I used to have an Obi200, but it died. I then purchased the 202 model. I have NEVER used the local ip to configure the device. When I made a change on the Obi site, it would reboot my device and the new configuration was programmed.
Now it no longer does this. It ONLY works from the local ip. I prefer the Obi portal, because I make changes as necessary to my mother's Obi device, who lives some distance from me. So the local ip option is not an option.
I have 2 Google Voice accounts, one each on 2 different devices.
I added the Obi to the ObiTalk portal from the very beginning, when it was first registered/configured.
On the Obi Dashboard, all the service providers have the correct status and work correctly. Any changes I make there shows to save there, but does not reprogram the devices.