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IF YOUR OBI NEEDS UPDATES SEE HERE

See here for some good tutorials on setting up the Obi.

You can switch your current landline number into a Google Voice account to retain your phone number on a free Obi phone line.
To port your landline to GV:
  • Get ahold of an old Page Plus or Verizon cell phone that isn't being used. Port your existing landline to Page Plus for free through their website.
  • Fill out the port form and put in your landline number and the old PP cell phone's ESN or MEID number (from under the battery) and wait a couple of days for it to go through. You will know that the port is complete, when dialing your landline rings on the cell phone.
  • Once the account is active, buy $10 worth of minutes from PagePlus in order to receive the verification call from GV.
  • Now you can initiate the GV port. It's a good idea to open a new Gmail account. You can then setup all emails that come to that account (all the voicemails notifications) to be forwarded to your main Gmail account. Login to GV from the new account and port in your number. It will cost $20, and you will get an email when the port to GV is complete.
Using the above method will only have incoming Caller ID numbers, not names. If you want names as well, follow these steps:
  • Go to https://www.callcentric.com/, click Products, then click the yellow Get A Number button next to Free Phone Number.
  • Use the tool on the left to pick an area code, then order the number. It doesn’t have to be something memorable, because no one will ever have to dial it.
  • When it asks if you’re in US/Canada, either select Yes to use their E911 service, or No if you want to use something else. Callcentric setup is free, plus $1.50/mo if you want E911 services. See below for more details.
  • After you receive a confirmation email from Callcentric with your new account info, go to obitalk.com, and log into your Obi. Click SP2, scroll down to OBiTALK Compatible Service Providers, then click Next. Follow the prompts to link your Callcentric account. In the box that says Callcentric Number, enter the 1777 number you got in the email. Uncheck Primary Line for Outgoing Calls and 911.
  • Open Google Voice, go into Settings, and add a forwarding phone. Enter the real phone number you got in the email from Callcentric. Google will call it to confirm; it should ring on your Obi. Answer it and enter the code shown by GV.
  • Uncheck forward to Google Chat.
  • Log into your Callcentric account. Click Preferences. Under General, enable Caller ID with name (Inbound calls). (You can also change the maximum call duration, and unlist yourself from the directory).
or this for a $5 one time fee.
https://simonics.com/gw/?promo=nerdvittles


If you’re not using Callcentric, you have to set up SP3 in Obi settings to point to your E911 provider’s account.
E911 providers:
Callcentric$18/year ($1.50/mo) + $1.50 setup
Anveo$15/year
http://www.gv911.com/$12/year
http://www.bulkvs.com/e911.html$8.64/year ($0.72/mo)

If you want the SP2 to ring like the standard US ringtone:
go to obi expert config, then to voice service, select sp2, and change it to this:
X_ServProvProfile B
X_RingProfile   A
X_CodecProfile   A

You can add your CID http://www.listyourself.net/ListYourself/listing.jsp?ID=new
and check your CID http://who.scalling.com/411/

Author Topic: OBi Master Thread  (Read 409478 times)

Offline Yisroel Tech

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1740 on: September 25, 2024, 02:08:22 PM »
Seems like it. $44/yr (any tax on top of that?) vs $72/yr.

Yes, seems like taxes on top of the $44.

Quote
*Pricing does not include shipping and handling, taxes or other applicable fees. Transfer of your existing phone number, where available, requires a one-time processing fee.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1741 on: September 25, 2024, 02:08:37 PM »
Blackjack ends up being cheaper then Ooma, no?

Or you can do a combination of Zadarma or Voip.ms for free incoming, and use one of the Betamax/Dellmont services for outgoing (it should let you set the CID to your incoming number).
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1742 on: September 25, 2024, 02:09:24 PM »
Yes, seems like taxes on top of the $44.

Just sales tax? What if you register/ship to a state with no sales tax?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1743 on: September 25, 2024, 02:12:24 PM »
Just sales tax? What if you register/ship to a state with no sales tax?

Oh, that part might be about sales tax, but see this one (and also BTW see about hotlines...):
Quote
Calling does not include calls to Alaska or the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada or calls to non-8YY calling card, platform, conference or chat lines, for which additional fees will apply. Porting an existing phone number is subject to an additional fee, and may not be available for all numbers. Annual and monthly fees quoted do not include initial purchase of magicjack device or devices (which includes 1 year of service) or shipping, administration and regulatory fees and taxes as applicable.

Offline Dan

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1744 on: September 25, 2024, 02:13:40 PM »
Seems like it. $44/yr (any tax on top of that?) vs $72/yr.
https://www.ooma.com/home-phone-service/ooma-telo-vs-magic-jack/

Anyone paying for Magicjack able to share what those taxes come out to?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1746 on: September 25, 2024, 02:20:40 PM »
Oh, that part might be about sales tax, but see this one (and also BTW see about hotlines...):
Interesting! Haven't had issues with GV for that yet.
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1747 on: September 25, 2024, 02:24:19 PM »
Interesting! Haven't had issues with GV for that yet.

While they don't have this sweeping policy for all "platform, conference or chat lines", they do block some of those rural area-codes, like 605-313-xxxx (I guess you call lines that aren't part of it). When calling a number like 6053136669 it will tell me "You do not have enough credit on your account".

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1748 on: September 25, 2024, 02:25:36 PM »
While they don't have this sweeping policy for all "platform, conference or chat lines", they do block some of those rural area-codes, like 605-313-xxxx (I guess you call lines that aren't part of it). When calling a number like 6053136669 it will tell me "You do not have enough credit on your account".
I've heard of that issue with school conference hotlines. But we don't call chat / conference lines so I guess we're fine :)
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1749 on: September 26, 2024, 08:45:35 AM »
Just to confirm, if and when it stops working, will you be able to then port the number from GV to one of the other options (Ooma etc.) or is there something you should do now while it's still working?

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1750 on: September 26, 2024, 08:48:46 AM »
Just to confirm, if and when it stops working, will you be able to then port the number from GV to one of the other options (Ooma etc.) or is there something you should do now while it's still working?

It's regular Google Voice (which Google can take away at whim if they want to...), device should not matter.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1751 on: September 26, 2024, 09:00:53 AM »
It's regular Google Voice (which Google can take away at whim if they want to...), device should not matter.
My question is, is there a risk of losing the number if it stops working with Obi or any other device?

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1752 on: September 26, 2024, 09:01:51 AM »
My question is, is there a risk of losing the number if it stops working with Obi or any other device?

No.

Offline Yo ssi

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1753 on: September 26, 2024, 09:29:54 AM »
It's regular Google Voice (which Google can take away at whim if they want to...), device should not matter.
It's interesting that this is the general attitude. You can say the same for T-Mobile or Verizon.

Google may have less reason to keep it alive, but it's a service that's been around for years and IMHO it won't go down without giving an option to port out.
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1754 on: September 26, 2024, 09:38:11 AM »
It's interesting that this is the general attitude. You can say the same for T-Mobile or Verizon.

Google may have less reason to keep it alive, but it's a service that's been around for years and IMHO it won't go down without giving an option to port out.

The attitude comes from history.

It's not about shutting the down the full service without giving an option to port out. Of course that won't happen. But they can shut down your account at whim for a ton of different TOS reasons (which probably everyone breaks...) and you have little to none recourse.

With a regular phone carrier this doesn't happen that often, and if it does happen, you have proper contact lines and number portability regulations.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1755 on: September 26, 2024, 02:28:36 PM »
The attitude comes from history.

It's not about shutting the down the full service without giving an option to port out. Of course that won't happen. But they can shut down your account at whim for a ton of different TOS reasons (which probably everyone breaks...) and you have little to none recourse.

With a regular phone carrier this doesn't happen that often, and if it does happen, you have proper contact lines and number portability regulations.
That's a whole different story, nothing to do with obi, unless that break the TOS.

What terms would the casual user be breaking?
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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1756 on: September 26, 2024, 02:45:09 PM »
That's a whole different story, nothing to do with obi, unless that break the TOS.


Correct, I wrote that the device/Obi shouldn't matter, but if asking about losing the number that should be mentioned.

Quote
What terms would the casual user be breaking?

"Do not create multiple user accounts" (https://support.google.com/voice/answer/9230450?sjid=9778224490147924026-NA#:~:text=Do%20not%20create%20multiple%20user%20accounts) would be a good starter...

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1758 on: September 27, 2024, 07:55:18 AM »
Dear OBITalk User,

 

I just got this email this morning, I had no idea. Wow! end of an incredible era
If it's not free shipping it's not worth it.