Ooma Telo Handset now available, attempts to lure your booze money
By Richard Lai 
posted November 19th 2009 11:20PM
posted November 19th 2009 11:20PM
While some of us weren't totally digging the skin of the Ooma Telo VoIP hub, it's only fair to say that the company has somewhat made up with the release of the seductive Telo Handset. This DECT device will run you $49.99 and will work with up to three other handsets on each Telo (although originally they promised up to six in total). Sure, most of the features can be found on ordinary DECT handsets, but the online phonebook which can be downloaded to the Telo Handset sounds awesome. Oh, and there are a few more handy functions like "Instant Second Line" and a "Do Not Disturb" mode which redirects calls to voicemail, but you'll have to give up $9.99 per month or $119.99 per year for this Ooma Premier service. Yeah, totally not worth it.
Obama what?
@Eleazar
It's the times new roman. Makes it unreadable.
@Smartmouth lol
@Eleazar
Damn! I was going to make an Obama comment, I thought I was being so clever..
Kudos to you, Eleazar, for beating me to the punch.
@KNG
Then you know the result. Downranking...away!
@KNG
Maybe you never tried this because it just came out...?
"Yeah, totally try the service first".
Ooma's VoIP service is amazing. Technically you can use it for no monthly fee, but $10/month is well worth the extras. Sounds like you're bitter for not getting a free one to try. Boo hoo.
@jrockwell
I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger on an Ooma system. My current landline is costing me $42 a month. With the Ooma Premier service I'll be paying $10 a month. This saves me $384 a year. The system will be totally paid for in less than a year. Yep, sounds like a good deal.
@Jeff P.
Do it, you won't look back. Call quality is as good as a land line, better than a cell phone.
@jrockwell
Ooma with Premiere has been awesome for my family. It replaced our home phone and my home office line. Basically, the unit was paid for in about 4 months and then every year the hundred bucks is basically recouped by the end of Feb. Ooma is rock solid.
@jrockwell
Plus, if you want all the features they're trying to charge you for, just get a google voice number an attach your Ooma number to the account.
@KNG
maybe you should slap yourself now
But there's always MAGICJACK! Now offered from obscure phone companies like Sears!
I have been using Ooma for two months. I have the older model, which is actually cheaper. The new system has a $12 annual change (which is waved if you are paying for premium). I know, that isn't much, but the older one has no fees other than the purchase price, regardless of whether you sign up for premium. On the older system, voice mail is also included in that 'free' service. The newer one changes $5 for voice mail per month, or it is included in the premium package. Premium does have some advantages, but you can read about that at Ooma's web site if you care. But the main point is that the call quality is top notch. With other voip systems I had people complain about the sound. With Ooma, I have never had anyone say a bad thing about it. The best feature is the blacklist that Ooma maintains of known telemarketers that you can use, and you can also add your own custom blacklist.
@glenn s
That's good and all, but, I quote, "you can read about that at Ooma's web site if you care".
I formally apologize.
the Obama phone! wow
ITT: Poorly disguised adverts.
Yep! online phonebook, but after you buy it will say due out next month, but Ooma...don't trust them for anything timely. The display sucks like Tonka toys for a land developer. I don't think you can buy a worse display, hurray, they saved a buck!
Yep! online phonebook, but after you buy it will say due out next month, but Ooma...don't trust them for anything timely. The display sucks like Tonka toys for a land developer. I don't think you can buy a worse display, hurray, they saved a buck!
"...and will work with up to three other handsets on each Telo (although originally they promised up to six in total)..."
Most likely because they're using the cheapest DECT solution from DSPG/NXP possible, and their product manager for this line was probably too lazy to demand the use of VegaOne or a higher powered platform from their (most likely Asian) manufacturer, and that unnamed manufacturer was probably re-using some existing platform & MMI to cut down on NRE costs.
I've had a Ooma Telo for about a month. Pretty happy with it, except that it will not work tolerably while you're downloading. The Telo box has a worthless "Quality of Service" protection function that requires putting the Telo between your broadband modem and your router--the problem is, the router & modem are often the same box (as with Verizon DSL), and the Telo does not have a DHCP server so it cannot go after your router but before your LAN. Also, they scrimped on the hardware quality so that you have to glue the tiny power plug into the back of the Telo box to keep it from falling out whenever you touch the box. And, very, VERY annoyingly, your name shows up as "Ooma" on CallerID--they intrude advertising into your use of the gadget whenever they can (even the dialtone is Ooma advertising!), which is one of the crappiest aspects of this system since there's nothing you can do to avoid it. Finally, don't get suckered by the "free" bit--you have to have the $10/month Premier account to make this thing worth having. Still a keeper (primarily because of the unique personal blacklist feature), but FAR from ideal, and I won't hesitate to replace it when something better comes along.
@Zhuzhu
My Ooma is installed behind my router.
the QoS is off - I've never needed it.
Never a problem downloading - or calling during downloads.
Always superb call quality.
Anyone else notice that $9.99 a month is actually less than $119.99 a year? Granted it's 11 cents but, hey it's 11 cents. That's 1/25 of a gallon of gas people.
I've been a customer of Ooma for 6 months. The old hardware was clunky but it did the job. I ordered all the new Telo hardware, spent $300, and tried to set it up. After following all of the printed instructions, nothing worked. So I call in. Someone named Hannah explains that none of the printed instructions of applicable to "upgraders," and that I instead have to plug this stuff into my computer directly and go through a series of arcane steps.
She fumbles through these steps and seems barely able to speak. She keeps saying, "Wait, hold on, umm."
I am patient. I continue listening. She then explains that as an upgrading customer, I have to not only pay a $12 "surchange" but also a $75 "re-activation fee." I explain, I will not be paying those fees, because nowhere during my purchase did it say, "Stop -- this product does not cost $300. It actually costs $387 - but we'll suck the difference out later."
She persisted, and so I asked for a manager. After 10 minutes of waiting, she said there were no managers, but she'd be happy to "open a ticket" for me. I said no, I want to speak with a manager. She said, "If you had read the terms and conditions, you would have known about the extra fees." I ignore her and continue asking for a manager.
I called Ooma on a second line -- this time asking for Sales. The sales manager kept me on hold for 30 minutes and said they couldn't do anything for me.
In the end, I am returning everything and canceling my account with Ooma. I am also NOT giving my old equipment to a family member, costing Ooma one more potential customer.
TERRIBLE customer service and hidden fees. Don't listen to "no monthly fees," either. Most of the real Ooma features are only available if you pay $12/mo.
Avoid at all costs.
The comments relating to voicemail coming at an extra charge are inaccurate: http://www.ooma.com/blog/2009/10/21/free-voice-mail-for-all-ooma-users/