Porting of present landline number: With this product is it possible to port over my existing landline phone number?
908153
It is possible to port your landline number (or locked/proprietary VoIP service number) to a service configured on the OBi device, e.g Google Voice, Callcentric, etc. This is necessary as Obihai is not a VoIP service provider, so you must use a service with the OBi device (and your broadband Internet connection) to reach traditional land line terrestrial and mobile phone numbers. Here is a listing of the service providers for whom Obihai have made service configuration templates for easy configuration of the OBi device using the OBiTALK web portal: Broadvoice: http://www.broadvoice.com/ Callcentric: http://www.callcentric.com/ Future Nine: http://www.future-nine.com/plans.html Google Voice: http://www.google.com/voice Inphonex: http://www.inphonex.com/personal/ Sipgate: http://www.sipgate.com/ Vitelity: http://www.vitelity.com/pricing#voip VoicePulse: http://www.voicepulse.com/index.aspx VoIPms: http://www.voip.ms/ You may port your number to a VoIP service and then use this service to place and receive calls from a regular phone attached to the OBi. With a regular "Bring Your Own Device" service like Callcentric, VoIPms or VoicePulse this is fairly straightforward. Your number will get ported directly to the VoIP service. With Google Voice, you first have to make your land line number a mobile number and then go to the Google Voice set-up page to request the from the mobile carrier to Google Voice.
972418
I downloaded the manual for this device. You will need a land line phone to change the date, etc. If you noticed, there is a second phone jack on the back and this is where you would plug in your land line. The manual is helpful. Good luck.There is a code associated with changing time, year, etc. That is why I suggested you download the manual for this specific device. It does work.
605126
The deal is that you CANNOT port your phone number over as the phone is sent to you already activated. I didn't know that when I bought it. Neither did my friend, who called Cingular, ported the number, and now believes he will have to pay an additional $325 as a result. I see that one of the reviewers- Monkey Puppet- also learned this after the fact. If you don't need to port your number, it's the best deal around.
621676
Apparently not. I, too, have noticed that no matter what number I dial, I need to add the area code although I find it a minor inconvience when I am getting phone service for the whole year for what I had been paying monthly. I guess it's one of the trade-offs to be made. I hardly ever use my land-line anyway.
395662
In most cases, yes. I live in NJ and had a long existing business/home number. Verizon was able to port it over to Ooma without any problem, but only Ooma customer service can give you a definitive answer. I think that they warn you that there are occasionally SOME numbers that cannot be ported for one reason or another.
732626
yes it can. It has a regular phone jack and is Bluetooth compatible. You can have all your landline and 2 cell phone numbers hooked up to this. Note: you need the base model one since this link is only for an extra add-on unit.
1115094
Straight Talk says that you can. We switched our home number to Straight Talk. The switch was smooth.
69445
If you port your number. Straightalk website will tell you how they port numbers.
1806166
You can transfer your existing number or get a new one. They gave me one with my current area code. Not sure if you can pick the area code. I would call them BEFORE you decide to activate anything because it's non-refundable. Also, get ready to be frustrated. Their customer service is terrible.
373332
Yes, but only numbers you've programmed in your dialing list. We eliminated our home phone and have our old home number in the cell phone so when we're away from home, we miss nothing. I would never go back to the old way.
984493
YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR OLD PHONE SERVICE ACTIVE UNTIL THE NUMBER IS PORTED! I know that this makes no sense-- that you have to have two active phone lines, but only have one phone or phone system. It's not the way it has worked for me with other portings. But trust me on this. Keep paying your old company for the phone line until it's ported.
318344
Sorry, J.M. I have not heard of such a thing. All the Skype solutions I have read about are either just a handset you plug into your computer or are a full-blown computer replacement with handset like the VOIP841. They all have a handset. But I will suggest this.... You said you are "looking at switching to Skype". If you have not yet switched to Skype, I strongly recommend downloading Skype software for free to your computer and getting used to it that way before you get a standalone Skype device. There are a lot of strong features and icons and ways to do things that are unique to Skype, and using Skype on a computer will get you used to it. The Skype built into dedicated devices is a shorthand of the Skype icons and feature set, and it really helps to be Skype-savvy with the computer version before you go to a dedicated device. Just my opinion. For example, I have a SkypeIn number which rings in my Skype phone, and I only give out one number to everybody, instead of giving out a cell number, office number, home number. When I am at home I answer calls on my Skype phone. When I am away I answer calls on my cell phone to the same number, and all I do is change my Skype setting to "offline" in my Skype phone. Easy and great way to go. If you don't know about Skype, you don't know that you can change your setting to: Online, Skype Me, Offline, Away, Unavailable, Do Not Disturb, Invisible, and perhaps one or two others. When other people look me up in their Skype (computer or phone) they see my status set to one of these icons. Nothing like this is available with MagicJack or any other VOIP solution that I know of. So download Skype and get used to it first. ;-)
680177
Most of the provider of voip phone allow you to keep your current phone number, please check with the provider. Jeam
794617
Yes you can. You need to indicate this when signing up (or later, but then additional fees may apply); and do not cancel your existing service until porting is complete.
2231551
Make sure your internet service is fast enough to support basic talk service. Yes you can keep your current phone number.
395660
Yes, I ported over both of my home phone numbers to the Ooma system. There is a $40 charge to port over, which is waived if you also sign up for Premier Service ($100 year-well worth it).
1276312
I was able to switch my phone number from an old cell phone to this phone with Verizon. There are instructions on the website to do this.