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will this work?

Started by PPRes, April 06, 2016, 03:44:29 PM

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PPRes

My 90 year old mom has moved into an independent living apartment. We gave her a cell phone, but she doesn't always keep it with her and sometimes accidentally turns the ringer down and therefore doesn't answer. Due to her age and health situation, we get very concerned when she is unreachable!

We want to port her old number to Google Voice, and set up an Obi that she will always hear when she is in her apartment. The building has wifi with 100mbs service.
1) Which, if any, device(s) will work using the building's wifi, as we don't have access to the router?
2) Should we expect any reliability issues due to the wifi connection?
3) She wears a hearing aid, but had no issues using her old cordless on a land line. Is there anything about the Obi service that would make this any different?

Any advice or direction will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
PPRes

LTN1

It can work but the quality of the VoIP connection will depend on how strong the signal is where your mother's apartment is located. But first, check to see if the cell phone number can be ported: https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting

Assuming it can be ported, you will then need an OBi200 or 202 with an OBiWIFI (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007R6F7PS). Don't get the 100 series as it will not have the USB connection for the OBiWIFI.

Make sure you set up E911 when signing up via the OBi device. Just know that if the power goes down, so does her OBi.

An alternative for people with low income (due to retirement or otherwise) is to have some type of LifeLine telephone program that is usually only 1/4 the cost. A landline is usually more reliable in power outages.

SteveInWA

That's a very bad idea.

She's ninety years old.  Bless her for her long life.  Don't you think that highly reliable land line phone service with E911 is essential for the inevitable health emergencies she will have?

Depending on Google Voice, on an OBi, which is connecting to a shared WiFi network, will not be sufficiently reliable.  Have you ever traveled and tried to even surf the web on an airport or hotel WiFi network?  Performance is variable.  Now, imagine how bad that network would be for VoIP, which needs a very steady connection...

Like the Lt. said, service via Lifeline would be a more sensible option.