Best quality/ lowest cost alternatives?

Jacked_Up · Post by **Jacked_Up** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:45 pm

Ok, I see the ooma and the obi110, hoping to use Google voice service for now.. Anyone care to comment on which is a better choice and why? Will continue reading/researching in the meantime.. Got jacked up with the Plus "free trial" as they socked my debit card for $199 (5 years) right when I had a mortgage payment due. I suppose it will take forever for them to reverse the charges? Not particularity thrilled. Ruff patch right now so no credit yet.

Thanks!

Darkman90808 · Post by **Darkman90808** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:44 pm

I can only speak for the Ooma/Google Voice set up. I'll let others address the Obi110.

I've been using this set up with the premium plan for about a year now. It costs $13.68/month, which gives me two lines in and out and two phone numbers, not including my Google Voice. I also have the Ooma cordless phone and my only complaint is nobody thought to include a headset jack.

All in all, I'm very pleased. Call quality is almost always excellent. It works seamlessly with Google Voice, although I believe you need the premium plan for that. I also set it up with the Ooma bluetooth and a Motorola SD-9 headset, although I make most calls via a Uniden DECT 6.0 cordless phone with a Plantronics headset I got for $1.79 from OneSaleADay.com. Woo hoo!

Sooo... with Google Voice, I can sit at my desk with the headset stuck in my ear, click on the number I want to call and have it come in to my Ooma handset. Couldn't be easier. Of course, I could do the same thing with Google Talk for free if I wanted to be tethered to a usb headset.

At any rate, this pretty well describes my experience. Feel free to post any questions here on via PM.

sabresfan · Post by **sabresfan** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:44 pm

I have both the obi 110 that I use with GV and an ooma telo. I would say go with the obi because it costs less and can be used with any byod provider even if google ever shuts down google voice. Ooma costs more upfront and many of their premiere features are free with GV. Using the obi with GV you will not have 911 service. You will have to use a second provider and configure the obi to use them when you dial 911. The upside of ooma is they have real customer service you can contact and I have not had any poor sounding calls with them.

Jacked_Up · Post by **Jacked_Up** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:35 pm

Great, thanks you two! Looks like I might as well start with the obi and go from there. I still have a regular MJ and a prepaid cell so that should take care of any potential 911 needs. Regular jack does not like my current computer, static and dropped calls, stops ringing, people unable to get through, etc.

Enjoying the type to text google voice offers and a local number people can reach me at without the need for long distance. (my main gripe with jack for years before they finally offered porting of local numbers).

I see you can even port a cell number to google if there are no local numbers available in your area. So unless someone can convince me otherwise, looks like the best option for now is the obi and perhaps the Jackplus later if/when google decides to start charging outrageously..

Darkman90808 · Post by **Darkman90808** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 2:07 pm

if/when google decides to start charging outrageously.

I'm a little ambivalent about $$$ for Google Voice. My main concern is they may stop supporting it entirely ala Gizmo 5. If/when they do start charging, I wouldn't expect it to be outrageous. Right now, I have 80 gigs of Google online storage for $20/year.

I could justify an equivalent amount for Google Voice, especially if they added a few things like the ability to send and receive faxes.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:35 pm

I could justify an equivalent amount for Google Voice, especially if they added a few things like the ability to send and receive faxes.

I threw out my fax machine 21/2 years ago, having decided that there is no reason to accommodate people who refuse to make the step into the 21st century.
I think that far more important in such a case would be a REAL customer service at at least Nettalk level, right now GV does not even have an on line chat like MJ does, just a volunteer forum. Also GV reliability and quality would have to go up a notch.

Darkman90808 · Post by **Darkman90808** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:47 pm

I threw out my fax machine 21/2 years ago, having decided that there is no reason to accommodate people who refuse to make the step into the 21st century.
I think that far more important in such a case would be a REAL customer service at at least Nettalk level, right now GV does not even have an on line chat like MJ does, just a volunteer forum. Also GV reliability and quality would have to go up a notch.

I know, I know. But I still have to occasionally fax stuff or receive them. It always amazes me how many businesses still can't accept a scanned document via email. For now, I have a Sipgate account that accommodates my need for sending. I'm just saying it would be nice if Google Voice could put a ribbon around it in one nice neat package.

Haven't had any reliability or quality issues with Google Voice. I use it as my primary service on all my phones, including business. Since I never have any issues, customer service is, ah, a non-issue.

But that what makes this country great.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:18 am

Since I never have any issues, customer service is, ah, a non-issue.

There is always a first time...
I would not acceptr a paid service without some level of support. But I believe that Google would go that way should they decide to charge for the service.

Jacked_Up · Post by **Jacked_Up** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:47 pm

Darkman, There is an extremely reliable fax service for incoming faxes available through efax.com. http://www.efax.com/efax-free

Takes a bit of navigating to print them out without the need of downloading their software, but it's possible. You get to keep the incoming number even after the "free trial" period. Notifications of incoming fax arrival show up in your email.

As far as outgoing, there is always http://www.gotfreefax.com/

They allow you to send faxes free, but it takes a bit of time for the authorization to occur. You can upload a pdf, or word doc.

OR for a mere .98 through paypal you can send up to 10 pages, ad free fax instantly.. Have used this option many times reliably.. Worth every penny for me since it saves me a trip to kinkos fedex and works flawlessly..

I am sure there are many other options out there as well..

Jacked_Up · Post by **Jacked_Up** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:57 pm

Got my OBI110/Google Voice system up and running today! Fantastic! Thanks everyone, I love it!

Call quality if amazing especially compared to my magic crap that sounds like equivalent to dead spirits trying to communicate through an EVP.

Spent a good hour on chat with the top level guy and still could not talk them into sending me a replacement.. yet.. Had to leave before was resolved. I must have spent several days total with tech support if I add up all the frustrations with MJ on win 7 64.... Would like to keep it running for 911 purposes at least until it expires..

YAY!! Sent back my MJ Plus, (waiting for $199 refund to my debit card), but tried it for a day and it sounded and worked OK, but did get cut off once though after about 30 minutes.. Thanks but no thanks! : )

Darkman90808 · Post by **Darkman90808** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 12:54 pm

Darkman, There is an extremely reliable fax service for incoming faxes available through efax.com.

Jacked_Up... first of all, congrats on getting your new OBI110/Google Voice system set up.

I can receive incoming faxes okay through my Grasshopper account but they don't offer a way of sending, which is why I use Sipgate. Around eight months ago, I had to fax about 20 pages to one of the local municipalities and Sipgate was being temperamental. I had a deadline to meet, otherwise they wouldn't accept my offering.

I ended up using Pamfax with Skype, which was another nightmare altogether. IMO, Pamfax is a total rip but sometimes you do what you gotta do.

I will keep a note of your suggestions. The other day, my wife needed me to fax something to the bank, so it does come up occasionally. Thanks!

Jacked_Up · Post by **Jacked_Up** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 12:45 pm

You are most welcome! Oh, gotfreefax also has services for more than 10 pages as well just as a note.

The OBI is an awesome setup! My MJ has my home number ported to it, so I just logged in and set the Jack to forward all calls to my Google/OBI110 number.

Then plugged the MJ in the line port of the obi110 so If I need 911 I just take my computer off sleep and dial **8 and 911 to access the MJ and 911. Works like a charm.

Now I can turn my computer off, (sleep) have great call quality, a real voice message instead of the generic MJ one! And google sends any voice messages to my inbox. This is fantastic! I may even consider a MJ plus at some point when my old jack expires, but by then there may be even better possibilities! Who knows. Extremely grateful for everything!

Best always to you and all!

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Best quality/ lowest cost alternatives?

Best quality/ lowest cost alternatives?

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