RDGriffin.com » free

Ooma 45 days later

rdgriffin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:58:45 +0000

I am really surprised how many hits my site started to get once I started talking about my Ooma experience. Well, I have to say, I am really happy. My only problem with the company is its support. But, from the posts I have read, they were slammed with sales over the Christmas season. And while I don’t like to wait on the phone or wait for an email, I am glad to see that they are busy. Like many people that come by here to read about my experience, I also was worried about buying hardware and then having the company go out of business.

So far, the only call quality problems I have is one number in particular (my ex-wife) where I get a bit of an echo. But maybe that is a good thing .

I just completed porting my Vonage phone number over to Ooma. While it took 3 weeks to complete, it did. There was a slight problem, as for a few hours, it actually was ported to another Ooma customer. I guess this is just some of the growing pains you could expect from a company who is growing. But again, growth of the company is good news for me. I now have saved $50 from my old Vonage bill. Have 2 lines for about $8 bucks a month (once my free 60 trial is up – free right now). Lets hope Ooma hangs in there. But I guess, if they last more then another 2 months, I am a winner.

For those interested in Ooma, visit my link on this page. Amazon is a great place to purchase from. Free shipping and Free shipping if you return the unit. But, I don’t think you will.

Ooma.. over 2 weeks and still going..

rdgriffin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:53:55 +0000

OK. It’s been over two weeks now and I still love my Ooma. I have been keeping an eye on the blogs out there and of course leaving my two cents worth. There have been many blog posts that have put down Ooma. Now, these are not Ooma owners, but just people commenting about a product that they have never even tried.

Many say the company won’t be around. Well, I have saved $50.00 over Vonage this month alone. So, by the end of February, the system will have paid for itself. And, in the meantime, I get clearer reception then Vonage.

I personally don’t believe the company is going anywhere. I have agreed on other blog posts that I will put money on Ooma. One blogger said it wouldn’t be around in a year, that he would ‘bet on it’. I took him up on the bet but I never heard back. Needless to say, I am calling Ooma today to port over my old Vonage lines. I will let you know how that goes.

The only problem I am currently having with the phone is the outgoing callerid on my second line. It still says Ooma.inc for the name. I have been told by Ooma that it takes up to 10 days for this to go into effect. Well, it has been 17 days, and still, I am Ooma.inc. I am sure it will be resolved as I have not really seen other people having the same problem.

Ooma Update

rdgriffin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:10:03 +0000

OK. Well, I got the unit from Amazon and I couldn’t be more pleased.

First, Amazon got the package here in 3 days. Not bad. Ordered on Black Friday night and it was here Tuesday. Because it was one of the busiest shipping days of the year, I was a little shocked to see my package so soon. Upon opening it, I was really surprised. What great packaging. It reminded me of an Apple product.

Opening it up, there were stickers all over the device saying before I install it I need to register the product. I figured, this is it, this is where they get me. I live in Redding California and I knew that I couldn’t get a local phone number. I knew they had phone numbers though in my area code, but not local. That wasn’t a problem for me, since I am currently hooked up with Vonage and I went through the long distance local phone number stuff with them 3 years ago. But I figured, here is where they get me, telling me I wouldn’t be able to sign up because they wouldn’t be able to support a 911 call for me.

I proceeded to register the product on their site. To my surprise, it took only a few minutes and I was done. No problems so far. So I followed the instructions to hook up the main hub. I don’t have a wired landline (only Vonage) so I skipped that part of the installation (I didn’t plug in a phone line). Hooked it into my cable modem and then into my hub. Plugged it in and crossed my figures. Two minutes later, the lights went from red to blue. Hooked up a phone and there it was, my new free dialtone.

Called my new number and setup my voice mail message. Logged onto their website and created another number for my scout (the second piece that comes with it, allowing you to setup another phone line). Now, I realize that the second line would not be free (you need to sign up for their premier service, about $8 if paid annually or $13 if paid monthly), but they offer this service for free for the first 90 days. So I figured that I might as well try it out. I have been sharing my business line with my home for a year now and it is sometimes a pain.

After I picked my next number, I hooked up my Scout and hooked my other phone to it. Picked up the phone and walla, second dialtone. Quality was as good as Vonage, actually a little better. After reading some other posts around the web, I can even tweak that a bit.

So, now two lines, both right now free. For the time being, I just forwarded my Vonage line to the Ooma line so I can test it out. But if things continue on this smoothly (which I can’t say for Vonage), I will be porting my Vonage line over in a month.

Leave me comments if you have questions. This is the coolest thing I have purchased in a long time. I briefly went over the installation, but I can get into detail about it with you if you have questions. Overall, I am really happy.

Hello Ooma, Goodbye Vonage

rdgriffin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:33:18 +0000

Consumer VoIP startup Ooma launched nearly a year ago and offered consumers free phone service for life, all you had to do was buy the hardware for $399.

Just one problem. The sticker shock of paying $399 up front for the hardware put a lot of users off. And there weren’t many places you could actually buy the Ooma.

A year later the company is still going. They added marketing executives Rich Buchanan to the team from Sling Media earlier this year – the guy that led the Sling marketing team to sell 100,000 units in its first six months of operations, and 500,000 units as of mid 2008. Buchanan brought Tami Bhaumik with him from Sling as well, who is now Ooma’s VP Marketing.

Amazon started selling Oomas earlier this year, and customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Priced at $249.99, it was a much better deal then the original. They still offer the free service for a reduced price of $250, with optional additional features in a premier service add on for $13/month. The premier features include a second line, three-way calling, message screening and custom rings.

Well, I currently use Vonage. I have been having problems with Vonage since I started using them 3 years ago, but even with the problems (bad phone connections, echos, voice mail problems) I was happy with their price over my local phone company and long distance carrier. I used it primarily for my business, but then started also using a Vonage line for my home. I no longer have a traditional phone line. Is it time to move on to the ‘Free’ voip service?

Well, Amazon.com’s Black Friday was this weekend (well Friday). Amazon offered the basic Ooma module along with a scout (allowing a second phone number or extension) for $199.99, $50.00 off their new regular price. I have been toying around with the idea for a year now and held off thinking the company would go under. But they haven’t. I spent the last year trying to find a headset that would give me a good connection on my phones, always blamming the phones for the connection problems. Was it really my phones (I have returned 3 units so far this year), or my Vonage service? Could all the reviews on Amazon be correct, or just reviews from its employee’s?

Well, I couldn’t resist. I had to try for myself. I had to find out if this was all just hype. At $200, the system would pay for itself in 10 months (Vonage is $24.95 a month for one phone line). If I go with the premium service ($100 per year or $13 per month) I could get a second phone line along with the other premium features. For two lines at Vonage it would cost me $50 a month (until they realize one is for a business, then $60 per month). It won’t take but a few months to pay off the system, and then free phone service for life (or as long as Ooma is around).

Take a look at the reviews yourself and check out Ooma‘s website. You have until 12/3/08 to get the Black Friday deal at Amazon. Is it worth it. I’ll let you know.