Obi adapters, Google Voice, and Obivoice

[MadScientist]

If you have an Obi adapter and Google Voice you probably already know that on May 15th Google will stop support of XMPP based calling, which means the Obi VOIP adapters will no longer work with Google Voice. Goodbye to a great free VOIP service.
Obihai had announced on 12/31/13 that they will be forming a partnership with Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs). These providers have yet to be announced. http://blog.obihai.com/2013/12/what-does-40-bucks-and-obi-device-buy.html

In the interim, Intelaphone, has started an ITSP called Obivoice. http://www.obivoice.com/ Intelaphone has been around since 2010. From posts on the DSLreports forum this ITSP, even though the name would suggest it, is not a partner of Obihai yet. Those that have signed up with Obivoice have posted that the service was very good and you can use your Obi adapter with it. I checked our current Google voice number and it can be ported. http://www.obivoice.com/#details There are also other ITSPs that are compatible with the Obi adapter. http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html

Pricing for Obivoice:
Lite plans: http://www.obivoice.com/pricing/lite.html
Basic plans: http://www.obivoice.com/pricing/basic.html
Plus plans: http://www.obivoice.com/pricing/plus.html

I'm going to wait a bit and see how things shake out before choosing an ITSP. And no I will not buy an ooma.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I wasn't aware of this myself. I use an Obi with Google voice as my "landline" at home. I'll probably just end up tossing my Obi in the trash and just using the cell phone after May. But I guess we knew that free ride would end eventually.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Switch to something like Ooma?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Ooma looks like it might be more expensive, because they ask you to pay fees and taxes on the "free" service.

 

[Druidx]

--snip--
In the interim, Intelaphone, has started an ITSP called Obivoice. http://www.obivoice.com/ Intelaphone has been around since 2010. From posts on the DSLreports forum this ITSP, even though the name would suggest it, is not a partner of Obihai yet. Those that have signed up with Obivoice have posted that the service was very good and you can use your Obi adapter with it. I checked our current Google voice number and it can be ported. http://www.obivoice.com/#details There are also other ITSPs that are compatible with the Obi adapter. http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html

There is no need to port your number from google voice to ObiVoice, just forward it to the number you get when you sign up with Obivoice, than spoof the google voice number in the caller ID setup section of obivoice. That way everything will appear seamless.


BTW I signed up with OBIvoice, they work fine for me. It's fixed the the intermittent problem of missed calls when using the free number from CallCentric to get call ID with name using google voice.

 

[MadScientist]

There is no need to port your number from google voice to ObiVoice, just forward it to the number you get when you sign up with Obivoice, than spoof the google voice number in the caller ID setup section of obivoice. That way everything will appear seamless.


BTW I signed up with OBIvoice, they work fine for me. It's fixed the the intermittent problem of missed calls when using the free number from CallCentric to get call ID with name using google voice.

May be I'm missing something. What's the advantage of doing that if you can transfer your GV number over to obivoice for free?
http://support.obivoice.com/ Transferring your Number under Number Porting.
*Currently Obivoice offers free number transferring for Google Voice subscribers.

 

[Ravynmagi]

You retain ownership and control of your number. And continue to enjoy the flexibility of using Google Voice as well.

 

[Druidx]

May be I'm missing something. What's the advantage of doing that if you can transfer your GV number over to obivoice for free?
http://support.obivoice.com/ Transferring your Number under Number Porting.
*Currently Obivoice offers free number transferring for Google Voice subscribers.

It's not a requirement either way, port to Obivoice or leave it at Googlevoice and forward the number. There are 3 reasons why I decided not to port to ObiVoice.
1) Even if I wanted to port my number, Obivoice doesn't support it.
2) As Ravynmagi mentioned, You retain ownership and control of your number. And continue to enjoy the flexibility of using Google Voice as well.
3) The company Intelifone has only been around for a few years. I don't want to have problems porting my number out if the company doesn't survive. This is a business with very thin profit margins and will have a lot of competition.

On the Obi forum, someone from Intelifone linked to their knowledge base article explaining you don't have to port.
https://intelafone.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1428874-forward-google-voice-calls-to-obivoice
They probably prefer people don't port their number because it's cheaper for them.

 

[MadScientist]

Just a reminder that May 15th, this Thursday, is coming up quick. I just picked up PhonePower, one of Obihai's approved providers. They have a lite plan, unlimited incoming calls, 300 outgoing minutes for $34.99/yr; and an unlimited plan for $59.99/yr.
It took about 10 minutes to set it up, and then I added the new number to Google voice and forwarded it to my old Google voice number. Thanks to Druidx and Ravynmagi for their great explanations of why it's better not to port your old Google voice number.
Here's a good explanation on how to set it up: http://blogs.computerworld.com/mobilewireless/23823/obi-google

Compatible service providers:
Anveo
Broadvox
Callcentric
CallWithUs
Engin
freephoneline
Google Voice
InPhonex
ippi
Localphone
OneSuite
Phonepower
RealCalls
RingCentral
Telecube
Vestalink, formerly Obivoice
Vitelity
voip.ms
VOIPo

 

[02infinite]

[FONT=&quot] You can now replace your existing Google Voice phone number with a FreeDID from IPComms and continue receiving free inbound calls via your OBi device. You can even add our low 1¢/min domestic outbound service (TalkinIP) and enjoy quality USA & Canada outbound call.[/FONT]

​

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

There is also a lot of info here. I need to make a decision on this but keep waffling. Localphone seems to be the absolute cheapest solution for what I need but I'm not sure.

 

[nickbits]

I went with the $40/yr anveo plan and setup caller id spoofing so my outbound number is my GV number and I don't have to port.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Welp, nothing like waiting until the last minute.

I decided to go with Vestalink. $30 a year for 500 minutes a month. That's enough for my landline at home I hardly ever use.

I must not be the only procrastinator though, because it's taking forever to create my account on their webpage. Haha.

 

[RossMAN]

Welp, nothing like waiting until the last minute.

I decided to go with Vestalink. $30 a year for 500 minutes a month. That's enough for my landline at home I hardly ever use.

I must not be the only procrastinator though, because it's taking forever to create my account on their webpage. Haha.

That's my kind of deal, how do the features compare to Ooma?

 

[Ravynmagi]

That's my kind of deal, how do the features compare to Ooma?

I never used Ooma (or really know anything about it other than seeing commercials for it).

I do like that Vestalink has a Spoof Caller ID feature. That way I can use my Google Voice number when making calls from Vestalink (instead of it showing the number Vestalink gave me).

I see they also have iOS and Android "Cloud Softphone" apps. I assume that will let me use VOiP over my phone with Vestalink.

There is an eFax service, visual voicemails, and support for additional phone numbers. So looks like quite a bit.

Oh, and I was really impressed that I was able to create an account, and get a 1 month 60 minute trial membership without even having to give them a credit card number. So I could set it up with my Obihai and make sure everything worked before having to commit to anything.

 

[RU482]

I wasn't aware of this myself. I use an Obi with Google voice as my "landline" at home. I'll probably just end up tossing my Obi in the trash and just using the cell phone after May. But I guess we knew that free ride would end eventually.

wow, that was a pretty long free ride too!
granted, I don't use a phone much. Wife had bought an Obi device and had a google voice number associated to it. Worked like Shiat for go to meeting and any kind of VOIP meeting service. I think I gave up two, maybe three years ago. surprised it was still free until today

 

[Ravynmagi]

wow, that was a pretty long free ride too!
granted, I don't use a phone much. Wife had bought an Obi device and had a google voice number associated to it. Worked like Shiat for go to meeting and any kind of VOIP meeting service. I think I gave up two, maybe three years ago. surprised it was still free until today

Yeah, I was a little distraught when I heard the news the free ride was coming to an end. I got so used to having free home phone service, the idea of having to pay for it again was a tough to swallow.

But for less than $3 a month I guess it's silly not to. More for other people in the house than myself.

For me the Obihai with Google Voice had worked amazingly well. I've forgotten I was using VoIP.

 

[Crow550]

I had to help someone move to another provider and ended up picking Phone Power for $60 a year ($5 a Month.) Since they talk an hour or two a day so an Unlimited Plan would be best and they also love Google Voice and like using Landline phones at Home.

Setup was a snap. Calls display as the G-Voice number. Quality is great. Not bad at all....

Considered having them get an Android Smart Phone with Hangouts since there Landline phones have Bluetooth but unknown if it would even work as it's unknown if Hangouts will have an option to be set the default dialer?

The service does have a 30 day policy in case something else does come along....

 

[Crow550]

There is a new Hangouts Telephone API for 3rd Party Support for devices and apps: https://developers.google.com/+/hangouts/telephone-oauth

Contact Obihai, GrooveIP, Talkatone and such & let them know.

 

[Cruisin1]

They just announced OFFICIAL support for Google Voice!!! WOOT WOOT!!

 

[Ravynmagi]

They just announced OFFICIAL support for Google Voice!!! WOOT WOOT!!

http://blog.obihai.com/2014/09/google-voice-and-obihai-update.html

Neat, I'll need to try it out.

 

[cronos]

http://blog.obihai.com/2014/09/google-voice-and-obihai-update.html

Neat, I'll need to try it out.

Only $29.99 with code, that's tempting.

Wait, is Obi the one that pay once up front and free forever, or is there a monthly/annual fee that comes with it?

 

[ponyo]

Only $29.99 with code, that's tempting.

Wait, is Obi the one that pay once up front and free forever, or is there a monthly/annual fee that comes with it?

Free forever. This is great news for Obi owners. It's very bad news for Ooma.

 

[Crow550]

Excellent!

Well maybe Ooma will step it up and we'll have a good competitor. Magic Jack is still around too.

Who knows..... Microsoft Voice.

Anyways this is awesome!

 

[cronos]

Free forever. This is great news for Obi owners. It's very bad news for Ooma.

Thanks :thumbsup: