Ooma Linx VoIP Phone and Device

For the most part it's what I expected . Except for a few things . When someone calls the ooma directly the caller id is normal . But, when someone calls my google voice it only shows the name without the number showing . This can be an issue in many ways . If you just want to redial the number that called with a single button press ? You can't . No such issue if a phone is directly connected to the ooma box itself through a phone wire . So if you have another phone connected ? You can still know the caller id . And also a cell phone . Every once in a while it doesn't give a dial tone right away . But, this is usually fixed by unplugging the linx , then replugging it back in and letting the lights go from amber to all blue . It's not everything I thought I was getting with the device . But, the google voice menu can be that way where you have to hand dial the number you're calling , if you're not doing it from an app ? You can make it a separate line . But, even if you don't . When you pick up a phone on the linx , and another connected directly to the box ? You can't hear the same line . So the good part is , you can be on two separate calls at the same time . The con is because they are separate . It's going to make it impossible to click in on another phone ,then hang the other one up .If you call the phone number on the ooma website ? And talk to a sales representative ? They'll rent you the box for an extra $5.00 a month and send you the box for free . Bare in mind that , the caller id only acted weird with a Google voice call . With a call to the ooma number it was fine . Maybe it lost signal in certain places every once in a while . And ooma is sending me a linx for free ! This company is unbelievable ! You get five stars from me . Not counting the fact that the landline company leaves you with a non-stop barrage of harrassing calls each day ,and no way to block them . There are people that can't have a phone plugged in so that the ringing will stop. Held hostage by a phone company they're paying a lot of money to . This review still had 4 stars regardless .Update:12-28-018 I haven't had a bad experience with ooma or anything but, after listening to questions asked here from an extra extension to other things, I have to be honest .Ooma sells that you can have a $5.00 phone bill . You can skip premium if you are willing to have no way to block harrassing calls . If you need to block them ? At that point it's not a $5.00 bill , It's now a $21.00 one. Not bad except for the fact that voip providers like phonepower provide a soft phone where you can make calls on a computer and also use a softphone to do things like record the call for which cridentials are provided . This for $24.95 . Voip.ms and other voip providers can also provide a free number as a calling or texting and also a fax that is switched to email and also use an app to call from a computer. Once a $40.00 obihai is purchased , you can use the service like a home phone, or just use your cell and can have extensions and even a professional call que and hold music and also text with your number . Even though voip.ms costs $5.00 for your number a month and $15.00 in credits to pay for calls ,They go down at such a snails pace it winds up costing the same as ooma premier or phonepower . Even though ooma allows you to purchase the lynx for things like an alarm, fax,or extra number , if you don't need these things ? You need to weigh you're options . Especially since providers like voip.ms (example) can facilitate extensions and these things for free. Not just free unlike ooma , your extension for your business can be in a different country while your bill remain the same cost as ooma premiere while ooma office costs $10.00 per extension . Possibly a $50.00 bill at the end of this . While ooma requires ooma office be purchased and more lynx's . And the lynx has to be reconnected constantly , not reliable considering after ooma office is purchased , you're bill may be $50.00 a month because you require extensions for a business .In short , weigh your options because there are alot , and they don't cost alot . And the cheapest only require you use your own brain . Ooma years into existing wants to dictate to you that you don't have the right to record a phone call and you're locked into their software and hardware so you can't . And ooma lynx just randomly loses connection . You notice it when you do then have to reconnect it to the box . So if you're not even relying on it for a phone call , something like an alarm system ? You'll be dead already . Literally any other voip provider has more goodies that are actually going to matter . And for the same price .

Ooma just rocks. I dropped two AT&T U verse lines for Ooma, saving around $40/mo, and never looked back. My equipment payback was 10 weeks. My monthly savings were pure gravy after that. Perfect sound quality. Great support.The Ooma base unit is called Telo. Ooma also sells proprietary handsets, but these are not required if you have existing equipment. Ooma works seamlessly with my Panasonic KX-TG6841 Dect 6 5-handset wireless phone set and many others no doubt.Messages can be answered via your handset, using answering machine like keys on the Ooma base unit, or via dial in from your mobile or any other phone. Ooma also has an option to capture voice messages to text and forward them to your Email account. I love this feature.You get 2 VOIP lines included in your Ooma purchase. They can be configured as two voice lines or one voice and one fax line. If you want to use one of your Ooma lines as a Fax line you will need to add an Ooma Lynx unit, which provides wireless access to an integrated teleco jack. Just plug Lynx into a socket near your fax machine, plug your fax line into the Lynx teleco port, configure the setup and you are good to go.You can port your existing number(s) over to your Lynx account. Ooma support makes the process simple and painless.Call blocking is a forte for Ooma. Multiple methodologies can be combined to deliver a blocking experience tailored to your requirements. The first option filters calls against a national data base of known telemarketing numbers. Second, Ooma supports a subscriber data base of reported spammers. Third, users can opt into the venerable NoMoRoBo service. Finally, you can maintain a personal screening list, excluding either specific phone numbers or selected area codes. You can also maintain a personal white list which will defeat any call blocking exclusions you may have a problem with.Call logging is comprehensive, listing all incoming and outgoing calls by phone number (and caller ID if available). This is very useful for telesupport providers like myself who need to track time in the phone with clients for billing and/or performance tracking.I could go on, but I will mention a few missing features and other issues you should be aware of:First, Ooma comes in two flavors - a personal package and a business package. The business package lacks the robust call blocking options available with the personal package (what's with that?). However, the business package includes an automated attendant capability which is not available in the personal package. You need to compare capabilities on business vs personal before you purchase Ooma and decide which is more suitable for you, since they are completely separate and non-interchangeable from both a hardware and a software standpoint.Ooma personal does not have a soft interface, That is, it runs on the Telo unit and the Ooma servers, and not on your computer. While you can maintain settings, contacts and preferences as will as view your logs and other functions on your desktop, you are doing so on the Ooma web page, not on your local desktop. You can't make or accept phone calls from your desktop, only through your Telo-attached phone device.Overall, Ooma is one of my smartest electronics purchases in 2015. If you need a landline type capability (albeit using VOIP technology), you owe it to yourself to take Ooma for a ride.