Transferred Obi calls hang up exactly 20 seconds into leaving a GV voicemail
batchannel:
I should point out that the designated destination of the speed dial is the Google Voice DID, not the Obi number, because that's the only way to reach the Google Voicemail if the call is not picked up.
Stewart:
I did a test, calling with Gmail from one GV account to another. No OBi or other VoIP hardware was involved. The voicemail cut off after 20 seconds, exactly as you found. Calling from another service into GV did not have this problem. So, it appears that this is a GV bug (or perhaps an intentional restriction, though I don't understand why they would do that).
IMO you have three options (other than living with the problem):
1. Somehow get Google to fix it. I don't believe that's likely to happen quickly.
2. Use a (paid) service other than GV for the outbound leg of the transfer from the receptionist.
3. Use a free or paid voicemail service other than GV at the user end.
You might also select a service other than GV for the link from Toktumi to the receptionist. Depending on your choices, you could pass caller ID, handle more concurrent calls, and/or get lower latency and better voice quality. Note that your present system can only handle one transferred call (if sending on the from-Toktumi account) or two (if sending on SP2).
What is your anticipated monthly minutes usage over this path? How many concurrent transferred calls do you need? How important is GV voicemail? (If e.g. transcription to SMS is essential, anything else is likely to be costly.) Budget?
batchannel:
Our usage is fairly light. The reason we switched to this system was that email has overtaken voice conversation in our business over the last five years, and we have very few calls in or out. (Maybe 200 minutes a month for all 13 people).
This may be a question better addressed in its own thread but: What is the most recommended VoIP service for outgoing calls in the Obi community for light domestic usage? We'd like to keep the GV for incoming calls and voicemails, but for the incoming operator and for everyone's outgoing, I'd like to find a paid service like you suggest.
By the way, thanks for all your help on this, Stewart. Brilliant sleuthing on your part to figure out this issue.
batchannel:
So I tried voice.ms for outgoing calls to see if this would fix the issue. Oddly, calls that are transferred using the Obi *98 protocol hang up as soon as the voicemail (or the line itself) gets picked up. Worse than Google Voice.
Anyone recommend a VoIP provider that won't do this?
DocM:
I noted the 20 sec voicemail issue with GV to GV calls about a month or two ago. I also would lose the caller id of the original caller with that setup. The way I fixed my setup was by sending all voicemails to my asterisk server, which would answer the calls, translate the calls into text (using the same software used by GV), convert the wav to mp3, and send the translation and mp3 as an email to the designated email. Acts just like GV but with caller id included, longer greeting message capability, and longer voicemail message. It works great so far. The only issues that I am now dealing with are mainly with GV's service or with obi's connection to GV (can't tell). Recently, my calls seems to be cutting off randomly :( .
Not sure how you system is setup but if you have one main GV number that your customers call to, then get a couple free callcentric dids and have your main gv number redirects calls to the new callcentric dids. Then, if you want them to leave a message, they can be transferred to your voicemail-only gv did. Roundabout way but it should overcome the 20 sec limitation.
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