OBiTALK Community

General Support => Day-to-Day Use => Topic started by: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 08:18:17 AM

Title: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 08:18:17 AM
I have been reading all the opinions on this issue on how to overcome the gv xmpp support ending and so far I have to say they have all been practically useless or just not useful answers. The solutions proposed sound so convoluted that I can't see them working very well.

Everyone knows, when you start chaining different service providers, the likelihood of things getting messed up goes up, and if one of them fail I can't troubleshoot all these. For me GV is pretty reliable and simply just works. Best of all it has been easy and local calls are free.

I have a simple question for which I am seeking a simple answer.
The only reason I bought the Obihai was because I wanted to easily use GV for both out/in bound calls without needing a computer. I don't want to use some [insert some other clunky SIP] here. I like what GV offers, none offer at the same price point. I don't want to be drawn into per minute billing, add on service billing for things that GV does, this is the reason we cut the cord in the first place.

So my question is simple and I know there is an answer.
I have an Obi110 which is setup with my GV and I simply pickup a phone and dial. When I get a call my Obi rings and I answer, it is not plugged into a computer or connected via bluetooth etc.

Post May 2014, is there anyway I can still do this, using my GV and just a phone without having a computer always on? And No, I don't think having a bluetooth blah, connected to the phone is a solution. I don't care if the answer does not involve an Obi device. If they can't/won't fix their device, then maybe someone knows something else that does what we all paid for.


From everything I've read, the closest thing to a real solution appears to be SipSorcery, for which I'm still unclear about. If I pay the SipSorcery 69$, does that mean that I can still pickup my phone and dial and it will route outbound calls through GV. I would rather just pay that and be done with it, instead of fiddling with a DID from X, a SIP from Y, a CID from Z and then juggling all in Obi.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: gderf on January 12, 2014, 08:31:37 AM
The answer is no. GV will not talk directly to your OBi once XMPP is shut off.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: lhm. on January 12, 2014, 08:44:07 AM
Sipsorcery is not plug n play. A DID from X, a SIP from Y, and a CID from Z are requirements in Sipsorcery.

You will also make a new friend, named Ruby.  ;D
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 09:19:21 AM
Quote from: lhm. on January 12, 2014, 08:44:07 AM
Sipsorcery is not plug n play. A DID from X, a SIP from Y, and a CID from Z are requirements in Sipsorcery.

You will also make a new friend, named Ruby.  ;D

From the looks of it, there really is no alternative to what was available and would most likely kill the Obi product for most general users.

Might explain why I never received an email of the impending change. I was looking at buying an Obi202 as an upgrade which was surprisingly cheap, so I checked the Obi website and BAM, a blog link on their website. Practically every Obi user registered an email with them, yet no email.

Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: gderf on January 12, 2014, 09:39:16 AM
If you are going to insist on using a provider that charges zero for their services, then you are going to be at the mercy of the market when that provider defeats the mechanism third parties used to obtain that free service.

GV's decision isn't going to kill the OBi product for most general users. If they want to keep going with an OBi (or any other ATA), they are going to have to throw some money at it or use the identified workarounds to keep using it for free. Those are the choices; pick one.

The only thing GV's decision changes is that the new bottom price for services is no longer zero if you don't want to use any of the identified workarounds.

Speaking for myself, if I can't afford less than $4.00/month for unlimited VoIP calling, how can I afford the internet connection to run it on in the first place?
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 10:16:36 AM
Quote from: gderf on January 12, 2014, 09:39:16 AM
Speaking for myself, if I can't afford less than $4.00/month for unlimited VoIP calling, how can I afford the internet connection to run it on in the first place?


I think you misunderstood. I like what GV offers. The call history, the text messaging from the number, the email transcribing of voicemails. The multiple numbers I can have it connect to along with the a schedule for when to try each number. The google integration...the list goes on.

All I'm trying to do is still be able to make and receive GV calls without needing a computer and I don't mind paying for it.
My understanding through reading everything I can find so far on the blog is a mix of various half baked answers which will work for techies but not for most users who actually decided on the obi in the first place.

Here is how I see it. Post May 2014

My sought alternative is like most users to still be able to make calls that present my GV number as my CID.
Ideally I would prefer to make the calls using GV so all my call records are in GV which is a big plus for me ( I tend to look up when I last contacted/emailed/texted my contacts from the GV history)

The best solutions I've seen here
Using Sipsorcery with some DID from X, CID from Y and paying 69$ to Sipsorcery which I don't mind. However it appears that this doesn't use GV for outbound calls and instead relys on some other SIP service.
This is not much different from simply signing up for localphone.com, setting it up as SP2 on Obi, and making all calls from it while also setting localphone.com to spoof my GV number. This hits almost all points for me.

Another solution which I just seen is to use GVMate. yes I know GVMate needs a computer on to work, but I have a Home Server that is always on so it could be hooked up to the GVMate which then means I don't use the Obi but I can have in/out bound calls via GV all the time.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: drgeoff on January 12, 2014, 11:00:13 AM
Quote from: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 10:16:36 AM
Here is how I see it. Post May 2014

  • The Obi will still receive inbound GV calls as it does today and ring the phone attached to the OBI

.......

Using Sipsorcery with some DID from X, CID from Y and paying 69$ to Sipsorcery which I don't mind. However it appears that this doesn't use GV for outbound calls and instead relys on some other SIP service.
1. My understanding is that incoming GV calls to OBi devices will also not work after 14 May.

2. Sipsorcery does use GV for outbound calls.  The method is the same as Google's call back method where you enter the number you want to call and select/enter the number of the callback phone on the web page.  Sipsorcery does exactly that.  It accesses that same web page with your GV login details and gives it the two phone numbers.  GV calls back to the number which reaches your Sipsorcery account (via the DID from X).  GV then dials the number you want to call and bridges the two.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: lhm. on January 12, 2014, 11:21:19 AM
Drgeoff is correct. A diagrammatic representation of the SIP Sorcery GoogleVoiceCall dialplan application is linked below.

http://sipsorcery.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Google%20Voice%20Call%20Dialplan%20Application
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 02:37:26 PM
Damn this just gets worse and worse.

SipSorcery appears to be the only option that is being posted that will use your GV for in/out bound calls using some magic.

Obivoice appears to tout themselves as the next best thing. From what I see, they can port the number over and have some GV like features (voicemail transcript, voicemail email, unlimited calls (fee based), call log, and even E911). But I really would like to not rely on unproven companies that may be down for days on end. This is the reason I would like to stay GV as much as possible. Google's stuff works. I've read issues on this board with pretty much all the alternates listed either having issues which result in long downtimes, CLID issues etc.

My Solution options for now will be either
GVMate on my homeserver or

Obitalk Solution : GV out via [SIP] which can spoof my gv number. GV inbound forwarding to my [SIP Provider] number.  The choice of [SIP Provider] could be localphone, betamax or obivoice. I might try all 3 out and see how they hold up.

Thanks for clarifying that GV inbound won't work on Obi also. The information put out has been confusing or little. My guess is there is a rush to ship as many of the Obi devices before all consumers catch on.



Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on January 12, 2014, 04:31:16 PM
You can also run an Asterisk server that does the same thing as Sipsorcery.  I have been looking into an Asterisk appliance.  I'm waiting to make sure they update their firmware to work with Hangouts fully but I expect them to.

Here is an option noone has talked about.  For $10 you can add a device to your Obi that will do what you want.  I'll have one in a few days to verify it works.  The device is called an auto dialer.  It will call your Google Voice number then log in and dial out Via Google Voice.  You would need to pay for outgoing calls to your Google Voice number but all of the Google Voice features you are accustomed to would remain intact. 

Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: gderf on January 12, 2014, 04:47:16 PM
Quote from: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 02:37:26 PM
My guess is there is a rush to ship as many of the Obi devices before all consumers catch on.


All the big sellers including Amazon and Newegg clearly state that Google Voice is not supported past May 15 2014. TigerDirect's adds don't even mention usability with Google Voice anymore. But if you buy stuff without doing any research or don't bother reading the adds, then you are likely to be disappointed.

As to the information about transitions from GV being "confusing or little" I suggest you read more and get a basic understanding of the device, the associated protocols, VoIP services in general, and try looking around some more. This topic has been beaten to death beginning the day someone associated with Google hinted at the end of XMPP.


Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: drgeoff on January 13, 2014, 03:40:14 AM
Quote from: giqcass on January 12, 2014, 04:31:16 PM
You can also run an Asterisk server that does the same thing as Sipsorcery.
I have experimented with GV on both an Asterisk PBX (Raspbx on RaspberryPi) and Sipsorcery and had both working successfully.

I am 99% sure that the current Asterisk GV implementation uses XMPP.  https://wiki.asterisk.org/wiki/display/AST/Calling+using+Google contains the following sentence:

"Asterisk communicates with Google Voice and Google Talk using the chan_motif Channel Driver and the res_xmpp Resource module."

If correct, it will cease to work after 14 May.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 09:23:11 AM
I have been using GV since before it was GV (grand Central) I have been using the Obi for at least 2.5 yrs. I guess the stupid and obvious question is why does Obi not work with google to come to a solution before May 1 or figure out what std gv is using after May 1 (not XMPP; not sure what the new std will be) and come out with a new obi box that supports the new service with similar functionality. Is that not a way to sell a lot of new boxes and keep obi going? I heard that Obi was a company run by a bunch of engineers not marketing people. If that the case well act like engineers and solve the problem.  Dont make us solve it for you. Thats why I bought your device.

People always say well dont rely on free services to stay free and do what you want. Well Obi was not free and I give my data to google to sift thru and put up with their ads so they can make money off me. Also if google offered a paid work around to use Obi at a decent cost I would use it. But google is keeping everything hush hush as usual and offering customers no options. Everything with google is sort of a take it or leave it option.

I know this might be another thread but here is another issue: "Additionally, judges selected Daniel Klein and Dean Jackson from Google for the Robocall Challenge Technology Achievement Award." Google emp get an award for software that stops robo calling. No implementation of this in GV or Hangouts? Amazing. Of course the "phone" (land and mobile) cos are no better as they are not implementing nomorobo.com as I guess they can see naked phone service to robo collers and make a few bucks. Come on t mobile act like the "un carrier" you claim to be and fix spam calls
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on January 13, 2014, 10:51:47 AM
Quote from: drgeoff on January 13, 2014, 03:40:14 AM
I have experimented with GV on both an Asterisk PBX (Raspbx on RaspberryPi) and Sipsorcery and had both working successfully.

I am 99% sure that the current Asterisk GV implementation uses XMPP.  https://wiki.asterisk.org/wiki/display/AST/Calling+using+Google contains the following sentence:

"Asterisk communicates with Google Voice and Google Talk using the chan_motif Channel Driver and the res_xmpp Resource module."

If correct, it will cease to work after 14 May.

You are correct about the current method Asterisk uses but there was an old method that is similar to what Sipsorcery uses.  You could run an old version of Asterisk before XMPP support was introduced or wait for the new version to switch to the old method. PBX in a flash may not do future GV support but other Asterisk implementations are sure to add it. 


Quote from: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 09:23:11 AM
I guess the stupid and obvious question is why does Obi not work with google to come to a solution before May 1

Short answer Google was never working with Obi.  They made it clear they don't want their service to be used this way.  Obi has a legitimate business beyond Google Voice integration to protect.

Quote from: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 09:23:11 AM
I know this might be another thread but here is another issue: "Additionally, judges selected Daniel Klein and Dean Jackson from Google for the Robocall Challenge Technology Achievement Award." Google emp get an award for software that stops robo calling. No implementation of this in GV or Hangouts?
That is the question killing me as well. Callcentric is offering their own version free of charge and almost no carrier supports nomorobo.  Fios is one of the few I know that supports it.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 11:02:42 AM
Quote from: giqcass on January 13, 2014, 10:51:47 AM

Short answer Google was never working with Obi.  They made it clear they don't want their service to be used this way.  Obi has a legitimate business beyond Google Voice integration to protect.

ok I get that but why doesn't Obi try to work with them now on a gv specific box. Again Obi is run by engineers like google. I think there is a engineering solution but I think google does not want to play with others, sort of like Apple and MS. I think google wants to force everyone onto the "Hangouts platform" (on all devices) and not offer an Obi off platform solution as they cant force ads and other things on you that way. Google is still obsessed with facebook which is now dying for the under 20 crowd. Next I expect google to make up some sort of an NSA excuse to rid their world of Obi
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: sdb- on January 14, 2014, 07:19:40 AM
Quote from: gderf on January 12, 2014, 04:47:16 PM
All the big sellers including Amazon and Newegg clearly state that Google Voice is not supported past May 15 2014. TigerDirect's adds don't even mention usability with Google Voice anymore.

And the GV claim has been footnoted for years as being subject to the whim of google.

Services come and go all the time. It's been a normal part of life for all my life and the Internet for the last 2-3 decades does not increase permanence.  If anything, it makes it easier and faster for services to come and go.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: sdb- on January 14, 2014, 07:25:43 AM
Quote from: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 10:16:36 AM
I think you misunderstood. I like what GV offers. The call history, the text messaging from the number, the email transcribing of voicemails. The multiple numbers I can have it connect to along with the a schedule for when to try each number. The google integration...the list goes on.

All I'm trying to do is still be able to make and receive GV calls without needing a computer and I don't mind paying for it.

Assuming that GV and those services continue to exist, you just need some kind of phone service and you can do all that via your phone.

That phone service can be a cell phone, telco land line, bundled VoIP solution such as offered by cable internet providers or magic jack or others, or a "bring your own device" (BYOD) VoIP solution.

Pick your poison.

With a BYOD service you can continue to use your OBi.  If as you mentioned before you also want simplicity and do not mind paying for it, then simply sign up for Anveo.  Buy a phone number from them ($2/month for personal unlimited incoming) and E911 from them ($0.80/month). You will pay $0.01/minute for calls to anywhere in the U.S. including your GV number. Now you forward your GV number to your Anveo number. Follow Google's instructions for how to use their service with a phone number.

But remember, GV can change their service at any time.  Anveo can change their service at any time.  That's life.  You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

edit: Remember than Obihai has announced a $40/yr plan. That may be simpler and cheaper than Anveo for your usage.  As long as it lasts.  We don't know yet all the details.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: lhm. on January 14, 2014, 06:47:58 PM
(cross post)

One persons perspective,
"What's really happening with Google Voice?"
http://tech.iprock.com/?p=10372
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: burris on February 06, 2014, 05:08:42 AM
this really is not all that complicated people...

Callcentric, pay per minute calling...very inexpensive, higher quality, actual support, more features, done

as already noted too, the Obihai is simply an ATA that had the added feature of the GV setup...it is in fact from I can tell a better ATA across the board then the ones I had used prior with Callentric & Viatalk

i've had mine setup for both GV and Callcentric for some time (both inbound, outbound GV only)...will just go back to using Callcentric if there is not an easy GV solution

i'm not sweating this
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on February 06, 2014, 06:07:03 AM
Quote from: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 11:02:42 AM
Quote from: giqcass on January 13, 2014, 10:51:47 AM

Short answer Google was never working with Obi.  They made it clear they don't want their service to be used this way.  Obi has a legitimate business beyond Google Voice integration to protect.

ok I get that but why doesn't Obi try to work with them now on a gv specific box. Again Obi is run by engineers like google. I think there is a engineering solution but I think google does not want to play with others, sort of like Apple and MS. I think google wants to force everyone onto the "Hangouts platform" (on all devices) and not offer an Obi off platform solution as they cant force ads and other things on you that way. Google is still obsessed with facebook which is now dying for the under 20 crowd. Next I expect google to make up some sort of an NSA excuse to rid their world of Obi

Google doesn't want to be labeled as a telephone provider.  If they were they would be subject to new federal and State regulations.  There have been lawsuits trying to hold them to the standards of telephone providers and their lawyers vigorously defended them on the grounds that Google is not a telephone provider.  If someone hacks your system to allow people to use your service as a telephone replacement it's one thing but if you help make a box that turns your service into a telephone replacement it's clear you are a telephone provider.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: simpleAnswers on February 07, 2014, 03:43:14 AM
Quote from: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 09:23:11 AM
..Come on t mobile act like the "un carrier" you claim to be and fix spam calls

I thought it was not allowed for marketeer to knowingly make spam/marketing calls to cell phones as it would cost the receiver money.
Usually its only if the user has filled out their cell phone as a home number somewhere and the marketeers got that. I never enter my cell as a home number anywhere. My 2cents ;D
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on February 07, 2014, 06:54:52 AM
Quote from: simpleAnswers on February 07, 2014, 03:43:14 AM
Quote from: swh2 on January 13, 2014, 09:23:11 AM
..Come on t mobile act like the "un carrier" you claim to be and fix spam calls

I thought it was not allowed for marketeer to knowingly make spam/marketing calls to cell phones as it would cost the receiver money.
Usually its only if the user has filled out their cell phone as a home number somewhere and the marketeers got that. I never enter my cell as a home number anywhere. My 2cents ;D
You are correct if you mean inside the United States.  Many of these companies run operations in countries where they can not be prosecuted.  The fact that there was no legal avenue to stop these people is the reason the FCC had a contest to find a solution.  I usually put my cell phone numbers into the do not call list even though it is not  supposed to be necessary.  Another problem we run into these days is the fact most telephone numbers have been recycled.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: SteveInWA on February 07, 2014, 11:41:24 AM
Quote from: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 08:18:17 AM
I have been reading all the opinions on this issue on how to overcome the gv xmpp support ending and so far I have to say they have all been practically useless or just not useful answers. The solutions proposed sound so convoluted that I can't see them working very well.

I wholeheartedly agree with gderf's answers in this thread.  The alternatives aren't convoluted at all, nor were they useless answers; the solutions work great, although they cost some money.  As was already pointed out, you simply cannot continue to get something for nothing; it was an unauthorized use of Google Voice, never negotiated with Google, nor promised to be permanent by Obihai.  Obihai never said they had partnered with Google to provide the service.  They simply made the feature available for you to use.

You are simply upset that you are losing your free calling from Google.  It's like the stages of grieving.  You need to move from denial and anger to acceptance.  Free, direct GV service via a box, be it black or cream-colored, is DEAD.

Seriously, this has been thoroughly run into the ground.  Obihai has listed a good selection of SIP carriers.  The market is very competitive, with low profit margin.

Quote from: simpleAnswers on January 12, 2014, 08:18:17 AM

So my question is simple and I know there is an answer.
I have an Obi110 which is setup with my GV and I simply pickup a phone and dial. When I get a call my Obi rings and I answer, it is not plugged into a computer or connected via bluetooth etc.

Post May 2014, is there anyway I can still do this, using my GV and just a phone without having a computer always on? And No, I don't think having a bluetooth blah, connected to the phone is a solution. I don't care if the answer does not involve an Obi device. If they can't/won't fix their device, then maybe someone knows something else that does what we all paid for.

No.  There is no answer, and no, nothing is broken.  Google is simply closing the hole that allowed third-parties to use Chat for calling outside the Google ecosystem.  You didn't pay a one-time fee for free telephone service.  You bought and paid for a box -- an Analog Telephone Adapter that can connect to various internet telephone service providers.  The main thing that differentiated it from all the other ATAs out there, was that it had a built-in XMPP Google Chat client.  That XMPP Chat service is being shut down completely by Google.  DEAD.  You can be angry at Google if you like, but that attitude is useless and not helpful, not the answers provided so far.

If you do not want to pay some amount of money for convenient phone service via a box and a RJ11 analog phone jack and a phone, then make all your calls on a laptop or desktop computer, or on an Apple iOS device, or soon, on an Android device, using the replacement for Chat:  Google Hangouts.  Hangouts is where Google is investing their development funding, and it will continue to improve over time.  Just this week, for example, Google announced a turnkey solution for video conferencing using Hangouts and Chromeboxes. That's the future, not being just another VoIP telephone company.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: jimates on February 21, 2014, 11:19:47 AM
@ simpleAnswers

You said you didn't want to get into per minute billing, yet you said you didn't mind paying for a solution.

You said you didn't want a DID, SIP or whatever mixed in.

The solution actually involves something you should be using already. It just adds a slight cost to the currently free configuration.

I have a free DID from Callcentric with free incoming calls. (the only reason for this is incoming caller id with name).
My google voice forwards the call to my Callcentric number. My Obi is configured as a SIP device with my Callcentric account so my home phones connected to the Obi ring (with real caller id).
My outgoing calls from the Obi go direct through google voice.

After the change the only addition will be to add outgoing calls (at a slight cost) to my Callcentric account.
Then all my outgoing calls will also use Callcentric instead of google voice. Many voip providers now offer outgoing caller id designation (spoofing). This means you can have your google voice number show as your outgoing caller id instead of the actual DID used to place the call.

No one knows there was a change at all. Slight added cost on your end. Even with per minute billing you can just fund your account and forget about it for some time.

And for me an added bonus is I can call my Callcentric number to ring direct to my Obi without ringing all my other phones in my google voice list.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on February 21, 2014, 03:14:21 PM
Quote from: jimates on February 21, 2014, 11:19:47 AM
And for me an added bonus is I can call my Callcentric number to ring direct to my Obi without ringing all my other phones in my google voice list.
I use this system with a little twist.  I'm using extensions on Callcentric which you appear to be doing as well but in my case I have 2 extensions ring the same phones.  The benefit here is that each extension has it's own ring.  All the people in my Callcentric address book go to extension 2.  People not in the address book ring extension 1.  Then when a call comes in all my phones ring but I can tell which extension is ringing based on the ring itself and I know if the call is worth answering.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: jimates on February 21, 2014, 05:54:57 PM
Quote from: giqcass on February 21, 2014, 03:14:21 PM
Quote from: jimates on February 21, 2014, 11:19:47 AM
And for me an added bonus is I can call my Callcentric number to ring direct to my Obi without ringing all my other phones in my google voice list.
I use this system with a little twist.  I'm using extensions on Callcentric which you appear to be doing as well but in my case I have 2 extensions ring the same phones.  The benefit here is that each extension has it's own ring.  All the people in my Callcentric address book go to extension 2.  People not in the address book ring extension 1.  Then when a call comes in all my phones ring but I can tell which extension is ringing based on the ring itself and I know if the call is worth answering.
Callcentric has some nice features, but I am already maintaining a contact list at google with over 300 entries for the wife and myself.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on February 21, 2014, 06:32:52 PM
Quote from: jimates on February 21, 2014, 05:54:57 PM
Callcentric has some nice features, but I am already maintaining a contact list at google with over 300 entries for the wife and myself.
That was an issue for me but I imported most of my contacts with a csv file.  I had to manipulate the file before importing it into Callcentric because they use slightly different formats.  I only imported the contacts that get preferred treatment. About 80 out of 251 contacts.

If you used multiple Callcentric DIDs you could manage everything via GV and route the call based on the incoming DID.  If it weren't for the lack of SMS I would have considered porting my GV number to Callcentric completely.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: J4545 on February 21, 2014, 07:04:39 PM
Jimmates first explained the GV / Callcentric hybrid approach back in 2012 here:

http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=4270.0

This is a great guide that I used then and refer to periodically. Many thanks.

Yes, it is more complex to set up than an Obi alone but it has been very reliable. It also adds redundancy which will now come in handy when GV no longer talks to my Obi over XMPP.

Callcentric is very solid (except for some folks during the DDoS attack they suffered) and their web interface is polished. For what you get, the cost is extremely reasonable.

Bottom line: Rolling your own system from two different components, one of which costs a couple bucks a month, gives you a text and voice system that could not have been imagined just a few years ago.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: jazzy on February 21, 2014, 07:13:25 PM
Quote from: jimates on February 21, 2014, 11:19:47 AM
@ simpleAnswers



I have a free DID from Callcentric with free incoming calls. (the only reason for this is incoming caller id with name).
My google voice forwards the call to my Callcentric number. My Obi is configured as a SIP device with my Callcentric account so my home phones connected to the Obi ring (with real caller id).
My outgoing calls from the Obi go direct through google voice.

After the change the only addition will be to add outgoing calls (at a slight cost) to my Callcentric account.
Then all my outgoing calls will also use Callcentric instead of google voice. Many voip providers now offer outgoing caller id designation (spoofing). This means you can have your google voice number show as your outgoing caller id instead of the actual DID used to place the call.



I just now started having the same problems with CID on  my free Callcentric DID as last weeks CID problem with IPKALL .

CID used to work just fine with both of these methods until very recently.  GV must be blocking or banning the IPKALL or Callcentric DID somehow.  ????

I too forward my GV > Callcentric #, but just last night, no CID, just "Anonymous" and no number for CID. 
Exactly the same thing started happening last week with my IPKALL # ( also was forwarding GV> IPKALL ,
but that CID just show the infamous 206-682-0185 as the CID ) 

Any else experiencing the "Anonymous" CID with the free Callcentric DID?  GV is forwarding the calls fine to IPKALL and Callcentric, but the CID is not happening.  Maybe I should try another IPKALL #.  Is there a way to turn in my Callcentric DID, and get another?

or just live with the inaccurate CID, to get free incoming calls?  Bummer

Might just have to give in and get something like Obivoice
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: J4545 on February 21, 2014, 07:18:26 PM
There is a post here http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=7257.0 about CID and IPKALL that may be relevant
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: SteveInWA on February 21, 2014, 09:30:41 PM
Quote from: jazzy on February 21, 2014, 07:13:25 PM
Quote from: jimates on February 21, 2014, 11:19:47 AM
@ simpleAnswers



I have a free DID from Callcentric with free incoming calls. (the only reason for this is incoming caller id with name).
My google voice forwards the call to my Callcentric number. My Obi is configured as a SIP device with my Callcentric account so my home phones connected to the Obi ring (with real caller id).
My outgoing calls from the Obi go direct through google voice.

After the change the only addition will be to add outgoing calls (at a slight cost) to my Callcentric account.
Then all my outgoing calls will also use Callcentric instead of google voice. Many voip providers now offer outgoing caller id designation (spoofing). This means you can have your google voice number show as your outgoing caller id instead of the actual DID used to place the call.



I just now started having the same problems with CID on  my free Callcentric DID as last weeks CID problem with IPKALL .

CID used to work just fine with both of these methods until very recently.  GV must be blocking or banning the IPKALL or Callcentric DID somehow.  ????

I too forward my GV > Callcentric #, but just last night, no CID, just "Anonymous" and no number for CID. 
Exactly the same thing started happening last week with my IPKALL # ( also was forwarding GV> IPKALL ,
but that CID just show the infamous 206-682-0185 as the CID ) 

Any else experiencing the "Anonymous" CID with the free Callcentric DID?  GV is forwarding the calls fine to IPKALL and Callcentric, but the CID is not happening.  Maybe I should try another IPKALL #.  Is there a way to turn in my Callcentric DID, and get another?

or just live with the inaccurate CID, to get free incoming calls?  Bummer

Might just have to give in and get something like Obivoice

There are already several old threads discussing the Callcentric free DID caller ID failures.  Search the forum; it's old news. 

TL;DR:  The VoIP call routing between Google Voice's Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and Callcentric's CLEC used for their free DIDs can intermittently mangle or lose CID information.  If reliable CID is important to you, spend a little money on a paid DID from Callcentric or another SIP VoIP carrier that has been around for a while.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: jimates on February 22, 2014, 04:20:14 AM
from time to time my Callcentric CID starts showing Private Caller. I can go into my Callcentric account and turn off the CID and save, then turn it back on and save. This fixes the problem until sometime in the unknown future.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: dudlee on February 22, 2014, 07:43:07 AM
I really appreciated being able to use Google Voice as a stand alone feature of the OBI box for free the last couple of years.  I also had the Callcentric free DID as a second incoming number paying only the $1.50 for E911.  I always considered these two numbers as my second phone line in my small home office.

I have now ported my google voice number over to Callcentric's pay as you go plan for under $2.00 per month + whatever the per minute charges may be.  I have setup my free DID with Callcentric's free FAX to email feature, so I have a dedicated inbound FAX number that has been working excellent.

So even though I no longer have a free google voice number on my OBI box as I didn't want to forward my number to Callcentric,  I have an excellent 2nd phone solution with FAX for a very very low price.  After I have used this setup for a number of months to see how it works out, it may become my primary phone service.  Free phone service with google voice was great, especially because I set my two kids that were in college up with this setup to call home, but it is gone, and personally, I will not look back.  I consider what I have now as an excellent setup.

Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: jimates on February 22, 2014, 09:47:07 AM
@ dudlee
with the features of CC and Anveo that are similar to GV, plus call hunting and the fax to email, I am also considering leaving google voice completely.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: blackdogranch on February 26, 2014, 01:12:32 PM
Thumbs up for obivoice ( http://www.obivoice.com/ ).

Easy one click setup of your obi device, can spoof your google voice number for outbound calls.  Setup google voice to forward to your obivoice number and turn off obivoice voicemail - this way google voice still handles all voice mail.

Trying it out for free for 30 days.  12 month cost is $24.99 for 500 minutes a month = $2 / month.  Not as good as free, but still pretty cheap.  Includes 911 support.

Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: valley_nomad on February 26, 2014, 11:13:59 PM
Does "500 minutes a month" include both inbound and outbound calls?
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: MikeHObi on February 27, 2014, 12:47:15 PM
Quote from: blackdogranch on February 26, 2014, 01:12:32 PM
Thumbs up for obivoice ( http://www.obivoice.com/ ).


I'm guessing obi didn't like them using that name.  That URL now redirects to http://www.vestalink.com/
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: giqcass on February 28, 2014, 12:40:49 AM
Quote from: valley_nomad on February 26, 2014, 11:13:59 PM
Does "500 minutes a month" include both inbound and outbound calls?

I believe that is for the total of both inbound and outbound.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: Hortoristic on February 28, 2014, 09:45:31 AM
Just use IPKALL or Callcentric for incomming free minutes, then only outbound minutes will eat away from the 2,000 minute bucket.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: DrJay on March 01, 2014, 12:32:10 PM
Quote from: burris on February 06, 2014, 05:08:42 AM
this really is not all that complicated people...

Callcentric, pay per minute calling...very inexpensive, higher quality, actual support, more features, done

as already noted too, the Obihai is simply an ATA that had the added feature of the GV setup...it is in fact from I can tell a better ATA across the board then the ones I had used prior with Callentric & Viatalk

i've had mine setup for both GV and Callcentric for some time (both inbound, outbound GV only)...will just go back to using Callcentric if there is not an easy GV solution

i'm not sweating this

+1 this.

Couldn't be happier. Having CallCentric spoof my GV number for the CID on outbound calls means that absolutely nothing changed with my setup as far as my callers/called parties can tell. Yes I now pay $6-9 dollars a month but the call quality is better than what I was getting with the Google Talk/XMPP kludge and I have 911 coverage now so I'm more than happy to pay for the service.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: Koby on March 04, 2014, 01:46:40 PM
I just mentioned this in a different thread but what the heck.  See a blog post entitled "How it used to be done: How to use Google Voice for free outgoing calls on an Asterisk/FreePBX system (the no-XMPP way) (http://tech.iprock.com/?p=9784)" which shows how to implement the callback method in Asterisk.  Since it's pretty easy nowadays to set up a functional Asterisk PBX on a miniscule computer (see "Asterisk for Raspberry Pi (http://www.raspberry-asterisk.org/)", "Asterisk for BeagleBone Black (http://www.beaglebone-asterisk.org/)"), that might be an option as long as you are willing to invest a little time in learning how to configure FreePBX.

But be aware Google could pull the plug on the callback method at any time.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: HH235 on April 27, 2014, 11:34:58 PM
Quote from: DrJay on March 01, 2014, 12:32:10 PM
Quote from: burris on February 06, 2014, 05:08:42 AM
this really is not all that complicated people...

Callcentric, pay per minute calling...very inexpensive, higher quality, actual support, more features, done

as already noted too, the Obihai is simply an ATA that had the added feature of the GV setup...it is in fact from I can tell a better ATA across the board then the ones I had used prior with Callentric & Viatalk

i've had mine setup for both GV and Callcentric for some time (both inbound, outbound GV only)...will just go back to using Callcentric if there is not an easy GV solution

i'm not sweating this

+1 this.

Couldn't be happier. Having CallCentric spoof my GV number for the CID on outbound calls means that absolutely nothing changed with my setup as far as my callers/called parties can tell. Yes I now pay $6-9 dollars a month but the call quality is better than what I was getting with the Google Talk/XMPP kludge and I have 911 coverage now so I'm more than happy to pay for the service.

Dr Jay,
Did you use/are you able to use the Callcentric IP Freedom SIP accounts and forward your calls to an Android soft phone?  thanks.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: SteveInWA on April 28, 2014, 07:26:36 PM
Quote from: HH235 on April 27, 2014, 11:34:58 PM
Quote from: DrJay on March 01, 2014, 12:32:10 PM
Quote from: burris on February 06, 2014, 05:08:42 AM
this really is not all that complicated people...

Callcentric, pay per minute calling...very inexpensive, higher quality, actual support, more features, done

as already noted too, the Obihai is simply an ATA that had the added feature of the GV setup...it is in fact from I can tell a better ATA across the board then the ones I had used prior with Callentric & Viatalk

i've had mine setup for both GV and Callcentric for some time (both inbound, outbound GV only)...will just go back to using Callcentric if there is not an easy GV solution

i'm not sweating this

+1 this.

Couldn't be happier. Having CallCentric spoof my GV number for the CID on outbound calls means that absolutely nothing changed with my setup as far as my callers/called parties can tell. Yes I now pay $6-9 dollars a month but the call quality is better than what I was getting with the Google Talk/XMPP kludge and I have 911 coverage now so I'm more than happy to pay for the service.

Dr Jay,
Did you use/are you able to use the Callcentric IP Freedom SIP accounts and forward your calls to an Android soft phone?  thanks.

See my answer in your other thread.

You must have an actual inbound telephone telephone number, either issued to you by Callcentric as one of their free NY DIDs, or a $1.95/month DID that you either pick from their list, or port in from some other carrier).  You can't just use the IP Freedom account with no telephone number.

Just get a DID and you are good to go.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: tonyineugene on April 29, 2014, 04:58:04 PM
Groove IP Lite is an app we use on our android phone for calls now and then. Groove IP says they have figured out an answer for their app continuing to work after May 15. Groove says only phone calls will work at first, texting later. I suspect that there will be a work-around for my Obihai 100 to continue to use Google Hangouts or voice or whatever. yes, yes i know i'm 7 decades old but i truly believe that many many young folks have Already figured this out. And, i would not be surprised that Sherman may have an idea as well. Honestly Obi folks, gram and I are looking forward to May 15 because we suspect we will all be surprised at Obihai's options. Hopefully for folks like us, it will be an easy remedy.

We like the ease of use and options GV provides us. it melds with our Chrome Browser and voice mail is perfect. we don't need to get another provider that are listed on obihai. our android phones with Groove will work fine with GV when we're home. We will miss using our obi for the uniden phones however. It's so nice to just have the phone ring at home when our friends or family call and obi provided that. the issue of affordability as regards buying some voip service does Not apply.

Our Obi100 was one of the best electronic gadgets we have ever owned. We have used it with GV for years and Never Never had a problem. firmware upgrades have always been simple to do using the phone. Again, we never had an issue.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: MyTE on May 15, 2014, 09:55:48 AM
I switched over from Google Voice to Vestalink http://www.vestalink.com/#_l_b2 (http://www.vestalink.com/#_l_b2) which has the best price compared to the alternatives.  It also provides all the features of Google Voice and more. You can also keep your # with Google Voice and have Google Voice forward the calls to your Vestalink # and Vestalink can Spoof your Google Voice # for the caller id for outgoing calls or just port your # over and they waive the $10 fee for Google Voice # ports.
Title: Re: Obihai Google Voice XMPP Solutions
Post by: ylafont on May 17, 2014, 10:20:28 AM
as much as i enjoyed OBI, I just went back to nettalk, kept everything as is,  it is the cheapest provider out there without limits.

Who knows, Maybe one day Google will Purchase OBI or NetTalk and make everything good with the world again.