What Is OBiTalk?
eightminobi:
I come from an engineering background but in an entirely different industry from telephony, so I am admittedly very confused by OBiTalk. Even OBi as a company doesn't seem to explain exactly what it is and how it fits in to the telephony architecture. If you go to OBiTalk.com, you see promotional material, all sorts of ads touting GoogleVoice support, information on devices, etc., but nothing about OBiTalk as a technology, per se (at least that I could find...).
So here is my "disconnect": If I buy an OBi202 unit--an ATA (analog telephone adapter) device that connects to my house phone using standard POTS RJ11 and to the internet--and then I go to the IP address of the OBi202 and get to its configuration screens, I can configure my Vitelity (my VOIP provider) under the ITSP section and then further configure that connection using the Voice Services section. As far as I understand it, once properly configured, my OBi202 will work and I will be able to make and receive calls. I never have to even think about OBiTalk or ever visit OBiTalk.com (as far as I know).
So where/how does OBiTalk fit in? I understand that I can "see" my OBi devices once I create an account and log on to obitalk.com, but is it just a friendly way to configure my devices using the internet so that I can make tweaks to my equipment when I do not have access to my home network (where the equipment is physically installed)? Is OBiTalk just a website to help you configure devices or is it also an actual active middleware layer that sits between my Vitelity account and my OBi202 device? Is there a network architecture diagram available anywhere on the OBi websites (obihai.com, obitalk.com, or elsewhere?) that explains the architectural role of OBiTalk rather than tout its features???
I ask because I had a working OBi202/Vitelity set up and then added the OBi1022 phone. And now that I have two OBi devices, understanding the architecture is no longer optional. I am especially confused when it comes to the auto attendant (AA). Apparently (I think, at least!) the OBi202 AND ALSO the OBi1022 offer an auto-attendant--so now I have two AA's. On my phone system, I would want a SINGLE auto attendant to be available because I want my two Vitelity accounts to behave the same way on both OBi202 and OBi1022 devices--so I want both devices to share the AA as if the OBi1022 acts like the RJ11 phones hanging off of the OBi202 device... (see my other post about ringing: https://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=11401.0) I think configuring this properly requires a deeper understanding of the role OBiTalk plays in orchestrating inbound and outbound calls to/from my OBi devices...
Thanks,
Steve
drgeoff:
There is the Obitalk portal through which you can configure all the OBi ATAa and OBi IP phones which you have added to an account. Do not mix configuration via the portal and configuration via an Obi's onboard GUI. Use one or the other.
There is the Obitalk network through which OBi ATAs and IP phones (and Android or iPhone with the Obion app) can communicate with each other using the 9 digit numbers (on a sticker on the underside) and without using a third party ITSP. Use is optional and is in addition to any third party ITSPs you configure.
When using a third party ITSP the signalling and voice data flow only between your OBi device and that ITSP.
An AA is internal to a device.
There is a wealth of information in the Admin Guides available at http://www.obihai.com/docs-downloads. However they are neither a quick nor easy read, especially the first ten times you read them. :)
azrobert:
Additional info:
This is where you create an OBiTalk account:
https://www.obitalk.com/obinet/
You would then add your devices to OBiTalk and configure them.
After you add your devices OBiTalk will reset you configuration.
When you make changes, OBiTalk will download the configuration and reboot your device.
After this procedure your device will work as if configured locally.
You can backup your configurations and import them into OBiTalk, so you don't have to start from scratch. Do the backup before you start. You will lose any Speed Dials you have previously configured.
In addition OBiHai has a network where you can call any connected device. Your devices automatically connect to the OBiHai network without being added to your account, but I don't think you will be able to call between your devices without adding them to OBiTalk. You can verify you're connected by calling the echo test. Just dial "**9222222222". If this works try calling your other device by dialing **9 followed by the 9 digit number OBi number of the device your calling. A long time ago I tested calling another OBi with an unregistered device and the call failed, but maybe things have changed.
If you have to add your devices to OBiTalk to get this to work and want to continue using the local interface to configure your devices do the following:
Add devices to OBiTalk.
Import configs into OBiTalk.
Locally turn off OBiTalk Auto-Provisioning.
Restore your configuration locally from your backup.
This should restore your speed dials and remove any unwanted changes OBiTalk made.
eightminobi:
@drgeoff: Awesome--you made the very good point that ObiTalk is BOTH a portal (for configuring devices) and a network that behaves like an ITSP (it's a floor-wax AND a dessert topping!)... I did not realize this! So are you saying that voice data flows through the ObiTalk network ONLY WHEN making Obi-to-Obi calls using the 9-digit Obi device ID? And that all other voice calls (to actual phone numbers) flow through the third-party ITSP through which one has VOIP service?
I also missed the doc-downloads area until I saw your link--thanks! As a programmer, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading those materials.
@azrobert: Thank you also for your summary--very helpful.
I added more detail to my other posted question based on this thread...
Thanks,
Steve
Lavarock7:
@Azrobert: Were you speaking about an Obi not registered at all in the Obi network at all or just not in your account?
I just tested calling to an Obi not in my account. I had set up a separate Obi account for a neighbor, registered the Obi and added service providers. Then I left it connected at his house while he is on vacation.
When I dialed that Obi number from my home Obi (**9500xxx..) it rang and rang. I logged into the neighbors account and sure enough it was ringing at his house:
State ringing Fork to multiple terminals: PH1 PH2
I was under the impression that Obi to Obi calls were only allowed within the same account. Seems not.
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