Need a house phone - vaguely literate

[povertykarma]

I can not afford a house phone and need light phone usage.  Thirty calls at the most for about 1 minute.  Mostly set up appointments.  I am sincerely intimidated by all this talk and would like to know if I can:

1.  cut out my phone bill completely
2.  is a speed of 3 Mh (mega hertz) by TWIP adequate for use of device.
3.  Ports.  In the past I could not use Messenger in my computer because computer ports were not set up (either IP or an old computer.)  I was told this was the job of a computer programmer.
4.  I do not care for a cell phone.  I want just a plain cordless phone to sit on my desk.
5.  I am right in believing that an Internet Router is TW IP  "modem".
6.  What exactly need to purchase other than OBi110

I am not ready to leap into buying this device until I feel assured that it is for me. Again, I use the phone very lightly and paying full phone fees.  Perhaps another device?.  I read this to be the best.  Thank you.

Poverty Karma

[CoalMinerRetired]

A few things.  No one is going to readily jump into spoon feeding you all the details on your questions, and you have a lot of broad ranging questions. Using an obi requires a knack for technology and a techno-friendly aptitude. You have to want to make it work. There's no way around that.

Have you looked at the tutorials here http://www.obihai.com/tutorials-tips.html? In particular the one named "Port Your Number to Google Voice™" and "How to Get Google Voice"?  You should start there and then come back if you still have questions.

Based on what you describe as your usage needs, 30 one-minute calls, try a simpler approach, and get and use a free Google Voice number and simply use it from within your browser. No desk phones, no Obi devices needed.  You'd make and receive calls from within Gmail within any browser. Obviously the browser must be open for this to work, when it's off line a received call would go to Google Voice voicemail.

Look at the Google Voice videos here: https://support.google.com/voice/topic/1707989. You'd want the "GOOGLE NUMBER" account type, no charge to sing up, no charge for calls anywhere to the US and Canada.

[giqcass]

I would love to tell you to get an Obi because I love mine but I have to go with CoalMinerRetired on this.  If you haven't even used VOIP or Google Voice then you should try Google Voice out on your computer.  That will tell you whether or not you can use Google Voice with your internet connection.  If Google Voice works well on your computer it will also work well on the Obi.  

If you don't have a proper microphone and speaker go to the dollar store and buy one like the one in this video.  It's a dollar and it will get you talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCeHwWCasNk

After that do a little reading and come back here to let us know what you think.


I'll do my best on these questions.
1.  Yes you could cut out your phone bill completely but you might want to pay a little extra for 911.  Google Voice doesn't supply that. You can get E911 for $1.50 or less per month.

2.  is a speed of 3 Mh (mega hertz) by TWIP adequate for use of device?  3 Mh is not a measure of internet speed.  You probably meant 3Mbs which is sufficient for download speed. There will also be a measurement of upload speed which is important. Try Google Voice out on your computer and see if it works or try this test.  http://myspeed.visualware.com/indexvoip.php
3.  Ports.  In the past I could not use Messenger in my computer because computer ports were not set up (either IP or an old computer.)  I was told this was the job of a computer programmer.  This question doesn't make a lot of sense probably because you don't speak computer geek.  See if you have an availabe LAN port on your router.   http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/l/lanport.htm

4.  I do not care for a cell phone.  I want just a plain cordless phone to sit on my desk.  This is exactly what the Obi does. You need to supply your own phone but almost any phone will work.
5.  I am right in believing that an Internet Router is TW IP  "modem".  An internet router may or may not have a modem in it. You should give us brand and Model number off the device.
6.  What exactly need to purchase other than OBi110.  You have not given us enough information to answer this but if you plan on getting rid of your current phone service you probably want an Obi100.  It's less expensive and it does what you want.  The Obi110 is for people that plan on keeping their old phone service.  If you only have one Lan port available you will need a router.  Some modems have Routers built in. Many do not.

If you decide to buy the Obi check the return policy in case it isn't for you.