Question 1

Is it possible to port a current home phone number to this service?

Accepted Answer

I have done it. I moved my Vonage number to this service and previously had moved that same number from Verizon land-line to Vonage. The process takes a couple of weeks and in the meantime, you have to use a temporary number (Ooma lets you choose from a list of them from your area code, or other area codes).

There is some paperwork that needs to be filled out online in order to allow this process, so estimate a good 2 weeks for it to go through at least.

Question 2

DO I get a new phone number with these unit? I am looking for a new phone to add to My landlines

Accepted Answer

Yes, you get a new number. In our case there were no local numbers, and we were issued a number in a town about an hour away. (We live in a rural area and Ooma has no agreements with our carrier, Windstream) Be aware you may be issued a number that requires a toll. I would make a call if this is a problem.
In our case we use Ooma for outgoing calls and incoming faxes so we can live with the situation. The machine and call quality are excellent.

Question 3

A new Ooma Telo comes with a 60-day free trial of "Ooma Premier" ... does that also apply to this recertified product?

Accepted Answer

Yes I used the trial and also ported over a second number to use with it. If you want to use a second line you must buy a LINK wireless device if you want to use the second line as a separate number instead of it rolling over to the second number if the first one is busy. With the Link you can physically separate the two numbers and have different rings and voicemails. The link is 39.00 which I wish they had given me more info about that extra charge since it didn't occur to me when I originally purchased the Ooma telo. All in all it's a pretty sweet phone system as long as you don't overload your internet service. I have noticed some sound issues when I am downloading big files that max out my internet download speed.

Question 4

If I want to use this as a backup phone system and keep my existing landline, can I use any wireless phone with the Ooma or do I have to buy Ooma's wireless handset?

Accepted Answer

you can use any landline phone, wired or wireless - the ooma handset does offer a few spiffy features, like access to your google & yahoo contacts, photo caller id, instant virtual 2nd line - but a regular handset is all you need to use the device.  NOTE: you have to pay monthly taxes for the phone service! - around $3.75/mo - I did NOT know this when I bought the device, so I thought I'd pass that along, fwiw.

Question 5

Does this unit qualify for 30 day trial?

Accepted Answer

I received a free 30 day trial of ooma premier with my purchase. this service normally costs approximately $10 per month.

Question 6

can I keep my Landline phone #?

Accepted Answer

Supposedly, yes.  I don't have mine setup yet.  Just installed it.  Then, it says to request to have your currently land line phone number "ported" over - a process they say will take up to 3 weeks.  By the way, there is a one-time cost for this, which for me is about the cost of my land line for one month.

Question 7

How does it work as a FAX line with my HP6500 3-1 printer?

How is my phone number assigned and what is annual fee.. I only use cell phone for everything today.

Accepted Answer

A shopper,
I haven't used the fax feature but the ooma is supposed to support fax, so it would be a simple matter of plugging the HP6500 into the Ooma RJ11 port.

Regarding the phone number, you select from a pool of numbers available.  You can select any area code you want.  You can port a number over to OOma for a nominal fee.

Although OOma says the service is free, you do have to pay taxes for the service which amounts to about $5.00 a month.  Calls in the US are free, as well as calls to other Ooma phones.  If you call internationally, the rates are very reasonable.  You can add money to your Ooma account to cover International calls and just refill as you need.

You will need high speed internet service and a phone to make this work for you.

If you are getting this just for the fax capability, you may be better off using eFax or scan to PDF and email though.

This is my second Ooma box and it has worked out great for me.  I have a cell phone as well but sometimes in building coverage is iffy so this gives me a pretty consistant user experience.

Hope that helps.

Question 8

Can it block unwanted calls?

Accepted Answer

The Ooma service does have the ability to block unwanted calls.  That may require Premier Service though.  You can block the "community list" of known telephone spammers and you can add numbers to your personal blacklist.  Blocking the "community list" has sure cut down on telephone calls to our house.

Question 9

Can I use my existing landline phone number ?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it will cost you about $43 to port over OR you can pay $10 a month for OOMA Premium which includes the porting of you number.  Ooma will assign you a temporary number until the number ports over (about 3 weeks).

Question 10

Mike S:
Does Ooma provide a permanent IP address within the VOIP box itself that is specific to the country of purchase?  Thus allowing you to take the Ooma VOIP box with you to any destination country and still maintain the same local number and service between that country and the country of purchase?

Accepted Answer

You're asking the wrong question to get the information you want.  Ooma isn't dependent on it's IP address for it's phone number orientation.  Ooma uses it's MAC address to route on it's phone number.  MAC addresses are permanent and unique.  Now that we've cleared that up ...

My son is a US Naval Officer currently deployed to Italy for 3 years.  He has an Ooma (on my advice, I've used Ooma for over 6 years now) and his Ooma has a Chesapeake, VA phone number even though the Ooma is physically located in Naples, Italy.  He can call anywhere in the US for free, no international charges at all.  I can call his number from MY Ooma for free with no international charges.  Ooma doesn't care where it's plugged in as long as it's already registered and as long as it has a decent quality broadband internet connection.

This works out amazingly well because my son and his whole family are deployed.  My daughter-in-law can call her Mom, Sisters, and all her friends and talk as long as she likes.  The grandkids can keep in touch with their friends.  Although they're in Italy and a long way from home so we don't see them very often, talking to them is just like they were right down the street.  It's not so bad when it's a free, local call in either direction.

If they were to be assigned to any other country; Japan, Germany, Korea, etc. the situation is the same.  They just take their Ooma with them, get broadband internet which they need and would get anyway, and plug in the Ooma.

Questions & Answers