Quote from: Pi314 on July 28, 2015, 08:34:53 AM
I'm with Verizon for home phone (regular copper line).
just got Comcast/xfinity for internet.
heard I can save $ by dropping Verizon and switching my phone # to Obi.
I have not bought any hardware.
What do I need to do?
(talk to me like I'm a 5yr old.)
Is there a FAQ on how to switch?
thx
Switching to VoIP will give you more features, more control, and save you money. There is a lot to discover and learn.
Digital voice products from the telcos and ISPs are not much better than their copper/POTS service in terms of freedom from big Telco.
Turnkey plug and play VoIP service like Vonage, Ooma, Magic Jack, VoIPo, BasicTalk, will save you money but not give you full control... not as fun.
BYOD VoIP gives you the most but you must take it on. Some reputable providers include
VoIP.ms, CallCentric, and Anveo. If you are interested in learning, get an OBi ata, setup an account with
VoIP.ms for a nominal deposit, add a trial DID (number) and start experimenting. For less than $100, you can build your own service and make calls for a month or two. If you like it, port your number into the service and start using it. It might average $10-$15 per month depending on your call volume.
My notes can help you setup an OBi202 on
VoIP.ms. They are not a tutorial, but helpful if you are studying and need some clues.
Google Voice is not a full-featured service... no Customer Service, no 911 service, and other issues noted in my notes. If you do decide to try it, you must use the OBiTALK portal here to configure your OBi ata to work with GV.
You can use one OBi ata with more than one VoIP voice service provider, so you can branch out later to try other providers and to add depth to your solution.
OE