I'm trying to use the obihai application on my iPhone to configure the obi 101, but it doesn't work.
Is there a way to configure the obi talk application without actually plugging in a physical phone?
You can configure most* of the OBi device with a web browser pointed at the device's IP address.
* Most includes using the OBi with ordinary SIP providers. AFAIK you cannot register the device to the OBi server(s) without using a phone plugged into the PHONE port. Without such registration you cannot make or receive calls via OBiTALK. And you probably cannot configure GV either if the OBi is not registered.
(BTW there is no such thing an an OBi101.)