I recently cancelled my overpriced cable tv-internet-phone bundle, got fiber optic internet from a different service provider, and opened a YouTube TV account. Better channels, higher speeds and a lower price. But I needed home phone service too! Enter the Obihai. Despite what some reviews say, you can have FREE phone service, to both make and receive calls over the internet, but you have to configure things properly.
Here's what I didn't know, but wish I did, before I set up my new Obi200. This seems like a lot but is only a few extra minutes of work.
1 - Get your Google Voice number arranged beforehand via your Google account.* The Obi setup process doesn't assign a GV number, even though it seems like it does - and oddly enough you'll be able to make outgoing calls without one just by associating the Google account (which the Obi setup process DOES do.). Those outgoing calls will have no caller ID as there's no number assigned yet.
2.a* - IMPORTANT: When you set up your GV number, you MUST assign it to an existing cell phone number for call forwarding, which is how GV works. Don't worry, you'll unlink this in another step.
2.b (optional) - The cell phone to which you assign the GV number can't already have a different GV number associated with it, which is what I wanted to do - this part may not apply to you if you have only one GV number. Since I have a personal GV number that rings on my work cell phone, I used a different Google account to get a new GV number that is dedicated to the Obi, and I assigned that new GV number to my wife's cell phone when I set it up. (Again, that will be disabled in another step.)
3 - Ok, so now you've got a GV number. Plug in your Obi and follow the new account setup process on the Obihai website. You'll enter some numbers from the Obi unit and you'll link the Google account associated with your GV number. Pretty easy.
4 - ESSENTIAL STEP - Now you can make outgoing calls but still not receive them! This is because GV is forwarding calls to your cell phone. Remember, we need to unlink the cell number, and now is the time. Log into Google Voice in a web browser. Not the GV app! The settings you need are only in a web browser. Look for the link for LEGACY Google Voice. It should be at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar. You must access the legacy settings not the newer ones. Once you're in legacy settings, you'll see the devices that are linked to your GV number. One will be your Obi (for some reason mine appears twice) and one will be the cell phone you used to create the Google Voice account. UNCHECK the box next to that mobile number. Save the settings. (You can also configure email notifications for voice messages here.)
5 - Now you can make AND receive calls using your Obi with your new GV number, for free (other than the cost of the Obi unit.) You may want to add 911 service or look into other premium services offered by Obihai, but those topics are outside the scope of this review.
6 - Oh, the actual review:
It works as it should now that I figured out the GV settings. Honestly I was ready to return it in frustration, but am glad I put in some extra effort. Still, I took off one star for limited support from the company and because voice quality is acceptable, but not crystal clear, on my Panasonic cordless phones.
Despite the extra steps necessary to get it to work properly, I highly recommend the Obi200 as a low cost way of getting VOIP phone service and cutting out overpriced bundles from the phone or cable company.
| Wireless Type | 54g |
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