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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 448538 times)

Offline Yisroel Tech

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1760 on: October 14, 2024, 03:16:33 PM »
Considering doing this but having some challenges understanding all the instructions-
https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/18inqwk/use_google_voice_with_an_internet_telephone/

I think the post's attempt to make it crisp-clear is simply making it too lengthy and frightening sounding... So here is the simple human version of it (each step can vary depending on the carrier you choose, but this is the idea, and it's simple):
  • You sign up with a VoIP provider (a cheap one, I don't believe Callcentric is cheapest)
  • Get a phone number from them
  • Register your IP phone with that carrier
  • Forward all your Google Voice calls to the number you got from them
  • Set up your caller ID with that carrier to be the Google Voice number, which they allow after a verification phone call

Now all calls to GV number ring to (your VoIP provider number which rings on) your device. And all the calls from your device have the caller ID number of your GV.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1761 on: October 14, 2024, 03:38:56 PM »
I think the post's attempt to make it crisp-clear is simply making it too lengthy and frightening sounding... So here is the simple human version of it (each step can vary depending on the carrier you choose, but this is the idea, and it's simple):
  • You sign up with a VoIP provider (a cheap one, I don't believe Callcentric is cheapest)
  • Get a phone number from them
  • Register your IP phone with that carrier
  • Forward all your Google Voice calls to the number you got from them
  • Set up your caller ID with that carrier to be the Google Voice number, which they allow after a verification phone call

Now all calls to GV number ring to (your VoIP provider number which rings on) your device. And all the calls from your device have the caller ID number of your GV.
so not free anymore.

Why not just port your GV number to a voip provider then? Unless you want to continue using SMS with google?
TRUMP better coverage than 5G!

Offline Yisroel Tech

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1762 on: October 14, 2024, 03:39:44 PM »
so not free anymore.

Why not just port your GV number to a voip provider then? Unless you want to continue using SMS with google?

And be able to simultaneously use GV (free) on the web/app as well.

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1763 on: October 14, 2024, 03:40:31 PM »
And be able to simultaneously use GV (free) on the web/app as well.
ahh, but so far obi still working with google for those with preconfigured devices
TRUMP better coverage than 5G!

Offline Yisroel Tech

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1764 on: October 14, 2024, 03:41:34 PM »
ahh, but so far obi still working with google for those with preconfigured devices

Understood.

I was just commenting on the alternative (for new setups or if/when the Obi connection does eventually stop) he linked.

Offline itunes

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1765 on: October 14, 2024, 04:16:50 PM »
Thanks to everyone on this thread for sharing their knowledge of the OBI device and giving users like myself a free landline for the past decade.
Hoping the OBI continues working for now, but if there is someone tech savvy who could write up step by step instructions for those who are not  that tech savvy explaining how to setup a good replacement that would be a big help.
Thanks in advance

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1766 on: October 14, 2024, 04:39:55 PM »
I think the post's attempt to make it crisp-clear is simply making it too lengthy and frightening sounding... So here is the simple human version of it (each step can vary depending on the carrier you choose, but this is the idea, and it's simple):
  • You sign up with a VoIP provider (a cheap one, I don't believe Callcentric is cheapest)
  • Get a phone number from them
  • Register your IP phone with that carrier
  • Forward all your Google Voice calls to the number you got from them
  • Set up your caller ID with that carrier to be the Google Voice number, which they allow after a verification phone call

Now all calls to GV number ring to (your VoIP provider number which rings on) your device. And all the calls from your device have the caller ID number of your GV.

So is there anything that needs to be done before 10/31? Or would it be safe to wait and see what happens?

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1767 on: October 14, 2024, 04:43:35 PM »
I think the post's attempt to make it crisp-clear is simply making it too lengthy and frightening sounding... So here is the simple human version of it (each step can vary depending on the carrier you choose, but this is the idea, and it's simple):
  • You sign up with a VoIP provider (a cheap one, I don't believe Callcentric is cheapest)
  • Get a phone number from them
  • Register your IP phone with that carrier
  • Forward all your Google Voice calls to the number you got from them
  • Set up your caller ID with that carrier to be the Google Voice number, which they allow after a verification phone call

Now all calls to GV number ring to (your VoIP provider number which rings on) your device. And all the calls from your device have the caller ID number of your GV.
Does anyone know if this works with Ooma? TIA
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline Yisroel Tech

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1768 on: October 14, 2024, 04:44:29 PM »
So is there anything that needs to be done before 10/31? Or would it be safe to wait and see what happens?

It would certainly be safe to wait, and existing GV Obi devices will almost certainly continue to work for the time being (as this shutdown is very specific to a configuration server/system/option that connects the GV to the Obi device, but doesn't have anything to do with the actual call connection between the device and GV.)

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1769 on: October 14, 2024, 04:45:57 PM »
Does anyone know if this works with Ooma? TIA

With their - sorta... - free plan? Probably not (since it's limited to their provided devices, and they do not provide SIP credentials, and also they would not allow you to use a different caller ID.)

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1770 on: October 14, 2024, 05:28:00 PM »
With their - sorta... - free plan? Probably not (since it's limited to their provided devices, and they do not provide SIP credentials, and also they would not allow you to use a different caller ID.)
With the plan that has a low monthly fee
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline talmid chuchem

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1771 on: October 15, 2024, 03:35:05 AM »
End of an era!!
Its been 13.5 years since i originally brought this to DDF

Considering doing this but having some challenges understanding all the instructions-
https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/18inqwk/use_google_voice_with_an_internet_telephone/
Not so hard, I've been doing this for years, using call centric for international calls
Only issue that this is not free, for that price you can port your number to call centric

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1772 on: November 01, 2024, 02:41:45 PM »
So?

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1773 on: November 01, 2024, 02:46:06 PM »
TRUMP better coverage than 5G!

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1774 on: December 09, 2024, 05:23:30 PM »
Any ideas for a post OBI method to have an American number in Israel for free/cheap?
The OBI device in Israel stopped working and now can't be reconfigured.
Ooma doesn't work out of the US.

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: OBi Master Thread
« Reply #1775 on: December 15, 2024, 11:46:31 AM »
Any ideas for a post OBI method to have an American number in Israel for free/cheap?
The OBI device in Israel stopped working and now can't be reconfigured.
Ooma doesn't work out of the US.
voip.ms although I don't have experience