trying to ditch optimum phone service

[towncarblue]

i have optimum online cable internet with their phone service.
right now im paying $35 a month [plus taxes and fees].
the phone is rarely used because we all have cell phones
but we need a home phoneline . all my calls received are local [NYC]
how can i get a permanent phone # for free. something like google voice.???
using a usb to phoneline adapter

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I use a provider called Callcentric. I pay about 3.50 per month, plus about a dollar an hour I'm actually on the phone. Requires a VOIP adapter. I use an OBI 202; about $60 or $70, but I think they have a cheaper model. The 202 includes a router.

No issues in 18 months.

Alternatives that I know of would be Magic Jack and Ooma. Ooma also requires new hardware and I think you are locked into Ooma as the phone provider--which I've heard can be an issue. With the OBI, you can use a bunch of different providers.

I didn't want to get involved with Google and Google Voice, but I think that's also a choice. Not sure what kind of configuration hell you have to go through or what the limitations and shortcomings are.

Callcentric is based in New York, but you can get a phone number from hundreds of area codes.

 

[towncarblue]

thank you 'ignatzatsonic' . i just orered a OBI200 .
as soon as it gets here i plan to ditch my phone service and use callcentric.
its a plus that the service is based in NY

 

[Matt1970]

I have had MagicJack Business for over 2 years now. After taxes and number carryover fee (keeping my old number) it comes to $41 a year. It will drop a call every once in a while but other than that it works fine.

 

[stinger608]

thank you 'ignatzatsonic' . i just orered a OBI200 .
as soon as it gets here i plan to ditch my phone service and use callcentric.
its a plus that the service is based in NY

I actually purchased the Obi110 almost 2 years ago. After receiving the device I then set it up for Google Voice. I haven't paid a phone bill since then. ^_^ I had Vonage for a couple of years and hell it was pushing the $35 a month for something I rarely use LOL.

I know they were suppose to stop Google Voice service with Obihai in May of this last spring, but it is still working at this time. I haven't been on my Obihai site to see if they cut some sort of deal with Google on that or not.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I know they were suppose to stop Google Voice service with Obihai in May of this last spring, but it is still working at this time. I haven't been on my Obihai site to see if they cut some sort of deal with Google on that or not.

Yeah, I think there has been a change. Google Voice was supposed to go away on OBI devices in May, but it didn't. I think Google backed off. The OBI home page says Google Voice is "officially supported", but I haven't dug into it. I just didn't want to rely on Google for anything other than their search engine.

Not sure if Google Voice supplies 911---if not, you'd have to add it with a separate provider for a buck or two a month. My deal with Callcentric includes 911 for the 3.50 monthly charge.

Stinger---do you know for a fact whether OBI devices require a router?? I bought the 202 because it had a router and I did not own one. The OBI documentation continually refers to routers, but I could never confirm routers were absolutely necessary. I'm not an expert on OBIs. Once I got mine working, I let well enough alone and so far it has been working well.