Not too sure how this product works other than it's VoIP.
Do both members communicating have to have similar devices on either end of the connection in order to talk for free?
Give you a scenario:
If I purchase this - can I make calls out from thi device (I suppose only using Goggle Voice) to anyone in the world - cell, landline etc..., or does the other party also have to have a similar device on hteir end to receive my call?
How does Mobile work? It seems I can also use a App to make a call through this device. Can I be anywhere in the world and this will work on mobile?
Sorry - what this device does (besides knowing VoIP) and how it works is difficult for me to understand.
oharag1 said: Pinan can you help me with this product?
Not too sure how this product works other than it's VoIP.
Do both members communicating have to have similar devices on either end of the connection in order to talk for free?
Give you a scenario:
If I purchase this - can I make calls out from thi device (I suppose only using Goggle Voice) to anyone in the world - cell, landline etc..., or does the other party also have to have a similar device on hteir end to receive my call?
How does Mobile work? It seems I can also use a App to make a call through this device. Can I be anywhere in the world and this will work on mobile?
Sorry - what this device does (besides knowing VoIP) and how it works is difficult for me to understand.
OBiON iPhone, iPad, iPod touch & Android — A free application for iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices which makes possible placing and receiving calls to/from other OBi endpoints.
I can make a call from my iPhone only to someone connected to OBi device?
Still confused. Thanks for the info though - I am trying to read it to understand.
Cons Service not included (only OBi device-to-OBi device). Complicated set up and configuration. Unit not very stylish. e-911 not included, but can be added through a supported service.
Also:
Google Voice is one of the services you can add to the OBi110, and it offers free calls to U.S. numbers through 2012.
What happens after 2012? Is Google Voice can to be a fee only service?
I have it at home and in laws got one overseas. We can call each other just like regular phone but it is free. Each device has an unique ID and you can always dial other device's ID to call them. It will be free forever. Besides that you can also register your google voice account on your device so that it got a US phone number and you can call and receive calls just like any land line. As long as google voice is free, you got a free land line that can make unlimited free long distance calls. Even if google voice start charging fees in the future, it should still be very cheap compared with other alternatives.
To summarize a bit for you oharag, I, and two of my sister's have the OBI100 boxes.
We hooked ours up more than a year ago and all have had great luck with them. (Other FW'ers, if I mis-speak, please correct me) . This is a bit simplified... There are instructions on the web that walk you step by step through the process. As I recall, it took about 30 minutes for me.
You plug this box in - hook a network cable to your router - hook a phone to the OBI - go to OBI website an register it with them. At that point, if other people you know have the OBI boxes you can make calls to them using a code number that is associated with their box.
You get a google voice account and you are assigned a phone number by them. You link the number you receive to the OBI box. At that point, it works like any other phone. You can hook any sort of wired or wireless phone (or base station with multiple wireless phones) and use it as you would any other landline.
The bright side is the computer doesn't have to be on. As long as you have an internet connection and your router is working, you can use your phone. For example, one of my sister's has two residences. When she moves to her winter quarters, she just takes the obi box and her telephone with her - plugs it in to the router at her other place, and she is up and running with the same phone number, etc.
I had a $5.95/month long distance plan from AT&T, and bought my OBI for $49. Cancelled the service and it has more than paid for itself. I have not had one dropped call. I have had a couple of the "echo" situations where you hear what you are saying back in your own headset, but only 3 or 4 times in 1 year plus.
If your worried about hard setup, lack of features, and PRICE. I have one word for you OOMA 4+ years and not one problem and never spent a cent since......
Does anybody know if the OBI will still work even if the google voice number is changed/ported after it is setup with some number? I am planning to get the OBI and use it with my cuurent google voice number and switch my current home phone number to google voice if it works well. At that time will I be able to update the OBI with my new number? Thanks in advance.
reading it looks like once you set up google voice you have a free phone for 2012. Seems to beat magic jack I have been cell only but need something for my alarm system.
cyberpitstop said: If your worried about hard setup, lack of features, and PRICE. I have one word for you OOMA 4+ years and not one problem and never spent a cent since......ooma has been working great for me
junkdealer said: reading it looks like once you set up google voice you have a free phone for 2012. Seems to beat magic jack I have been cell only but need something for my alarm system.
thanks
VOIP often doesn't work with alarms, faxes, etc. Might want to check that first.
gremln007 said: junkdealer said: reading it looks like once you set up google voice you have a free phone for 2012. Seems to beat magic jack I have been cell only but need something for my alarm system.
thanks
VOIP often doesn't work with alarms, faxes, etc. Might want to check that first. I have an OOMA and they have a code I can't remember if its *99 or #99 you program your fax to dial it then the number... No issues faxing
ramkiv said: Does anybody know if the OBI will still work even if the google voice number is changed/ported after it is setup with some number? I am planning to get the OBI and use it with my cuurent google voice number and switch my current home phone number to google voice if it works well. At that time will I be able to update the OBI with my new number? Thanks in advance.
When you port your # to GV it will replace your current GV # You won't have to change a thing.
RonR
Senior Member
posted: Jan. 26, 2012 @ 3:54p
lisong said: I have it at home and in laws got one overseas. We can call each other just like regular phone but it is free. Each device has an unique ID and you can always dial other device's ID to call them. It will be free forever.As long as Obihai (the manufacturer) is in business and provides the service.
OBi-to-OBi calls rely on a proprietary server provided by Obihai. If Obihai ever disappears or doesn't provide this server for whatever reason, OBi-to-OBi direct/free calling will cease.
OBiON iPhone, iPad, iPod touch & Android — A free application for iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices which makes possible placing and receiving calls to/from other OBi endpoints.
I can make a call from my iPhone only to someone connected to OBi device?
Still confused. Thanks for the info though - I am trying to read it to understand.You do not need an Obi to use one of the apps. The Obion apps cannot natively call a regular phone number, they can only call other Obi endpoints (another Obion number or any Obi device. You assign an Obi device as the default gateway for the app and then you just dial direct from the Obion app and the call processes through the Obi gateway and is delivered to a regular phone number. The only limitations are those set by the service set up on the Obi.
oharag1 said: From a review on CNet:
Cons Service not included (only OBi device-to-OBi device). Complicated set up and configuration. Unit not very stylish. e-911 not included, but can be added through a supported service.
Also:
Google Voice is one of the services you can add to the OBi110, and it offers free calls to U.S. numbers through 2012.
What happens after 2012? Is Google Voice can to be a fee only service?The Obi is an ATA (analog telephone adapter). It allows you to connect an analog telephone to the internet for use with a voip service provider. The Obitalk service is included with it but you can only call other Obi endpoints. You can call other Obi endpoints and access the services on that end with permission.
- There are many many service providers that can be used with an Obi. Other ATA adapters do not include service either. - Google voice is just one, which happens to be exclusive to the Obi. Not available on other ATA's. - 911 service is supplied by a service provider, which the Obi is not (and neither is other ATA's). - Google voice does not provide 911 service either, because they are not really a voip service provider.
- No one knows what Google will do next year. Google voice was free until the end of 2010, then they announced it would continue to be free until the end of 2011. In late Dec, they announced it would continue to be free through 2012.
buyitall said: ramkiv said: Does anybody know if the OBI will still work even if the google voice number is changed/ported after it is setup with some number? I am planning to get the OBI and use it with my cuurent google voice number and switch my current home phone number to google voice if it works well. At that time will I be able to update the OBI with my new number? Thanks in advance.
When you port your # to GV it will replace your current GV # You won't have to change a thing.Your old google voice number will continue to ring your new google voice line for 90 days. If you want to keep your old google voice number working on the same line after 90 days, you can do that for a one time fee of $20.
*99. I have ooma as well. I'd say it's great considering the ease of hook up and no fee if you're inclined to skip the premier service. *99 doesn't always work when faxing (at least for me). But eventually they go though.
RonR said: lisong said: I have it at home and in laws got one overseas. We can call each other just like regular phone but it is free. Each device has an unique ID and you can always dial other device's ID to call them. It will be free forever.As long as Obihai (the manufacturer) is in business and provides the service.
OBi-to-OBi calls rely on a proprietary server provided by Obihai. If Obihai ever disappears or doesn't provide this server for whatever reason, OBi-to-OBi direct/free calling will cease.But the device is also a stand alone ATA that will continue to be useful with many VOIP providers even without Obihai.
in2dadark said: *99. I have ooma as well. I'd say it's great considering the ease of hook up and no fee if you're inclined to skip the premier service. *99 doesn't always work when faxing (at least for me). But eventually they go though.
Program a pause between *99 and the number I have mine set up
router to ooma to fax and my phone base is plugged into the fax. Epson workforce 610
I'm thinking about the Obi110 and use the ooma as a 2nd/3rd line I have the hub/scout just havn't set the scout up. One of the numbers will b for my kid
Either way you look at it, Obi or Ooma Your not giving Comcast/Verizion or any other rip off company a monthly payment..
Ended up going for a Panasonic somethingorother that fit my requirements and was cheap enough. So far so good with the Obi100. The setup was a bit of a PITA; it didn't play nice with wireless so I had to plug my laptop into the router via network cable to get it set up. Now it works just fine, though, and integration with Google Voice via my Sprint number is beautiful.
Perfect solution for shitty cell phone reception in my new apartment.
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