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Just got a 202, $10.00 Hostage to use google voice ? Please help

Started by transam98, December 03, 2015, 02:08:35 PM

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SteveInWA

Quote from: transam98 on December 03, 2015, 07:54:47 PM
hahahah yea VERY True, I saw somewhere it said amazon $3 to $7 for a SIM then I suppose Id have to do a 1 month tmobile activation ;(... and then I read something about like $12.99ish yearly from GV.... its still all ok as I spent like $55 on my obi202.... and right now I got Vonage down to $14.99/mo plus taxes etc... total is like $17ish/mo, but still a Obi and ported $ etc and the GV $20 porting charge all still in a 6 mos (guessing) still makes it all worth it ;) All I have left to test in sending a FAX through my 202 and the GV # to test it BEFORE I port the vonage # :)

I got a SIM directly from T-Mobile's website for $.99 with a promo code, and plunked into an unlocked GSM phone.  My buddy activated it, and I don't recall if he had to pay T-Mobile $3 for a minimum calling minute bucket, but that would be the maximum you'd need to pay them.

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

Google Voice is free.  There's a separate E-911 service from Anveo that is $15/year.  I use Callcentric, which has E-911, so I know nothing about setting up the Anveo option, other than users have recently reported that the setup for Anveo E-911 is broken.  See the other recent posts here about it, or contact Anveo directly.

transam98

WHOA ! 99cents ? lol where did ya get yer promo code ? or how long ago ? :) I have a unlocked GSM S4 :) so I can get it and temp put it into that... I know the 202 says FAX have u happened to try a fax through it ? I HAVE dont fax through Vonage and am hoping to save this future on om obi ;)

SteveInWA

Don't make me do all your homework for you!

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/sim-card

Faxing should just work, but is sensitive to the quality of your internet connection.  If it worked with Vonage, then it will probably work with Google Voice.  There are a lot of discussions here on the forum about faxing, so read through them, and/or post a separate question if you run into issues.

transam98

Ok I promise no more doing my legwork lol :), thanks for the prepaid tmob link... and even the CODE is there lol :) and I have almost 10 days left to :) ehhe....

Im fortunate enough to have a newer modem (moto 6183) and a Asus 3200 router and a 100mb internet connection :) that is VERY Stable as I even run my VPN to specific IP's (Raspberry Pi and UK Channels) ;) and all works great, Get this, I got a email about a week ago from newegg(the daily spam emails) and it had a Obi, I was like WHATS this, then read and read (information overload lol) and Got it today :) Thanks again for all of your help Steve :)

LTN1

Quote from: Webslinger on January 17, 2016, 06:45:28 AM


While the statement concerning "maintaining" Google Voice isn't true, it's perplexing if the intention isn't to place Google Voice activation and configuration behind an annual $10 pay wall. If that isn't the intention, then why state otherwise?

I can see where one could negatively read into the attempted sales pitch for service support beyond the first year but I think the partial preceding phrase of "ease of use features" is what Obitalk is trying to convey when trying to persuade owners with an expired support plan to purchase another year of support.

I would have written differently but I think the majority of users understand that beyond the 1 year of support, a company isn't obligated to provide any more support or warranty. This is just a way for them to make more money while providing support. The seasoned user will likely not get sucked in to their poor support in the first place and just go with the experts on the forum and manually updating the software.

For me, I think if their support was more than a meager one or two-sentence response--without even signing their names half the time, I'd consider it. But in my first year of warranty, their support was abysmal compared to the forum, I'd go to the forum before ever going to Obihai's technical support. The only reason for me to go to them is to get an RMA for a return or exchange.

I hope they change their perception by many of their customers. First, their support needs to be truly helpful and polite. Second, they need to update what they are doing timely and not have an update explanation months after the actual update. Third, they need to hire those with communication skills beyond just tech development. Finally, they should have legal counsel review and revise many of their public messages before it is posted.

Webslinger

Quote from: LTN1 on January 17, 2016, 07:36:58 AM
I hope they change their perception by many of their customers. First, their support needs to be truly helpful and polite. Second, they need to update what they are doing timely and not have an update explanation months after the actual update. Third, they need to hire those with communication skills beyond just tech development. Finally, they should have legal counsel review and revise many of their public messages before it is posted.

I agree with your sentiments (in particular, I feel the wording of the "Please Note" message should be made clearer).

I just wish that it were clearly stated that Obihai doesn't intend to stop customers from having access to the latest firmware and allowing manual updates.

Currently, it just seems that firmware updates via the Obitalk website and official support beyond 1 year costs money. I don't have a problem with that, provided the latest firmware downloads are still made available and that customers will continue to be allowed to update their devices without the Obitalk portal.

arobatino

I just got a notification of a firmware update via orange triangle for my OBi200, and successfully upgraded to 5110 simply by clicking on it, despite the fact that my 1-year support period expired last August. Works okay according to incoming and outgoing echo test calls. I am also able to download http://fw.obihai.com/OBi202-3-1-0-5110.fw manually, but http://fw.obihai.com/OBi2-latest.fw still points to 4738.

Webslinger

Quote from: arobatino on January 18, 2016, 03:27:19 PM
I just got a notification of a firmware update via orange triangle for my OBi200, and successfully upgraded to 5110 simply by clicking on it, despite the fact that my 1-year support period expired last August.

I've read about others doing that as well, but I'm wondering if that's an oversight. Consider that people were blocked from using the Obitalk portal before to update firmware if they weren't within their warranty period. I was under the impression that's what the $10 was for, namely updating firmware via Obitalk and for Obihai extended support.


So what do you make of these types of generic emails that Obihai sends out to its customers?


"Hi,

Our system indicates your firmware is not up to date.

In addition, this device is out of warranty and does not have the Extended Support on it, therefore support has expired which means that access to firmware upgrades are not available. To continue with support with your Obi device, you will need to purchase the Extended Support Contract to enable firmware upgrades. To purchase it, [at] www.obitalk.com :

-Click OBi Dashboard.
-Click OBi Number for the Device Configuration page.
-Click "Support and Warranty" tab.
-Click the icon "Buy on Amazon"
-Next page, click the icon "Pay with Amazon" and proceed

Best Regards,
Obihai Technology"



My understanding from this is that if your device is out of the warranty period, then you're not supposed to be able to use the Obitalk portal to update firmware.


QuoteWorks okay according to incoming and outgoing echo test calls. I am also able to download http://fw.obihai.com/OBi202-3-1-0-5110.fw manually

Yes, I would hope this situation continues going forward without having to pay annually. I wonder if anyone from Obihai actually confirmed manual firmware updates are going to still be made available in the future.

maorsela

Can someone please provide a link to latest fw for the Obi-110?

Thanks!


maorsela

Thanks, but that didn't do anything to my Obi-110, it's the same firmware version after flashing:

HardwareVersion   3.4   
SoftwareVersion   1.3.0 (Build: 2872)

SteveInWA


The firmware level you posted is the latest version for the 110, so what problem are you trying to solve?