Discussion Ooma vs. MagicJack for VoIP "Provider"?

[bob4432]

Have a friend that has the need for a landline but does not want to pay the ~$40/mo the local Telco wants for their service.
Friend has internet and uses the router that came from the ISP and has a cell phone that connects via WiFi since getting a good signal is next to impossible. Herein lies the problem, friend lives with 80+ year old mother that has an old flip phone that obviously does not jump onto the WiFi network and has severe signal problems inside the house.
I have read some horror stories re: MagicJack when needing any type support, either billing or tech, seems MagicJack works OK if it works out if the box OK, but if not, seems like you are screwed.
I haven't seen as many complaints with Ooma, but who knows, maybe I looked in the wrong spot?
What recommendation do you all have for a VoIP device/service would just plug into the ISP's router and be g2g. Obviously the lower the price the better as this will be a way for her mother to plugin a normal phone and talk with family.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions,
bob

EDIT: I also need to add that there is no computer in this residence, so the device has to be an all in one unit.

 

[lxskllr]

How about getting granny a wifi flip phone? I just looked, and it turns out that's a thing, and the prices don't look bad(~$50).

 

[VirtualLarry]

How about getting granny a wifi flip phone? I just looked, and it turns out that's a thing, and the prices don't look bad(~$50).

That, or a MagicJack GO, which plugs (wired) into your router directly, and then get a cordless (mostly DECT 6.0 these days, or newer) base-station telephone. (One with a speaker / hands-free option for the handsets is suggested. I didn't get one for mine, got mine years ago, and I wish that I had.)

I use a MagicJack GO, as of a few years ago, used to use a "classic" USB MagicJack dongle, with a small Brix HTPC. Haven't really had to reboot or re-plug the MagicJack GO, it's been pretty stable, surprisingly.

I've not ever had to deal with MJ billing or tech-support, other than logging into their web site to extend my subscription, and download the MJ software installation package, after upgrading OSes with previously-install MJ software. (Needed software upgrade to deal with OS upgrade, and didn't do so automagically.)

Edit: MJ's certainly "cheap enough". I started up with a couple (sequentially) of five-year subscriptions for $99.99 (*they charge tax, and an "administrative fee" - their profit) on top.

Now it's closer to $40/yr individually, and like $150 for five years, and something like $90-100 for three years. So far, it's worked out great for me.

 

[Iron Woode]

My VOIP service has a one time fee and is completely free after it is set up. Support is through their forums. I have rarely had any issues with them. It's been 8 years now.

There is also WiFi dialing for cell phones.

 

[VirtualLarry]

There is also WiFi dialing for cell phones.

On T-Mobile, their "Wifi calling" takes plan minutes. Go figure.

 

[bob4432]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I also need to add that there is no computer in this residence, so the device has to be an all in one unit.

@lxskllr - us it a WiFi flip phone only or cell too? Mind sharing the link, everything I found brought up cell phones w/ wifi capability.

@iron Wooden - I am finding a lot of myvoip.??? and everything is coming up business orientated. Would you mind giving me an exact link please?

@VirtualLarry - does the MJ GO need a computer, because I accidentally forgot to mention that in the first post, no computer in house, that may change in the future but this has to be treated as a house with no computer or tablet, just the Wi-Fi, one if the Apple X? phones and internet.

Again, thank you all for the suggestions thus far and u look forward to any additional suggestions and if those links can be listed that would be greatly appreciated.
bob

 

[lxskllr]

us it a WiFi flip phone only or cell too? Mind sharing the link, everything I found brought up cell phones w/ wifi capability.

As a cell too. Perhaps I'm assuming too much, but I'm assuming it's to hand off to voip when cell signals are weak. Might depend on the particular provider.

 

[VirtualLarry]

MJ GO requires a PC with a USB port for initial registration / configuration, but once you select "Use without PC", and finish setup, you unplug it from the PC, and pplug it directly into the router with a supplied ethernet cable.

You don't have to do the setup at her house.

 

[evident]

We've used ooma for years and it's great. Really easy to set up and ties into existing phone ports hooked up in the house. I just wish I could use voip phones with it.

 

[Viper GTS]

I've been on Ooma for nearly 8 years now. It's great. Just works, and costs me <$5/mo.

The one thing I will complain about - When I moved ~6 years into my service I discovered the my Telo device had gone to shit. You know how Ferraris are famous for sticky buttons? The entire Ooma device had turned to goo. It had been sitting in my rack for six years and I basically never touched it so it was a bit of a shock to find it a sticky mess. I tried to clean it but ended up just buying a new one. But whatever, IDGAF I'll buy an $80 box every six years. Service is great.

Viper GTS

 

[UsandThem]

I've been on Ooma for nearly 8 years now. It's great. Just works, and costs me <$5/mo.

The one thing I will complain about - When I moved ~6 years into my service I discovered the my Telo device had gone to shit. You know how Ferraris are famous for sticky buttons? The entire Ooma device had turned to goo. It had been sitting in my rack for six years and I basically never touched it so it was a bit of a shock to find it a sticky mess. I tried to clean it but ended up just buying a new one. But whatever, IDGAF I'll buy an $80 box every six years. Service is great.

I had the same thing happen about 6 months ago.

I rearranged my office, and went to clean the dust from Ooma device. I used a paper towel and Endust for electronics. It was one big gooey mess for sure.

I ended up using paper towels and some Goo Gone, and I was able to remove all of that sticky goo. After doing all of that, it still works great.

 

[lxskllr]

The entire Ooma device had turned to goo. It had been sitting in my rack for six years and I basically never touched it so it was a bit of a shock to find it a sticky mess

Is it that rubberized plastic? I hate that stuff. Whoever specs that for their products should be kicked in the nuts.

 

[Iron Woode]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I also need to add that there is no computer in this residence, so the device has to be an all in one unit.

@lxskllr - us it a WiFi flip phone only or cell too? Mind sharing the link, everything I found brought up cell phones w/ wifi capability.

@iron Wooden - I am finding a lot of myvoip.??? and everything is coming up business orientated. Would you mind giving me an exact link please?

@VirtualLarry - does the MJ GO need a computer, because I accidentally forgot to mention that in the first post, no computer in house, that may change in the future but this has to be treated as a house with no computer or tablet, just the Wi-Fi, one if the Apple X? phones and internet.

Again, thank you all for the suggestions thus far and u look forward to any additional suggestions and if those links can be listed that would be greatly appreciated.
bob

I live in Canada.

The service is through freephoneline.ca managed by a company called Fongo.

 

[Viper GTS]

Is it that rubberized plastic? I hate that stuff. Whoever specs that for their products should be kicked in the nuts.

Yeah it's soft touch plastic. I'm sure the one I have now will end up that way too eventually.

I used alcohol and goo gone on my first one and ended up stripping the entire top surface down to bare white plastic. Finally annoyance won and I just tossed it. It still worked fine but I have no tolerance for that nonsense.

Viper GTS

 

[ponyo]

I've been on Ooma for nearly 8 years now. It's great. Just works, and costs me <$5/mo.

The one thing I will complain about - When I moved ~6 years into my service I discovered the my Telo device had gone to shit. You know how Ferraris are famous for sticky buttons? The entire Ooma device had turned to goo. It had been sitting in my rack for six years and I basically never touched it so it was a bit of a shock to find it a sticky mess. I tried to clean it but ended up just buying a new one. But whatever, IDGAF I'll buy an $80 box every six years. Service is great.

Viper GTS

That's weird. I have one of those old grandfathered Ooma I've been using for 11 years now. Unit and plastic is still fine. But it's down in my basement where it's nice and cool. When I bought my Ooma, I figured if I got 4 months out of it, I would breakeven and anything more was just free money. I'm actually surprised they haven't gone out of business. They tried to get me to upgrade my unit. lol. No way am I upgrading and losing my taxfree status. I'm keeping my original grandfathered unit until they go out of business.

 

[Viper GTS]

Yeah I have no idea how they make money on the base plans. The hardware has to be stupid margin these days as it apparently hadn't changed in the six years between my first and second. So assuming 100% of my monthly charge goes to tax (which I wouldn't even care if it didn't, I just haven't looked) they've gotten all of $160-Amazon's profit out of me. Just trivial cost for the amount of service.

Viper GTS

 

[bob4432]

As a cell too. Perhaps I'm assuming too much, but I'm assuming it's to hand off to voip when cell signals are weak. Might depend on the particular provider.

That would work excellent if in fact the phone was extremely simple w/out any of the bells and whistles, basically just a phone. Can I get a link as to what phones you were seeing as I see phones that hand off to WiFi, but again, that is provider dependent (I know from personal use that AT&T will not allow a WiFi capable phone to hand off to the WiFi if you use an unlocked phone, it has to come from AT&T to get that options...)

 

[bob4432]

MJ GO requires a PC with a USB port for initial registration / configuration, but once you select "Use without PC", and finish setup, you unplug it from the PC, and pplug it directly into the router with a supplied ethernet cable.

You don't have to do the setup at her house.

How much info is necessary for the setup as we are states away....If we were in the same city I would just take a laptop and set it up, but what type of data is necessary? Is it a matter of setting up here name and address for 911 service or go deeper than that?
Thanks again

 

[VirtualLarry]

How much info is necessary for the setup as we are states away....

Shouldn't matter, you don't need to be in the same state to configure it, just buy it (have it shipped to your place), configure it, it needs an e-mail, and a 911 address, and create an account on their web site for billing / renewal, and then just ship it to them and tell them to plug it into their router.

PS. It's only a 10/100-megabit ethernet device, not Gigabit. Should still work fine, but the LAN LEDs may be a different color than the rest, once you plug it in.

 

[balloonshark]

I bought a $35 voip phone from Amazon and somehow managed to get it set up to work with Callcentric. No more than I use my phone my bill has been less than $6 a month and $1 of that is for a seperate free incoming calls number. I was going to use my Obi200 but I wanted a display like my Vonage device.

FWIW I received seriously good help on dslreports voip forum. https://www.dslreports.com/forum/voip