GV to obihai/attached phone - considered forwarding?

[JuliettOscar]

I looked into using a Google Voice number so a federal inmate can make cheaper calls to a local number, but having a GV number forward to another cell phone or landline is a no-no.

Is it considered forwarding when a GV number rings a phone attached to an obihai device?

[drgeoff]

I looked into using a Google Voice number so a federal inmate can make cheaper calls to a local number, but having a GV number forward to another cell phone or landline is a no-no.

Is it considered forwarding when a GV number rings a phone attached to an obihai device?

1. Who says that "having a GV number forward to another cell phone or landline is no-no"?

2.  Technically speaking an OBi behaves as a Google Chat client and you tick a box as in the attached screenshot.  Whether that is considered forwarding depends on the judger's definition of "forwarding".

[JuliettOscar]

1. Who says that "having a GV number forward to another cell phone or landline is no-no"?

Federal Bureau of Prisons. They don't allow forwarding technology.

I wish I understood more about the technology used. I don't want to break any rules and have this inmate lose privileges. 

[SteveInWA]

Google Voice is not a way to reduce prison phone call costs.  The prison will block the calls.  Don't even waste your time with this.

There is apparently "prison lore" about using Google Voice for inmate calls, in that we've seen this question for years, thousands of times.

At one point a few years ago, the FCC was considering forcing the contractors who supply inmate calling service to not charge exorbitant calling rates (i.e. charge no more than the prevailing rate for the public to make a call, plus some fixed fee for the prison infrastructure).  One of the largest inmate calling companies lobbied so hard that the FCC apparently gave up.  Blame the evil parasites who are ripping off vulnerable families of inmates.

[JuliettOscar]

One of the largest inmate calling companies lobbied so hard that the FCC apparently gave up.  Blame the evil parasites who are ripping off vulnerable families of inmates.

Oh, I do.

I do think GV works in some places though. I don't think its banned across the board. I'm considering callcentric too, which I've been told does not use forwarding technology (assume GV might be the same?) and wouldn't violate FBOP rules. Google was just my first choice, obviously, because its free. Callcentric is pretty cheap too. I have an obi202 I was hoping to put to use for this.

[SteveInWA]

Callcentric would work.  voip.ms is cheaper, and it should work for your purpose.  $4.25/month for unlimited inbound calling.

[JuliettOscar]

Thanks, I'll look into that service too.