TECHIE TIDBITS
Introducing...Ooma!
by Darren W. Hood

What would you say if I told you there is a free phone service? Well, there’s a free phone service. Technological advances and the entrepreneurial spirits have come together to produce a new option in the home phone wars. The offspring of this ‘union’ is called Ooma.

Ooma has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Used in conjunction with a high-speed Internet connection, according to Ooma’s Web site (www.ooma.com), it functions as any other phone service and boasts the following features and benefits:

• Unlimited calling to any number in the US
• All the features you've come to depend on, like caller-ID, call-waiting and voicemail
• The reliability and crisp acoustic performance of a landline
• A new number from any calling area in the US
• The option to keep your phone number for a one-time fee ($39.99)
• Easy setup to get you up and dialing in no time
• Voicemail notifications to your email and mobile phone
• The freedom to hear your voicemail and control preferences online in the Ooma Lounge
• Low-cost international rates starting at a penny per minute
• A 30-day money-back guarantee and an extendable one-year warranty

Advanced features (such as instant second line, three-way conferencing, message screening and voicemail forwarding) are available through the Ooma Premier package. These features and others are available for a fee: $12.99 monthly or $99 annually. Ooma will also transfer your current phone number (a one-time charge of $39.99 or free if you sign up for one year).

Sound good? Ready to take the plunge? Tired of monthly phone bills? Interested in trying practically anything besides your current phone service? Ooma might just be what you’re looking for!

There is one small catch though (or at least some will see it that way). In order to use Ooma, you must purchase their proprietary phone system. As of the date this article was written, the Ooma phone system is selling for $249.99 and is available via Ooma.com and Amazon.com. You can also buy the Ooma system at Best Buy or you can call 1-866-452.6662. For some, however, paying $250 is a drop in the bucket compared to what will be paid over the next 12-24 months.

For more information, visit www.ooma.com to view a demo of the product.

Questions? Comments? Already an Ooma user and want to share your experience? Ready to try it out and want to share feedback later? I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send your message to editor@lakeshoreguardian.com.