use either this box in the thread or new ooma for faxing. Thanks

I use the 110 only because I need a fax in the house. Otherwise, I am cell only. For $40.00 you get the box and with a free GV number, you have unlimited faxing capabilities. It works just fine with the 110. Never had an issue and have been using for over a year now.

Quote from pinochionose : It might be a dumb question, but why is this necessary when you could just use microphone and internet to use google voice (or not, is it possible)? This device also uses google voice right? Thanks in advance!

Yes you could use a microphone and internet on a computer to use google voice. But with this device, you don't have to keep your computer on 24/7. Also, you can use more than just google voice. Any VOIP with SIP credentials will work. Google Voice is the most popular to use with this because it's free.

Quote from hundrednaire : Got this same email. Wonder if I can take the offer and get the Telo for 99 but continue use my Hub and give the Telo to a friend.

You could but then you would "transition to our latest terms and conditions, which will require you to pay the applicable taxes and fees in your area." I'm in the same boat and I'm not going to go Telo. When my Hub dies, I'll probable go the obi and gv route.

Quote from hundrednaire : Got this same email. Wonder if I can take the offer and get the Telo for 99 but continue use my Hub and give the Telo to a friend.

Why not just give your friend an obi? $40 bucks spent instead of $99? Yes there's no 911 but you can buy service for 911. I haven't shopped around but I once saw $0.80 a month for 911 service only.

Quote from Frayden : Account Notification ... Having launched our second generation product, the Ooma Telo, in 2009 with higher-performance and more advanced functionality, we have now made the decision to concentrate our activities on the Telo going forward. Your Hub will continue to function on the Ooma network and operate as before, but we will not be providing any future enhancements and will be limiting our customer support activities going forward. ... When you upgrade to the Telo you will transition to our latest terms and conditions, which will require you to pay the applicable taxes and fees in your area. In return, you will receive our lowest price ever on an Ooma Telo and all of the benefits that come from upgrading: ...

Thanks for the response -- rep'd. I don't know what enhancements they have necessarily made, and I've (knock on wood) never had to call customer support, but it almost reads more like a scare tactic than anything else... They want people out of the old (free) terms and into the new (paid) terms.

Quote from hundrednaire : Got this same email. Wonder if I can take the offer and get the Telo for 99 but continue use my Hub and give the Telo to a friend.

(a) I thought you could get the Telo for around $99 normally (well, at least when finding it on sale) -- I don't think Ooma is necessarily providing a *hot* deal here... (b) it states when you upgrade, you will transition to latest terms and conditions requiring you to pay taxes & fees, blah blah blah. It's almost like you'd need to spoof your old Ooma ID on the new one.

can you receive call on it if you are using GV? My guess is no but want to confirm?

Quote from nik22 : can you receive call on it if you are using GV? My guess is no but want to confirm?

Of course you can.

Had a couple questions on the Obihai.

1. Once you setup it up with a Google phone #, can you change the phone number for the device later if needed?

2. If I want free international calls with another person (either I call them or they call me), I assume I would need to get 2 devices, set each of them up with Google phone # (the phone #'s should be local to each other or they can be any # in the U.S.?) and give one to the other person for them to use overseas?

Quote from nik22 : can you receive call on it if you are using GV? My guess is no but want to confirm?

I am able to make and receive calls on my Obi100 with GV. Directions are on the interweb. Works great.

Dose it work in China ? anyone tried it in China ?

Also, can someone explain the practical difference between the Obihai 100 and 110? I understand the Obihai 110 has an extra LINE port. Obihai has a page that explains the difference (http://blog.obihai.com/2011/09/ob...rence.html), but I'm still not sure what the practical difference is. What does it mean that the LINE port "acts as a gateway and bridge to the PSTN"? Thanks.

Quote from rayacer : I am able to make and receive calls on my Obi100 with GV. Directions are on the interweb. Works great.

wow, that is awesome. Repped you.