Question 1

Can you use more than one "landline" phone with this? For example, we have some AT&T base with two remote wireless units, AND we have two regular corded phones with amplifiers (for hearing loss). If so, how are they connected?

Accepted Answer

You have to disconnect the main phone line that comes from the phone company. Its located inside a box and is known as a "phone nid" if you need to look up images of it. Once you plug the ooma into a phone jack, it will make ALL the phone jacks functional through the ooma device. It is important to disconnect the main phone line however so you get no dial tone from the local phone company. If you don't do that ooma will attempt to feed a signal all the way back to the phone company (instead of containing it within your houses wiring), which will cause major issues

Question 2

Can I "port" my current cellphone number to the OOMA?  If so, when someone calls my cellphone, will the OOMA ring at the same time?

I question this because I've never owned/don't own a landline--only a cellphone; in my new apartment I get absolutely zero cell reception... it would be cool if this device could ring in place of my cellphone when I'm in the house.

Also, if it does port my cellphone number, can I still use my Verizon service normally or would using the OOMA over my in house internet somehow cause my minutes to be used through Verizon?

Accepted Answer

Hey Brad,

Let me explain Porting the best I can.  You see, right now, Verizon owns the telephone number you use to have people contact you on your cellular phone.  I am not sure that they "own" it as much as they own the rights to it or that it is assigned to them.  When you port your number, you are merely transferring those rights from one company to another.  What I am trying to get at is you can't have two different companies using the same number.  It has to be one or the other.

Ooma Premier, I believe, has an option to allow you to use your cellphone to answer your home phone but this doesn't seem like a viable option since your cell phone doesnt get good service at your house.

I do believe there is an easy answer to your solution.  Get Ooma and a new number.  Keep your same cell phone number.  When your are at home, forward your cell phone to your Ooma.  You might want to check with your cell phone provider (Verizon) to see if you will get charged for forwarding calls.

Hope this helps,
Dan

Question 3

Does anybody know if I would be able to try this service with a new number, and if I liked it, then be able to port my current phone number?

Accepted Answer

You will have to keep your current line while you trial Ooma, then if you like it transfer the number.

Question 4

Can I keep my current ( land line )phone number ?

Accepted Answer

You can keep your present number, but you you will need to get Ooma Telo to port it over from your present telephone company.  This can be done during the initial set up or after.  I suggest you use a temporary number first (you are given many to choose from) until you make sure you are happy with this serivce.  I used a temporary number for the first month or so until I was satisfied I had my router settings correct on my Verizon Fios router.

Question 5

Is this telephone system compatible with Comcast Cable internet?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I would not expect any problems. I understand comcast is pretty fast so you should get good quality calls thru the device.  We are very pleased with ours and it should save us a bundle over the yrs.

Question 6

Can I receive faxes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, although I have not done so yet.  The fax is easy to set up.  If the Telo is near the fax machine, you just plug a phone line splitter into the Telo phone jack and run one line to the phone and another to the fax.  According to the documentation, you can use a Linx device if the fax is not near the Telo, but I have not tried that option.

Thanks.

Question 7

I'm with AT&T and my phone hasn't worked in a while. I believe it must be a problem with the wiring somewhere underneath the house. However, I use the DSL Lite for internet service (and it works just fine) and though I do anticipate upgrading to a faster internet speed for Ooma, I am wondering if you can use the internet and the phone (Ooma) at the same time? Thanks in advance.

Accepted Answer

I have U-Verse, so I can't answer your question completely, but generally, you can use Ooma and the internet at the same time. It's like having two different computers using the internet. I'm going to guess it's your router that is causing the problem. It may be outdated or the software/firmware needs to be updated, if I assume that Ooma worked before on it?

Question 8

Currently the offer comes with 60 days of Oooma Premier Service - Premier Service usually gets you free porting of your existing phone number.  Will the 60 days of free premier service also allow you to waive the very high porting fee?

Accepted Answer

No, but if you choose to purchase the premier service the porting fee that you paid will be deducted from the premier price. If you choose not to continue with the premier at the end of the trial, keep your eye open for an email to prompting you to discontinue, otherwise they'll sign you up for it. Fortunately, when I called, they reimbursed me. Despite the high porting fee, still worth it. We're very pleased, and the porting went much faster than anticipated.

Question 9

Earlier many of you said if I disconnect the incoming phone line, plug the Ooma unit into one jack and will provide service to all jacks in the house.

However, my internet is DSL provided by the phone company. Would disconnecting the phone line effectively disconnect DSL, my internet connection?  The phone company did say I can discontinue service but still have DSL, but that was before i started looking at the Ooma product.

If DLS is to be disconnected with phone service, then is the only other option to have base phone with cordless extensions (I have some) and then an Ooma Linx Wireless Phone Extender for any other phones (we have an amplifier phone, for example)?

Accepted Answer

First, you have to have your house wired the right way to be able to plug the Ooma into a wall outlet and have it "feed" your entire house.  I had cable internet and Voip with my cable internet provider.  As such, they wired they house for me.  It isn't a tough task but you need to know what you are doing.

If you unplug your phone line when you have DSL, you will disconnect your internet connection, the same internet connection Ooma needs to work.

I am not sure the option you described is your "only" option but it is in fact the easiest.  We had an alarm that is monitored and a fax machine to deal with.  After a bit of configuring and playing with settings, I a very happy with my Ooma.

Question 10

Are there any taxes and fees to be paid monthly?  If so, about how much would that cost?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you get billed monthly for the taxes.  The amount would vary based on where you live.  In Washington State I pay just over $4 a month.

Questions & Answers