Calling out from OBI202 to my cell phone misses voicemail greeting

[sfatula111]

Here's the very strange thing that happens. When calling out from the OBI202 via Google voice from a home phone, to my cell phone, it rings. Say I do not answer. It keeps ringing (the OBI phone), and, eventually, I get a beep, no voicemail greeting! Note, it kept ringing for 4 rings AFTER my cell phone stopped ringing. Likely, when my cell phone was actually playing the greeting. So, somehow, it is not recognizing the call was answered.

Now, using Google hangouts to place a call from the same number to my cell phone, I call, do not answer, and, as soon as my cell phone stops ringing, I hear my voicemail greeting! Just as I should. So, Google voice works to my number via hangouts, it does not work properly via the OBI. It's the only number I have noticed this happens on.

What in the world could this be, very odd!

[Jackson]

Is your your cell your Google Voice forwarding phone?

[sfatula111]

Thats a good question. No, it is not. Calls are forwarded only to Google chat. My phone is listed, but, the checkbox for forwarding calls it not checked for it, it is only checked for chat. I use hangouts with voice so need the chat forwarding.

[SteveInWA]

There could be more than one thing wrong with your setup.

First:  Google Hangouts does not use Chat.  It is an independent service.  The Chat forwarding destination on Google Voice settings is only used to support the Chat client in your OBi device.

If you want to receive inbound calls on an OBi-attached telephone, using your Google Voice number, then you need a check-mark to the left of Chat, in Google Voice settings.  If you only want to place outbound calls via Chat on an OBi, but not receive inbound calls, then you need the Chat destination listed, but un-checked.  Otherwise, it serves no purpose.

Inbound calling to Hangouts is independently controlled by a check-box on the Hangouts client apps.

Second:  you may have created a call-forwarding loop on your mobile phone.  If you want to troubleshoot this, then you will need to start by disabling all forms of call forwarding on your mobile phone carrier.  If you reply with your mobile phone carrier's name, I may be able to help you with this.

[sfatula111]

Ok, I remember wrong, chat is used for something and it's the OBI and works fine as is, pint is/was settings are correct on those boxes. Yes, hangouts does have the checkbox. And it is checked.

For your second issue, call forwarding is impossible on my carrier as they do not support it (Ringplus). So, that's easy to check! I am deeply involved with that carrier so am fully aware of how it works. And that is an understatement.

There is no call forwarding loop with the mobile phone, which is not forwarded to either, wish it were that easy. The only phone that does not get my voicemail greeting is the OBI phone calls out to it. I don't see what OBI settings would have anything to do with this, any that I can find at least. Somehow, it's not detecting, I assume, that voicemail answered.

The mobile phone is used in hangouts as the verified phone number. It's not the google voice phone number of course.

Nothing obvious stands out to me. Seems more like it's not aware the call was answered somehow.

[SteveInWA]

I am deeply involved with that carrier so am fully aware of how it works. And that is an understatement.

What does that mean?  Do you work for RingPlus, or are you just a hopeless fanboy/self-professed expert?

RingPlus is notorious for not working properly with Google Voice.  RingPlus is not a standard mobile telephone carrier.  Between its hybrid VoIP/Sprint setup, and it inserting ads or music into the ringback interval, Google Voice cannot reliably determine if/when the call is being answered.  If you want reliable interaction between Google Voice and a mobile phone, then use a conventional mobile phone service provider.

[sfatula111]

Thanks for your concern about Ringplus, but I did not ask that question. Please stay on topic. Not to mention, your answer was about calls going the wrong way anyway. Not interested in pointless arguments about who's carrier is better, what platform is better, what kind of cell phone is better, etc.

Your ad hominem attack is not necessary. Why do you feel the need to name call someone asking for assistance?

[Taoman]

If you are "deeply involved" with RingPlus then you should know that Google Voice is not supported by RingPlus and that this is a known issue.
Google Voice ignores early media which is what R+ utilizes. Ring+ is not technically "answering" the call. I'm sure you're familiar with startledmarmot?

Red Leatherman said:
"The workaround is to answer the call and bring up the keypad and press '1'"

For some reason, Google is now interpreting the ringback media transmission from RingPlus (a SIP 1837 "Session Progress" response, which isn't a form of answering as defined by specification) as a form of answering and is triggering their "Press 1" to accept this call due to exactly what @red_leatherman said - essentially an anti-PBX-fraud measure.

Why this is happening now is somewhat of guess. We haven't made any changes, so it must be something on Google's side, or on the path leading to Google. Google Voice is actually backed by Bandwidth.com (when we port to/from GV, it's actually Bandwidth.com who handles everything), and we are backed by Sprint, and there are many gateways in-between, so perhaps it something along that path.

In any event, it's unfortunately not something we're going to be able to solve easily. Ringback media is a fundamental part of our business model and we don't have the resources to chase Google on these kinds of issues. We will keep it in mind, however, and while we're doing other work see if we can find a way to make interoperability better with GV.

https://discourse.ringplus.net/t/integrating-google-voice-ringplus/1858/45

Note: I have 2 Ring+ lines (Buffet 2 & Immortal 2) and a line configured on one of my OBi's as a service provider. So I think it is safe to say that "I am deeply involved with that carrier so am fully aware of how it works" also. When calling out via Google Voice to either of my 2 Ring+ lines voicemail does not answer. It works using Hangouts because Hangouts uses a different protocol and responds to early media.

If you still have doubts try the following:
dial 6312650000 from your "home" phone
dial 6312650000 from Hangouts

Why do you suppose you only hear ringing when dialing thru GV but you hear the message using Hangouts? For the same reason you can't hear your Ring+ voicemail when dialing thru GV.

[SteveInWA]

Thanks for your concern about Ringplus, but I did not ask that question. Please stay on topic. Not to mention, your answer was about calls going the wrong way anyway. Not interested in pointless arguments about who's carrier is better, what platform is better, what kind of cell phone is better, etc.

Your ad hominem attack is not necessary. Why do you feel the need to name call someone asking for assistance?

You asked why your setup wasn't working properly.  I diagnosed your problem correctly, as being caused by Google Voice's incompatibility with RingPlus.  Taoman confirmed it.  Now, go away.

[sfatula111]

Nothing like people offering pleasant support. Classy guy here, let's call people names when they need assistance! With guys like that, so many will be attracted to OBI and the friendly service. I love when people judge others and have absolutely no idea who they are speaking to or who they are.

Anyway, yes, Taoman, thank you for your more reasoned answer not a rant about something you know little about. Yes, I can call my cell phone via land line, as can anyone else, and it works fine. I can call my cell phone from any cell phone on any service, and it works fine. I can be called from Mexico, Canada, Serbia, and it works fine. I can call via hangouts on my home line, and, it works fine. I just cannot be called from the OBI. If that is a receiving call issue, I am fine with that. Obviously, 99.999% of devices in the world seem to work with it just fine. But the post is talking about those who have integrated GV, I have not. Calls from home GV to my cell go directly to the cell, no forwarding involved. So, there is no 1 to press in my case.

Please note, I never said I call out with GV, and I do not. The GV line is my home phone line, NOT my cell phone line, merely trying to call it. So, GV is only calling out in this case, calls do not get forwarded to my cell, my cell does not call out on that line.

[LTN1]

Nothing like people offering pleasant support. Classy guy here, let's call people names when they need assistance! With guys like that, so many will be attracted to OBI and the friendly service. I love when people judge others and have absolutely no idea who they are speaking to or who they are.

Anyway, yes, Taoman, thank you for your more reasoned answer not a rant about something you know little about. Yes, I can call my cell phone via land line, as can anyone else, and it works fine. I can call my cell phone from any cell phone on any service, and it works fine. I can be called from Mexico, Canada, Serbia, and it works fine. I can call via hangouts on my home line, and, it works fine. I just cannot be called from the OBI. If that is a receiving call issue, I am fine with that. Obviously, 99.999% of devices in the world seem to work with it just fine. But the post is talking about those who have integrated GV, I have not. Calls from home GV to my cell go directly to the cell, no forwarding involved. So, there is no 1 to press in my case.

Please note, I never said I call out with GV, and I do not. The GV line is my home phone line, NOT my cell phone line, merely trying to call it. So, GV is only calling out in this case, calls do not get forwarded to my cell, my cell does not call out on that line.

This is a volunteer based forum. If you need the technical support that you can't find here, it is best to submit a request for support here: http://www.obihai.com/supportTicketFormA

[Taoman]

Please note, I never said I call out with GV, and I do not. The GV line is my home phone line, NOT my cell phone line, merely trying to call it. So, GV is only calling out in this case, calls do not get forwarded to my cell, my cell does not call out on that line.

Say what? The second sentence in your first post says you do or else what are we even talking about? I never hinted or intimated that your "home" phone was your cell phone line. Actually, I'm not sure what the point is of your last paragraph. It seems irrelevant and has nothing to do with anything I posted.

Let me be as precise as I can:

RingPlus uses "ringback media" (early media) even for voicemail greetings. Google Voice ignores early media. Therefore, when calling your Ring+ cell number thru Google Voice your Ring+ voicemail will not be detected or heard.

Another post by startledmarmot:

in order to avoid charging our members a minute for each call that goes to Voicemail (which we sincerely don't want to do, but this would be considered an "answered" call by the billing systems), RingPlus plays all Voicemail greetings as ringback messages. This lets us avoid charging for phone calls that are hung up once the voicemail greeting is played, but before being recorded.

Google Voice ignores "ringback messages." This issue is not specific to RingPlus. For instance, you can purchase "ringback tones" from Verizon Wireless that will play music for people calling your VZW number instead of the standard ringback tone. But if you call the VZW number via Google Voice you will not be able to hear the music. Why? Early media.

[sfatula111]

Ok, so, my last post was not clear I see. I do call out via Google voice. What I do not do is integrate Google voice into the cell phone to dial out as some people do with various apps, dialer integration, call forwarding, etc. That's all my last post attempted to say, badly. I merely wanted to clarify a phone from home does dial out via Google voice, but my cell phone does not. It's a standalone phone using cell service only, no voip, no GV, forwarding, etc.

Those that integrate with Google voice from their cell phone may have other issues of course. But, I do not check GV voicemail via my cell phone, etc. that some of the posts in your link to article refer to. They also speak a lot about call forwarding which I am not doing. I did not read the entire thread at the time as I had to leave for the day for my weekly medical treatment. Sorry for not being more clear at the time. I will read it.

Curiously, for experimental purposes, I downloaded the GV app to my phone and used it to dial out via GV on the home phone line, and did get caller id to show my home phone # (not cell phone #) just to see if it worked well at all. It worked fine, and, I did get the advoice as well. Maybe it works better now since that thread was posted. Been 2 years after all. I know many on R+ using GV integration, I personally never liked doing that for many reasons. Though, it does have a few advantages like a good place to keep your phone #.

Anyway, thanks Taoman and LTN1. I get early media is the issue. All I was curious about when first posting was whether or not there was any adjustments that could be made to the OBI in order to account for the issue and workaround it. It has a lot of settings obviously. But if the issue is at Google, good luck with that. Was simply not aware of using early media for vmail greeting. Though, I guess I see why. With the ever increasing number of minutes, it doesn't really matter as much of course. And, they lately insist they follow the standard, but how many standards are actually standard any more. So many are open to interpretation. Encountered so many non standard standards over my 35 years of IT.

So, it could well be using a voip service and the OBI, it could work then. Other folks I know using VOIP services do seem to get my greeting. Not getting a greeting is not the end of the world either since they can leave a message anyway. And it's hard to beat free of course (GV).

Thanks again! Even SteveInWA for the relevant portions dealing with my issue.