The ooma Core VoIP Phone System lets your standard analog telephone make and receive calls over a broadband internet connection. Just plug a regular phone into the ooma Hub and the Hub into a broadband-connected router, and you’re off and talking! The ooma Scout device extends the benefits of the ooma system to additional phone jacks in the home.
With ooma, call anyone, at any number, anywhere in the US with no monthly fees. You get all the features you’ve come to expect: caller-ID, call-waiting, and voicemail, plus the freedom to talk on your existing corded or cordless phones with no PC or headset required. The system provides an easy-to-use digital answering feature called the Broadband Answering Machine, which combines all the functions of a traditional answering machine—including real-time message screening and call-intercept—with the advanced functions of digital voicemail.
ooma also reserves bandwidth and prioritizes your voice conversations so they will sound better than landline. The ooma Core VoIP Phone System is a talented and innovative set of devices bringing the convenience of VoIP into your standard phone system, saving you time and money!
Free US CallingWith the ooma Core VoIP Phone System, make local and long-distance calls within the 50 states in the U.S. without monthly charges.
Easy to Install and UseWith ooma's auto-configuration technology, it's a snap to set up - simply plug your high-speed Internet and existing home phone into the ooma hub and you are ready to go. Operating the ooma system is even easier, just like using your existing home phones.
Bundled FeaturesThe ooma Core VoIP Phone System supports traditional and enhanced calling features such as caller-ID, caller-ID blocking, call-waiting, voicemail, Directory Assistance and more for a better home telephone experience.
Instant Second LineThe ooma Scout device provides access to the Instant Second Line feature that adds another phone line to any phone in your home without the hassle of physically installing a new one - just connect the device to a standard phone jack, a power outlet, and a regular home phone.
Broadband Answering MachineEach ooma device features a Broadband Answering Machine where you can play, save, delete, and navigate through your messages without having to pick up the phone.
Online ooma LoungeThe ooma Lounge is a Web portal where you can make international calls at low rates with your ooma system, listen to voicemail, view account information, customize your privacy settings, and more.
Pros: ooma is quality equipment. You can easily tell this by the nice box and packaging it comes in to the base and scout units. No cheap junk here. So yes, you pay a high cost up front but at least you're getting decent equipment. Easy-to-read manual. Really--no translation needed. It offers easy to understand instructions along with diagrams so you can properly install the device without second guessing. I wish all manuals were this easy to read. Unlike magicJack, you don't have to have your PC on to use the device, and unlike mJ, don't have to dial the area code first of a number first if it's local. The ooma Lounge offers lots of customization. You get your typical services like call-waiting, caller ID, and voicemail. But you also have some neat features like the ability to block (blacklist) telephone numbers, and even block anonymous calls that don't provide a caller ID.
Cons: ooma needs to open up their Lounge (forums) to non-subscribers so they can find out more about the service before making a purchase. This would have helped me a great deal. You can't visit the Lounge unless you purchase and then activate an ooma device. - Add additional support staff to reduce hold times. While I haven't had to use their support, if I did I wouldn't want to wait as long as what people have reported (some over an hour). - Expand International calling areas. For example, I live in Maine but ooma does not list a rate to call New Brunswick where I have some friends.
Overall Review: I decided on ooma but waited until Newegg dropped the price on it (it was $250). It took me about 10 min to set up up my ooma device. I thought the manual was very easy to understand and provided nice diagrams to aid you in installation. While it may seem dumbed down (I didn't think so), it offered very clear explanations to make installation as simple as possible. My overall rating would be 90%, or 4.5 stars.