OBiTALK Community

Region Specific Technical / Service Provider Support => North America - Including Google Voice, Skype, etc. => Topic started by: LJCW on March 20, 2014, 04:58:57 PM

Title: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: LJCW on March 20, 2014, 04:58:57 PM
I'm looking at subscribing to one of the ObiTalk approved services, ANVEO or PowerPhone.
I want to be able to set my Outgoing Caller ID to my Google Voice number.
Looking at the discussions here, it seems you can do this with ANVEO, but PowerPhone is a little cheaper.
Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone?
Is ANVEO worth the extra few dollars?
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: watgundam on March 22, 2014, 01:51:35 PM
I am wondering the same thing.  Basically, I would like to keep GV and Aveno seems pretty expensive and they don't have unlimited US/Canada mins.  PP package seems .more attractive.  However, not really sure about outgoing caller ID setting.

Anyone has experience with GV+ASP?
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Marty.ba.calif.usa on March 22, 2014, 06:43:57 PM
Pretty much every VOIP provider give you callerID spoofing, as it's called.  Most require that you verify the number first, by answering and entering a code.

But I can't say 100% for sure that PowerPhone provides this.  But if they don't, I can't see how they would stay in business at all.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: GaryA on March 22, 2014, 07:34:55 PM
I would say yes, PhonePower will allow outgoing Caller ID.

Here's their feature list...
http://www.phonepower.com/features.aspx

From this list of features, check out "Outgoing Caller ID with name".

I think this is what your were asking.

I also am seriously considering PhonePower after comparing them to Anveo and VestaLink. I worked with PhonePower's online chat today and they claim that I can select my own phone number from their list of available #'s when taking out a new number. Other providers (Anveo and VestaLink) select the number for you after you give them your area code and exchange #.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: KAura on March 22, 2014, 07:49:14 PM
Actually I was signing up with PP, but tried 3 times and the process aborted each time...
seems weird, but they ask me what type of internet I have and the provider :P and
found "other", but nonyer was not on the list...  anywho --

Biggest difference in plans is the available minutes per $ far as I know...

but getting back to the topic on hand.


Your Caller ID CName is the name you sign up with => Last, First
if you don't like it change it before you sign up or it'll cost ya' $5
to change it...  and far as I know, yes the listings look good, but
your Caller ID Number is the number they assign you and can't be
spoofed far as my understanding goes.

Vesobitel does allow spoofing, but only complaint I've heard is the
company is young and having growing pains / outages...  but alive.

Anveo is Super Egg spensive per minutes but recommended by Obi,
but PP looks like the leader in features so far -- except f/spoofing.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: watgundam on March 23, 2014, 12:00:15 AM
Thanks.

That's what I am afraid of - PP does not allow Caller ID# spoofing.  So, my GV# won't show up on the receiving side.  This won't work if I want to keep GV#.

I am hoping that several more ASP will be approved in the next month, so we have more choices.   
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: BHochstrasser on March 23, 2014, 06:58:22 AM
When I signed up for PhonePower, it asked if I wanted to display my PhonePower number or my Google Voice number.  If you do it during setup it's no problem.  If you do it later (let's say over Live Chat), they'll give you some grief and may not want to do it for you.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: watgundam on March 23, 2014, 07:08:12 AM
Here is the respond from PP:

=========
  We do not offer any caller ID spoofing with our service at this time. If you would like to keep your Google Voice number, you can put in a request to have it ported over to us.


Jovan J.
Support Technician
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: dconway on March 24, 2014, 04:36:26 PM
I just signed up for the cheaper of the two PowerPhone Obi Plans and it satisfies my needs for callerID spoofing.

While they may not call it that nor offer CallerID spoofing feature in their website, when I signed up for the service (by clicking from the obitalk.com website) it asked me if I wanted to show my Google Voice number as my outgoing callerID.  I entered my GV number and it works as advertised.  When I place a call (e.g. to my cellphone) from my Obi over the new PowerPhone service, I see my GV number in the callerID.

I suspect they've enabled a one-time hack of the outgoing callerID in the setup process for Obi users getting the obi plan to override it.  But that's good enough for me!
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on March 30, 2014, 11:55:20 PM
As mentioned, during the signup process (through Obitalk portal) you are given the opportunity to enter a phone number that will be spoofed as outgoing CID. They suggest using your GV number.

Support personnel seem to be completely unaware of this option for those signing up for an "Obi" plan. As someone said if you try and call them about changing your outgoing CID after the fact you get nothing but grief. In their web portal, you only have the option of blocking or allowing outgoing CNAM. And your CNAM is your first and last name which you can't edit. But if you block it then it displays "anonymous caller." Not good.

This was bothering me since I didn't want my CNAM to be displayed, only my number. Well it now appears that is what happens when you spoof your number. Only the number shows up, not your name. However, as near as I can tell if you port your number to PhonePower then your number and your name will be displayed on outgoing calls. I called and asked about this and she said there is no option to turn off just CNAM. It is completely on or completely off. So I then asked her about changing my CNAM to just be my city or state. No go. It HAS to be a name she says.

Seems pretty weird but that has been my experience. Bottom line is if you sign up for PhonePower thru Obitalk portal be sure to enter the number you want displayed for outgoing calls DURING THE SIGNUP PROCESS. Don't think that you will just change your outgoing CID after the fact. I know a guy who mistakenly entered his cell phone number instead of his GV number and he has had nothing but grief trying to get PhonePower to change the number.
Quote from: dconway on March 24, 2014, 04:36:26 PM
I suspect they've enabled a one-time hack of the outgoing callerID in the setup process for Obi users getting the obi plan to override it.  But that's good enough for me!
I believe this to be true as well.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Levander on March 31, 2014, 09:00:19 PM
Quote from: Taoman on March 30, 2014, 11:55:20 PM
This was bothering me since I didn't want my CNAM to be displayed, only my number. Well it now appears that is what happens when you spoof your number. Only the number shows up, not your name.

If you do spoof your number on caller-ID, is there anyway to get your name to show up on caller-ID as well?
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 01, 2014, 07:08:06 AM
Quote from: Levander on March 31, 2014, 09:00:19 PM
If you do spoof your number on caller-ID, is there anyway to get your name to show up on caller-ID as well?
Not if the number is spoofed since PhonePower does not control that DID. They won't send out a CNAM for a DID they don't control.........the same as Vestalink.

If you are not spoofing, which means you are using PhonePower's DID as outgoing CID, your CNAM will be displayed on outgoing calls...........apparently whether you like it or not. You can block your outgoing CID but then it will display "anonymous caller."
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: majmskk on April 01, 2014, 05:38:11 PM
Can confirm that PhonePower (at least the $34.99 plan) allows you to set your outgoing callerID at the time you setup your account, and it does work. 

I contacted technical support today to change it to the correct number since I entered the wrong # during setup (I entered one of my numbers but not the right one).  Interestingly, the callerID# I gave was not verified by PhonePower during setup, i.e., no call was made to the number to check if I owned it.  Anyway the guy on tech support apparently is not aware of the Obi deal or setup and insisted that the caller ID must match the Phonepower number.  I sent him a link to the Obi setup page so he could see for himself, but I could not stay on the chat long enough for him to do it. 

I was hoping that the caller ID was configured in the Obi202 device itself so I can change it but so far have not found it.  So I think it is configured by PhonePower...and wonder if, to fix it, I will have to re-buy another year's service and start over so I can enter the right # from the beginning.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: KAura on April 01, 2014, 06:27:14 PM
arggg....  per PP it is $5 cost to change it,

and not everyone in support is up on how
to do it, far as I can tell.


There is a 30 day refund period (check into
it), and if so you might want to cancel your
account and open a totally new one with a
different email address  so as to not get
more confused.

Depends on if you have funds to float the
new purchase until funds are returned back
into your account for the cancellation.


It's your call what you choose to do...

I would think they should allow you at least
one screw-up on this without having to jump
hoops that seem to be more troublesome.

But, not all things that are apparent are
implemented unless they occur often enough.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: KAura on April 01, 2014, 06:43:23 PM
That's my ONLY drawback from using PhonePower!!

Honestly I love everything about the company,
especially the # of features available, and $0
charge for incoming minutes (not deducted).

Everybody else I know lets you spoof ANY # once
you have verified that it is yours via an automated
process.  PP is the only company so far I know of
that doesn't allow you to spoof your own #.


It would be safer to cancel and start over, rather
than have to educate someone support how to do
it, and then check up on it to make sure it's done
right.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 01, 2014, 10:31:52 PM
Quote from: majmskk on April 01, 2014, 05:38:11 PM
I sent him a link to the Obi setup page so he could see for himself, but I could not stay on the chat long enough for him to do it. 
So I think it is configured by PhonePower...and wonder if, to fix it, I will have to re-buy another year's service and start over so I can enter the right # from the beginning.
You do realize there is no way that tech could view the Obi setup page unless the tech already had an Obitalk account? Also, I'm not sure what that would accomplish. Nowhere in the listed feature set for PhonePower (or Anveo, for that matter) does it say anything about outbound CNAM/CID being supported. I really think having the spoofed outgoing CID was a special hack available only to subscribers of the new Obi plans and that PhonePower technical support is completely unaware of this.

As mentioned, there is a 30-day money back guarantee for PhonePower. If you can't get PhonePower to change your outgoing CID I would just ask for a refund and close your account. I would then signup again with a different email address and start the signup process again with the correct outgoing CID.

Other than the outgoing CID issue I have been very impressed with PhonePower. For me anyway, the call quality and latency is vastly superior to Vestalink.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: giqcass on April 02, 2014, 01:47:33 AM
Quote from: majmskk on April 01, 2014, 05:38:11 PM
I was hoping that the caller ID was configured in the Obi202 device itself so I can change it but so far have not found it.  So I think it is configured by PhonePower...and wonder if, to fix it, I will have to re-buy another year's service and start over so I can enter the right # from the beginning.

You can try checking one setting that I can think of.

Voice services
>>>>>>>>>>SPx Service

In the SIP Credentials part of the page look at the Sip URI setting to see if that contains anything.  In most cases that would be blank but that could potentially be used to set outbound CID if the carrier supports that method.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: majmskk on April 02, 2014, 05:50:05 PM
Thanks giqcass, I tried the URI suggestion, no change. 

KAura -- can you tell us whom to contact at PP to pay the $5 to get the outbound caller ID changed???  I am sure once the right person is contacted they can do it. 
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: KAura on April 02, 2014, 06:09:40 PM
You will need to call:

Billing at 888-607-6937
between 6am-5pm PST

and anybody there can help.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Malachi123 on April 03, 2014, 08:07:22 AM
Not sure what the problem here is. I signed up with PP through Obi's interface and one of the questions was if I wanted to spoof my GV number. I said yes. I also tested this and it works...

Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 06:20:08 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience!

For GV forwarding to PP#, which VM is going to pick up if no one answers?  And how many rings before reaching VM?

GV VM is picking up too quickly (25 sec, but usually 3-4 rings for me now) and I am concerned that forwarding to PP# will further reduce the number of rings. 

Any experience out there?
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 11, 2014, 07:03:10 PM
Quote from: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 06:20:08 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience!
For GV forwarding to PP#, which VM is going to pick up if no one answers?  And how many rings before reaching VM?
GV VM is picking up too quickly (25 sec, but usually 3-4 rings for me now) and I am concerned that forwarding to PP# will further reduce the number of rings. 
Any experience out there?
My experience is that GV voicemail kicks in at 25 seconds (4 rings on OBi phone-calling party hears 5 rings). Nothing can be done about that if you are forwarding from GV. The only time PhonePower ever picks up is if someone calls my PP number directly........which never happens.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 09:02:53 PM
Thanks! 

When GV forwards to PP, does it take a while to ring my phone? If so, it will be less than 25s.. 


Quote from: Taoman on April 11, 2014, 07:03:10 PM
Quote from: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 06:20:08 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience!
For GV forwarding to PP#, which VM is going to pick up if no one answers?  And how many rings before reaching VM?
GV VM is picking up too quickly (25 sec, but usually 3-4 rings for me now) and I am concerned that forwarding to PP# will further reduce the number of rings. 
Any experience out there?
My experience is that GV voicemail kicks in at 25 seconds (4 rings on OBi phone-calling party hears 5 rings). Nothing can be done about that if you are forwarding from GV. The only time PhonePower ever picks up is if someone calls my PP number directly........which never happens.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 12, 2014, 07:01:57 PM
Quote from: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 09:02:53 PM
Thanks! 

When GV forwards to PP, does it take a while to ring my phone? If so, it will be less than 25s.. 
It takes approximately 3 seconds for my Obi connected phone to ring after placing the call from a cell phone.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: rlcronin on April 14, 2014, 01:48:19 PM
Quote from: Malachi123 on April 03, 2014, 08:07:22 AM
Not sure what the problem here is. I signed up with PP through Obi's interface and one of the questions was if I wanted to spoof my GV number. I said yes. I also tested this and it works...


Yes that does work. My problem was I wanted to have my outgoing caller id number be something other than my Google Voice number. The company I work for has a call forwarding service of their own that forwards calls to my office number to wherever I happen to be. I am using the Obi as the target for that service. If I make an outgoing call I want my office phone number to appear, not my Google Voice number.

I was a bit confused about this during PhonePower setup and when I was prompted for the number to use and saw the on screen remark saying that it should be my Google Voice number, I mistakenly put that there. Of coruse when I tried to get that fixed after the fact, tech support told me that it could ONLY be a Google Voice number.

I'm not sure I couldn't have just put in the number I wanted regardless of it not being a Google Voice number but I decided to keep things on the up and up and took them at their word. In the end I decided to just cancel the service and signup with Anveo (who does allow spoofing the number after a verification process). That worked fine.
--
bc
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 14, 2014, 04:15:25 PM
Quote from: rlcronin on April 14, 2014, 01:48:19 PM

I was a bit confused about this during PhonePower setup and when I was prompted for the number to use and saw the on screen remark saying that it should be my Google Voice number, I mistakenly put that there. Of coruse when I tried to get that fixed after the fact, tech support told me that it could ONLY be a Google Voice number.

Yes, you REALLY need to get it right the first time when signing up for PhonePower. I don't understand why PP is so rigid regarding outgoing CID but they certainly are. There should be some kind of red flashing warning when signing up telling you to get the outgoing number correct RIGHT NOW or you'll be sorrrrrrrrryyyyyyy.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: KAura on April 14, 2014, 05:09:13 PM
We know it say enter your GV#, but I'm pretty sure
ANY number that is entered there is not checked.

...so as you were saying earlier...

you wanted your calls to look like they were coming
from your office.  On setup you would enter your
office phone where it says enter your GV#...

and then you would use Click2Call or Remote Click2Call.


That WOULD have done the trick for you, but PP is too
busy arguing semantics, and their support is uneducated.

Somebody on this forum stated that PP's lack of spoofing
is going to be a real 'deal killer' and I've seen PP lose many
customers over this one point.


It would seem that PP should be on the forum somewhere,
but for one reason or another they don't seem to be here.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: PeteMoss on April 16, 2014, 01:22:04 PM
I too signed up for Phonepower through the OBIHAI interface and when I got to the spoofing CID input it said the Google Voice phone number should be used. However, I used a number I have had since 1983 and currently with VOIPo. There was no verification that I actually controlled that number. If I do however call that number using the Phonepower line, I always get a busy. I guess it would look strange getting an incoming CID matching the outgoing phone number of the line.  :)
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: rlcronin on April 16, 2014, 02:18:30 PM
Quote from: KAura on April 14, 2014, 05:09:13 PM
We know it say enter your GV#, but I'm pretty sure
ANY number that is entered there is not checked.

...so as you were saying earlier...

you wanted your calls to look like they were coming
from your office.  On setup you would enter your
office phone where it says enter your GV#...

and then you would use Click2Call or Remote Click2Call.


That WOULD have done the trick for you, but PP is too
busy arguing semantics, and their support is uneducated.

Somebody on this forum stated that PP's lack of spoofing
is going to be a real 'deal killer' and I've seen PP lose many
customers over this one point.


It would seem that PP should be on the forum somewhere,
but for one reason or another they don't seem to be here.
Yes I should have just put my office phone there. Oh well. I cancelled PP and went to Anveo, which so far is working okay, but it is a bit rougher around the edges than PP was. A shame they are so inflexible. I would have stayed.
--
bc
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: roguegaston on April 16, 2014, 09:51:24 PM
Quote from: watgundam on April 11, 2014, 06:20:08 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience!

For GV forwarding to PP#, which VM is going to pick up if no one answers?  And how many rings before reaching VM?

GV VM is picking up too quickly (25 sec, but usually 3-4 rings for me now) and I am concerned that forwarding to PP# will further reduce the number of rings. 

Any experience out there?

My problem is that PP voicemail picks up and I would rather have GV voicemail.  I have found no way to disable PP VM or change the number of rings.  When I talked with tech support at PP, they said that my phone number was assigned to two people and that I needed to talk with billing.  What?  This make no sense to me...
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: roguegaston on April 16, 2014, 09:54:30 PM
Ok, I found the PP voicemail settings I was looking for; they are under Call Forwarding.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: roguegaston on April 16, 2014, 10:10:06 PM
Now I just need to find out how to get the GV voicemail studer tone to activate with GV voicemail.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on April 16, 2014, 11:36:08 PM
Quote from: roguegaston on April 16, 2014, 10:10:06 PM
Now I just need to find out how to get the GV voicemail studer tone to activate with GV voicemail.
Not sure that is possible although hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I was under the impression you would only get the stutter tone notification from your carrier signalling your Obi (Google Voice is no longer your carrier) and only if using your carrier's voicemail (you're using Google Voice voicemail). If you think about it......how exactly could it work? When during the calling/receiving process would PhonePower ever get notified about Google Voice having voicemail. For outgoing calls GV isn't involved at all. For incoming calls, GV just hands off the call to PhonePower. Thinking it through I just don't see how it's possible. The link between Google Voice and your Obi was disconnected when Google Chat was no longer being used.

I usually have a cell phone close to me. I have GV configured to send me a text and email when I have a GV voicemail. For me it is much more reliable than a stutter tone or message waiting indicator.

Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Ranger on April 17, 2014, 12:47:19 PM
Quote from: Taoman on April 16, 2014, 11:36:08 PM
Quote from: roguegaston on April 16, 2014, 10:10:06 PM
Now I just need to find out how to get the GV voicemail studer tone to activate with GV voicemail.
Not sure that is possible although hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I was under the impression you would only get the stutter tone notification from your carrier signalling your Obi (Google Voice is no longer your carrier) and only if using your carrier's voicemail (you're using Google Voice voicemail). If you think about it......how exactly could it work? When during the calling/receiving process would PhonePower ever get notified about Google Voice having voicemail. For outgoing calls GV isn't involved at all. For incoming calls, GV just hands off the call to PhonePower. Thinking it through I just don't see how it's possible. The link between Google Voice and your Obi was disconnected when Google Chat was no longer being used.

I usually have a cell phone close to me. I have GV configured to send me a text and email when I have a GV voicemail. For me it is much more reliable than a stutter tone or message waiting indicator.

I agree with Taoman that having GV sent me an email to notify for voicemails is effective. However, this is a line I share with my wife. It would be very helpful if she could access a GV voicemail from the phone connected to the Obi device. That way if I'm unable to get to the voice mail for any reason, she could.

I may bring that up with Phone Power to see if there's a solution, but I suspect it may have to resolved through Obi. Phone Power's tech support has been surprisingly helpful in resolving several other questions I've raised. Real people talk to you and even call you back!
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: smile6617 on April 17, 2014, 07:29:38 PM
To let your GV answer simply add 10 seconds to the forwarding action under the call forwarding area in power phone.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: SteveInWA on April 17, 2014, 09:00:39 PM
Quote from: smile6617 on April 17, 2014, 07:29:38 PM
To let your GV answer simply add 10 seconds to the forwarding action under the call forwarding area in power phone.

Hunh?  No.

This is a long thread.  To answer just the question, "how do I access my GV voicemail from a forwarding phone?"

Log onto your Google Voice account on a computer's web browser, not on a mobile device, and go here:

https://www.google.com/voice#phones

Click the Edit button under your forwarding phone number.  Click Show advanced settings.  On the page that appears, set "Voicemail access" to No.  Save your settings.  See my screenshot.

Program a speed dial on your  forwarding phone, to call your GV number (the old-school way, just program it right on the handset, not on the OBi or the Phonepower portal).   Now, all you have to do is press that speed dial.  When your greeting answers, press *, then enter your PIN and #.

Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: SteveInWA on April 17, 2014, 09:04:18 PM
With regard to the MWI stutter tone:  correct, the stutter tone is controlled by the carrier that is provisioned on the OBi device.  So, if it's PhonePower, then you are getting a MWI from them, not from Google Voice, and it means you have a message waiting on your PP number, not on GV.  You can't indirectly have one phone company's MWI appear on another phone company's service.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: ladyamom on May 05, 2014, 09:10:00 PM
Quote from: LJCW on March 20, 2014, 04:58:57 PM
I'm looking at subscribing to one of the ObiTalk approved services, ANVEO or PowerPhone.
I want to be able to set my Outgoing Caller ID to my Google Voice number.
Looking at the discussions here, it seems you can do this with ANVEO, but PowerPhone is a little cheaper.
Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone?
Is ANVEO worth the extra few dollars?

I just set up my PowerPhone account and the caller ID shows my GV number, that I filled in on the sign up page, but it doesn't show any caller name.   Instead it shows "unknown name."  The option to do caller ID was ticked off when I signed up so I'm not sure what's going on.   Maybe they don't caller ID the name, just the number.  I checked the PowerPhone service settings page under Outbound CNAM on my account and it shows the correct caller name.  Apparently it isn't sending it however.   Strange, then why have "cnam" ... caller name?   I will call tomorrow and repost if I find that this can be fixed.  If anyone has any further info, I would appreciate hearing it.  I have to set up a friends GV/PowerPhone tomorrow.

Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: SteveInWA on May 05, 2014, 09:19:27 PM
Quote from: ladyamom on May 05, 2014, 09:10:00 PM
Quote from: LJCW on March 20, 2014, 04:58:57 PM
I'm looking at subscribing to one of the ObiTalk approved services, ANVEO or PowerPhone.
I want to be able to set my Outgoing Caller ID to my Google Voice number.
Looking at the discussions here, it seems you can do this with ANVEO, but PowerPhone is a little cheaper.
Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone?
Is ANVEO worth the extra few dollars?

I just set up my PowerPhone account and the caller ID shows my GV number, that I filled in on the sign up page, but it doesn't show any caller name.   Instead it shows "unknown name."  The option to do caller ID was ticked off when I signed up so I'm not sure what's going on.   Maybe they don't caller ID the name, just the number.  I checked the PowerPhone service settings page under Outbound CNAM on my account and it shows the correct caller name.  Apparently it isn't sending it however.   Strange, then why have "cnam" ... caller name?   I will call tomorrow and repost if I find that this can be fixed.  If anyone has any further info, I would appreciate hearing it.  I have to set up a friends GV/PowerPhone tomorrow.



Caller ID NAME is a separate service from Caller ID number.  It relies on the called party's telephone company doing a database lookup, during the interval between the 1st and 2nd rings, in a database of telephone numbers matched to their corresponding names.  These DBs are maintained by various telcos and third parties, and assuming PhonePower is actually feeding their customer's information to the DBs, it may take days or even months for all the various DBs to refresh with that information.  CNAM is kind of a mess, since deregulation of the Bell System monopoly, since there are multiple database providers out there who may or may not have fresh information.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Taoman on May 05, 2014, 11:40:54 PM
Quote from: ladyamom on May 05, 2014, 09:10:00 PM
Maybe they don't caller ID the name, just the number.

This is the correct answer. PhonePower doesn't allowing "spoofing" of outbound CID. However, they have made an exception for Obi plans and allow the spoofing of outbound number (only!) to be your Google Voice number. Outbound CNAM is not supported for those on "Obi" plans. Outbound CNAM is only supported if you are also using the PP supplied telephone number for your CID.

Period. End of story.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Hank_OBI on May 06, 2014, 10:54:41 AM
Quote from: LJCW on March 20, 2014, 04:58:57 PM
I'm looking at subscribing to one of the ObiTalk approved services, ANVEO or PowerPhone.
I want to be able to set my Outgoing Caller ID to my Google Voice number.
Looking at the discussions here, it seems you can do this with ANVEO, but PowerPhone is a little cheaper.
Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone?
Is ANVEO worth the extra few dollars?

I have been with PhonePower for a couple weeks now, and yes it does the spoofing of the Google Voice number, it also has call blocking, selective forwarding and bunch of other very cool features.

I signed up for the $35/yr plan but after a couple weeks I found my wife was going to need a lot more then 300 mins/mo so I upgraded to the unlimited plan for $59/yr.

So far I am quite happy with PhonePhone, the calls are very clear, the support staff is very good as well.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: kmiller on May 14, 2014, 08:59:15 AM
I just set up my obi100 with PP.  I used my new number instead of my GV number to display on outgoing calls.  I could not think of any reason why I would want people to call the GV number.  Of course I set up forwarding for GV number for anyone ho already has that listed as my contact number.  Is there any reason this was a bad move?
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Harley on May 14, 2014, 03:05:30 PM
Not a bad move.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: Shale on May 14, 2014, 03:18:48 PM
Quote from: kmiller on May 14, 2014, 08:59:15 AM
I just set up my obi100 with PP.  I used my new number instead of my GV number to display on outgoing calls.  I could not think of any reason why I would want people to call the GV number.  Of course I set up forwarding for GV number for anyone ho already has that listed as my contact number.  Is there any reason this was a bad move?

You are bypassing GV call filtering and possible other features that way. So whether that matters determines whether it was a good move or not. Your calls coming in will have less delay this way. You probably made a good move.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: kmiller on May 14, 2014, 07:01:19 PM
Good to know not using my GV number for caller id is ok.  I never used call filtering anyway.  I did not like not being able increase the time for voice mail to pick up. I have not checked out PhonePower's VM yet.
Title: Re: Can you set Outgoing Caller ID with PowerPhone ?
Post by: shawguy on June 10, 2014, 05:54:43 PM
I signed up with Phone Power on the weekend, and I can confirm that you can enter any phone number you wish in the sign up process. (does not have to be your google voice number)

It then shows that phone number and unknown name. But then I made the mistake of clicking on the CNAM name and confirming YES show my name in the phone power settings. At that point it then starting showing only my name and "Long Distance" as the phone number. When I turned it off, it then said "Anonymous" I had to unplug the OBI and reboot before it went back to the number and unknown name.