VOIP: I'm going to do it. UPDATE: I did it.

[SunnyD]

I would like to go voip. I have some linksys PAP2's and a SPA3102. I would like to use an old computer to setup PIAF (FreePBX). Can someone advise me on the provider(s) to use and the setup in general?

Anveo.com is the provider I use, nothing but good things to say about them.

As long as your PAP2's are unlocked, they'll work. I haven't used PIAF, but I use FreePBX itself for my PBX. I assume it should generally be about the same. It's not terribly hard to set up.

 

[jessieqwert]

What is the advantage of using Anveo with the OBI over GV? I see a few extras but nothing compelling.

 

[twinrider1]

GV is going away next year (May, IIRC).

 

[Lyfer]

If you can port your number:

https://www.myacn.com/digital/plans.html

$25 a month.

 

[vi edit]

Yep, happy ooma customer here too. On the no monthly fee plan and was lucky to find a local number where I live.

 

[Michael]

Can you point GV at the other services that Obitalk is compatible with? So I don't have to change my number?

Michael

 

[Pardus]

I'm with Phone Power for a few more months, cost is about $210 for a 2-year contract. I do like the ability to receive faxes with there service, but the voice quality is not so good. Voice dropouts occur quite often, there technical support team will always blame your hardware/provider for the issue.

I like Ooma but want to keep my number and not be forced to use a Google voice one.

 

[Gillbot]

GV is going away next year (May, IIRC).

Completely away? Source?

 

[Doppel]

and another, my only regret is not signing up years ago when they first launched.

Yep. It just seemed too good to be true. I have to assume the reason more people don't do VOIP is they think there must be some big caveat.

I switched to Ooma 3 years ago and it's been great.

 

[Wyndru]

I like Ooma but want to keep my number and not be forced to use a Google voice one.

I was able to transfer my local number to ooma a few years ago, I assume they still do this? Obi is the system that uses GV, which if was a voip hobbyist I would consider but I don't have the time to fiddle around, that's why I chose ooma. Plus, anything using google's free services is always an uncertainty, they change policies and terms of conditions daily.

 

[SunnyD]

Completely away? Source?

Not completely away. The "hack" that allowed using Google Voice as a SIP/XMPP gateway in order to get free calling is going away. It was never intended to be used this way, people are just bitching because the free lunch is over.

Google Voice as a phone aggregator/voice mail service is going to still stay around for the foreseeable future, which is what it was meant to do in the first place.

 

[Gillbot]

Not completely away. The "hack" that allowed using Google Voice as a SIP/XMPP gateway in order to get free calling is going away. It was never intended to be used this way, people are just bitching because the free lunch is over.

Google Voice as a phone aggregator/voice mail service is going to still stay around for the foreseeable future, which is what it was meant to do in the first place.

That's fine by me, that's all I use it for. I have no idea what my real cell number is since all I give out is my google voice number anymore.

 

[alangrift]

Can you point GV at the other services that Obitalk is compatible with? So I don't have to change my number?

Michael

Well third party apps for GV are being banned so to speak by Google in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

 

[SunnyD]

Can you point GV at the other services that Obitalk is compatible with? So I don't have to change my number?

Michael

You'll be able to point Google Voice to any service with an actual traditional telephone number (10 digit DID). You will NOT be able to use Google Voice as a transport service anymore.

 

[cavemanmoron]

I might catch crap for it, but I've been on Magic Jack for going on 4 years now. The only problem I had with it was after a couple years, when the USB dongle went bad. They replaced it. I run it on an old, low power system, running XP. 😎

The newer version they have can plug directly into your router, so no need for the computer to be on 24/7. Will probably upgrade to that, whenever this unit dies. Can't beat $20/year.

Magic jack here too using the dongle for about a year,
that plugs into the router. 🙂 I give it an A- for quality,
every once in a while there is a phone number it will not let me dial out to.

🙂

 

[Michael]

You'll be able to point Google Voice to any service with an actual traditional telephone number (10 digit DID). You will NOT be able to use Google Voice as a transport service anymore.

Thanks. That is good because it means I can use the same phone number and the house phone will still ring when I switch to another VOIP carrier on my Obitalk device. It is too bad that Google decided to make the change, but they have been threatening to change or even end GV from the day it was set up.

Michael

 

[SunnyD]

Thanks. That is good because it means I can use the same phone number and the house phone will still ring when I switch to another VOIP carrier on my Obitalk device. It is too bad that Google decided to make the change, but they have been threatening to change or even end GV from the day it was set up.

Michael

Isn't that how pretty much EVERY Google service works?

 

[twinrider1]

I am now out of the stone age. 2nd generation AT&T'er.
My mom was an operator back when it was cord board.

I started at the company as an operator on what they called TSPS.

Eventually it was replaced with a computer workstation screen/keyboard setup (OSPS. 1000 calls in a shift)

And today I made a VOIP call. I have left the circuit-switched world behind and I'll never look back!

Box arrived yesterday (ok, should've spent the few bucks on shipping). Hooked it up this morning and...........it worked. Voice quality is excellent. So $35 for the Obi100 and free Google Voice, zero monthly cost (for now). Amazing.