I recently decided to purchase the Ooma VoIP home phone system when looking for ways to cut monthly expenses. Ooma offers the core system (main hub and a scout) for around $200
, and comes with caller ID, voicemail, free long distance, and several other features with NO MONTHLY FEE.
UPDATE: After a little over a month of using Ooma, there have been no problems what so ever with the system. The sound quality is great, it's never been down, and I love the stylish hub.
My current home phone, provided by my cable company, costs me $22 a month. So in approximately 9 months (7 months after I sell the scout on ebay) the Ooma system will have paid for it self and then it's free phone for as long as Ooma is around!
Advantages:
- Price - Depending on what you currently pay for home phone service, Ooma will pay for it self well within a year, in my case 7 months.
- Features - Ooma offers many things that you have to pay extra for with other phone companies, like caller ID, free calls to any US number, and call waiting.
- Online Control Panel - Listen to voicemail and control preferences online in the ooma lounge.
- Ability to keep current number - One time fee of $39.99
- Do Not Disturb - There is a do not disturb feature that sends all calls straight to voice mail.
Disadvantages:
- Ooma's existence - It's been around for about 2 years now, but who knows how long it will last. Their is a risk that you could buy the system and then Ooma folds soon after. But all the reviews and articles I've read make it seem like Ooma is here to stay. As long as you hit the break even point, then you at least won't do any worse than what you would with your current phone company.
- 911 service - If you're using Ooma without a backup landline, then you will be using E911(where regionally supported). This means calls will be routed over the internet, if your internet is down, then you will have to call using a cell phone.
For more info, visit Ooma's FAQ page.
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