Ooma Telo Free Monthly Service

You don't pay for Ooma's service. Instead, you pay for the VoIP gateway or adapter that connects to the Ooma network. The products, Ooma Telo or Ooma Hub, only work with Ooma's VoIP.

Compatible with Your Old Phones

Ooma works with your original telephones. You don't need to buy all new VoIP phones, and setup is easy.

If you would like new phones, Ooma sells proprietary phones that work with Ooma Telo.

To access traditional services such as 311, 511, 0+ or operator assisted calling, keep Ooma connected to a landline.

Keep Your Old Number or Choose a New Number

With Ooma, you can keep your old number. Porting your old number to Ooma is a one-time $39.99 fee or free with an annual Ooma Premier subscription.

If you want a new number, you can most often pick your own in the area code you want.

E911 Service

E911 is specifically designed for VoIP services because traditional 911 is not available. When you dial 911 with Ooma, your call will be forwarded to an assigned response center based on your registered address. You phone number and address will be sent to the emergency center.

In some areas, enhanced 911 is not available and you will be routed to the national 911 emergency center.

Voice Quality

Ooma uses its own, special HD technology for clarity of voice over the phone.

Ooma Hardware

You have a choice of Ooma Telo or Ooma Hub for your service. The Ooma Telo costs $249.99 and the Ooma Hub costs $219.99.

Setup is simple: plug either Ooma Telo or Ooma Hub into your modem or router, then plug your phone into the Ooma device.

When you receive Ooma Telo or Ooma Hub, it comes with 60 days' trial of Ooma Premium (see below). If you do not want Ooma Premium, you must cancel it.

Ooma Accessories

Ooma has other hardware for your convenience.

The Ooma Scout is an add-on for the Ooma Hub or Ooma Telo, and connects to other phone jacks in your house. The Ooma Scout lets you access Ooma features from elsewhere in the home.

The Ooma Bluetooth Adapter merges your mobile and home phones, and you can go hands-free with a Bluetooth headset (via the Ooma handset).

Ooma Telo Specifics

Ooma Telo with free service is low cost and high quality for residential phone systems. The Telo device may be a big upfront expense of $250, but you will save money over time. You pay only taxes and fees every month, which varies based on your zip code (In California, it is $3.47).

Taxes and fees include:

• Regulatory Compliance Fee
• 911 Service Fee
• Federal Universal Service Charge
• State and local taxes, fees and surcharges

Features exclusive to the Ooma Telo include an online phonebook, Ooma HD Voice, optional Telo handsets, and a USB port for expansion. You can check your voicemail on the Telo or by browser.

Ooma Hub Specifics

The Ooma Hub is an alternative to the Ooma Telo. Both plug into your router/modem and a telephone. Like the Ooma Telo, there is a one-time purchase for the Hub device.

The Ooma Hub has fewer features than the Ooma Telo, but you have the option to set up a backup landline in case your Internet is down.

Also exclusive to the Ooma Hub: you can add an Ooma Scout to the other phones in your house to access Ooma features.

The monthly taxes and fees are identical to the Ooma Telo.

Ooma Premier

Ooma Premier is the feature-rich version of Ooma. The subscription will work with both the Hub and Telo device.

Enhanced Features

Ooma Premier enhances your voicemail and your caller ID with more privacy options.

Calls can be transferred to voicemail with the press of a button. Voicemail can also be forwarded to your email so you can listen in by mobile or PC.

If you don't want to listen to voicemail, there is voicemail-to-text for $9.99 a month (40 messages) and $0.25 for additional messages.

With added privacy features, you can block individuals and whole communities such as unwanted solicitors. Caller ID also shows the name of callers outside of your address book.

Call screening allows you to send unrecognized caller ID tags straight to voicemail, and you can listen or pick up the phone to take their call. You can completely block anonymous callers, as well.

Additional Features

Additional features include:

• a 2nd line
• 3-way calling
• call forwarding to mobile phone
• backup number to forward calls during Internet outage
• call forwarding to any number

There are also personalization features, such as a personal 2nd number. 911 Notifications let you know via email or mobile phone if someone at home is calling 911. Ooma Premier also gives you private, password-protected voicemail.

International Calling

With Ooma Premier, you can purchase a plan or bundle for international calling. At $4.99 per month, you have 500 minutes to 70 countries (such as Canada, Australia, China, Mexico, and the UK). At $9.99 a month, you have 1000 minutes to the same countries and a cheaper rate per minute anywhere else.

Premier Specifics

With Ooma Premier, you get more, and with a monthly price below many other providers. Premier is $9.99 or $119.99 per year. You can port your old number to Ooma for free if you sign up for a year's service.

Ooma Service Editorial Review

Ooma's VoIP Network

Ooma provides its own VoIP service and promotes VoIP-to-telephone with no monthly cost. However, Ooma has had outages in the past: once every year since 2009. Users with Ooma Hub and a legacy landline do not have to experience downtime.

Ooma's Awards and Recognition

Ooma has won several awards since 2008 for innovation and telephony.

In 2010, Ooma won the Internet Telephony Product of the Year.

In 2011, Ooma won Electronic House's Product of the Year award.

Terms and Conditions Review

Ooma, Inc provides all its legal documents under /legal on its website, which is nicely organized. Unfortunately, the terms and conditions page from Ooma is dense, long, and at times convoluted.

Refunds & Termination

You can return your Ooma equipment within 30 days of receiving it for a refund on a conditional basis.

If you return it:

1. within 14 days of account termination,
2. in original condition,
3. with proof of purchase
4. and all accessories
5. and "valid return authorization number" from customer service,
6. and pay all costs of shipping
7. and possibly a restocking fee,

then you can get a refund.

If you purchased Ooma from a retail store, you can attempt to get a refund from them, not Ooma, Inc.

If you terminate your Ooma service, you are responsible for all charges associated with reconfiguring your phone service.

Contact Ooma:

Address: 1840 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Contact Number:
650-566-6600, Corporate
1-888-711-6662, Customer Support

Contact Email:
info@ooma.com, General
support@oomacare.com, Customer Support