http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/ Engadget Comments for Ooma Telo hits the streets, handset add-on follows next month http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
ps: can't wait till the BL 40 comes out in USA]]>Oct 5th 2009 11:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
A few words of introduction wouldn't hurt, Engadget!]]>Oct 5th 2009 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
They have a local number and haven't had one problem. ]]>Oct 5th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
What I don't like about the new box is that I already have my own DECT 6.0 phones. The added functionality is useless for me, because it only supports their Telo cordless phones.

The old hub is a bit artistic and still provides all the required functionality needed! Hope it gets a price drop.]]>Oct 5th 2009 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/If the only features you use are Call Waiting and Caller I.D. you don't need to premier plan nor the extra monthly cost.

Jim, those were the old terms. Now, they have changed that for all new customers. The Telo basic free plan no longer has voicemail or named caller id. You need to buy the $120/year premium plan to get those features.You also no longer get live phone in support without paying $40.

Basically the new Ooma terms have moved features out of the basic free plan into the premium paid plan. Ooma has decreased features and increased fees. New buyers will be subject to an annual $12 fee on top of anything else they buy. Don't forget the $40 charge to port your number. And when you go to sell or give away the device there is a $60 transfer of ownership fee.

No way will I pay them $250 just to give them the opportunity to dump more fees me. I need caller id names. Their caller id is just the numbers unless you buy the $120 premium pack to get the caller id names. This free service just keeps getting more expensive. Way too many fees for this "free" phone service.

Call forwarding when Internet is down is a basic feature for any goo VoIP. Ooma makes you sign up for $120/year premier to get that feature. The no longer offer live support unless you pay their $40 fee. Two great VoIP customer service moves that will kill the company.]]>Oct 6th 2009 4:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 11:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
After the first year there is a $12/yr 'regulation recovery fee' similar to all other phone systems, but.. $12/yr is a drop in the bucket for otherwise free phone service.]]>Oct 5th 2009 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
As for voicemail ... just use your voicemail on phones you have. It will work fine. The only downside is that you can't check them through the web. However, almost all support dial in VM for when you are away. Alternatively you can use this with GV and have GV be your voicemail system. My point is that Premier isn't required for most people. There are workarounds that get you 90% of the functionality.

Personally, the Premier service is worth it to me. The 2nd line of service, call forwarding, virtual vm, etc, etc ... all easily worth $10/month.]]>Oct 5th 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 6th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
I switched just because i hate Cablevision.]]>Oct 5th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/]]>Oct 5th 2009 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
My phone has 4 handsets with 1 jack, so using other jacks isn't necessary.

More phone features? Didn't someone say voicemail wasn't included in the base package? That's a very necessary feature, and even $10 a month isn't worth it compared to the competition out there. I would rather pay a little more per month for the same service without a $250 up-front cost, you never know how long they're going to stay in business.]]>Oct 5th 2009 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
MJ is great if you are technically minded, have a computer that you keep on 24/7, and use your phone sparingly. ]]>Oct 5th 2009 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 12:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
Beyond that, I'm intrigued by this device... I may suggest it to several people I know.]]>Oct 5th 2009 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
If you get a Hub ($250 with a scout), and activate it before end of the month, you can get in under the old terms. Which means you get voicemail for free and no recovery fee, and you can get the first year of Premiere for $100 instead of $120. The Telo is only available with the new terms, unless you're upgrading from a Hub.

If you don't want all the Premiere features (which includes a second phone number anywhere in the country, and is promised to include Google Voice extensions within a few months), you can get enhanced voicemail for $50/yr.

Comparing Ooma to MagicJack: The selling point to me was call quality. Ooma has great call quality. They have a custom QoS (quality of service) protocol on the unit, and properly done, you're supposed to install the unit ahead of your computer/switch so it can handle QoS routing. I've had mine installed after the switch for eight months with no problems and great results, though I do have a 6Mbps connection, much higher than Ooma recommended minimums.

Other benefits: If you keep your landline, the Ooma device will fail over to the landline if either Internet or power goes out, and all 911 calls will be routed locally for better response. Try that with MagicJack - if either Internet or power goes out, or if you have to restart your computer, or if your computer is maxed processing other stuff, you're toast.

As a note, Ooma also supports (not guaranteed, but usually works) outgoing DATA calls. That means outbound faxing or DVR calls. It just uses a standard * code before the number to reduce the compression rate. I've used mine with a Dish Network DVR with no problems whatsoever.]]>Oct 5th 2009 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
do you have any text that states this?]]>Oct 5th 2009 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.ooma.com/blog:

Hannah at OOMA Tech Support: "They will honor the previous TOS if you sign-up or upgrade to the premier by Oct 31st."

"If you want to purchase an annual Ooma Premier subscription, you can do so until 12/31/09 at $99.99, after that the price will go up by $20 to $119.99."]]>Oct 5th 2009 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
The Premiere features include things like a second phone number, either for another area (so people can call you locally) or for someone else, like a teen in the family. It supports distinctive ring, and can ring a specific phone (via a Scout, one usually included in the package) when a specific number is called. A one-year subscription includes a free port of an existing number. And you can set up black-lists for numbers that get blocked or go straight to voicemail. (Blocking calls with blocked Caller ID is a standard feature.)

Did you notice that the unit looks like an answering machine? That's because it acts like one. All messages are saved in the Cloud, but the message-waiting light comes just like a regular answering machine, and you can just press Play to get your messages, just like a regular answering machine. With Premiere, you can even screen your calls and pick up in the middle of a message - try that with a regular VoIP service. And the unit has a very nice quality feel to it.]]>Oct 5th 2009 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.ooma.com/blog/2009/10/02/how-oomas-terms-conditions-affect-current-new-ooma-customers/

*Current Ooma users don't have to pay Telecom Tax of $12 and theres no changes to feature set.
*New or Unactivated Ooma Hub/Scout Combinations - The "old" Oomas no matter when there activated will still adhere to the old Terms of Service which means:
a. No changes to your promised feature set so voicemail is still include
b. No regulatory recovery fee will be charged

The new terms of service really only apply to Telo buyers.]]>Oct 5th 2009 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 6th 2009 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/Oct 5th 2009 6:44PM