this info will help some to understand the Obi/Google Voice service
You can make calls using your computer as a telephone using the Google Chat feature of G-mail.
Effective 25 August 2010, you should have the green telephone icon for the new G-mail "Make a Call" feature, as illustrated in the Official Google Voice Blog
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-and-receive-calls-in-gmail.htmlNote that this feature of G-mail is not Google Voice, although it uses some of the same resources as Google Voice. The new feature of G-mail is a true VoIP application which uses the Internet to place calls, while Google Voice is a call management service that requires that you have a working telephone with a US phone number.
With G-mail, you can enable the on-screen dial pad and dial a number directly, or type a name or phone number and let your Google contacts fill in the data. All you do is click and your call is placed, free of charge. Google originally said the service would be free through 2010. At the end of 2010 they announced that the service would remain free through 2011. Google has given no indication what will happen after that.
Enter the Obi110 ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter)
Use your Google Voice like a true SIP based voip service
The Obi ATA uses the Google Chat feature of G-mail and allows you to place free US domestic voip calls using a regular telephone. If you also have a Google Voice number, that is associated with the same G-mail account, you can receive incoming calls to the Obi ATA, free of charge.
Google Chat & Google Vocie cannot be used outside the US and can only be used with English language settings. There have been a
few reports of using Google Voice successfully outside the US. All incoming and outgoing calls will go through your Google Chat/Google Voice account. All calls show as originating from your Google voice number and incoming caller id is still set from withing your Google Voice account.
No computer is needed for calling once the device is configured. You just plug it into your broadband internet modem or router, configure your G-mail account, and plug a regular cordless or corded phone into the ATA to place/receive calls. You can also plug in another working voice line and you can place and receive all your calls on the same telephones. All lines connected or configured on the unit are also bridgeable for combined features. Separate lines have distinctive ring.
E911 service is not available from Google's calling services.Because the Obi110 uses the Google Chat feature of G-mail, it is recommended that you not open your G-mail page in your browser while
receiving calls to the Obi110. Incoming calls may not be routed to the ATA if the G-mail page is open.
The features of the Obi110 are many, and still expanding. You can use the Obi110 with up to 2 G-mail accounts (or other SIP providers). Each G-mail account can have 2 simultaneous sessions, but since there is only one phone port you can only have the use of one account at a time (other than 3 way conferencing). 2 Google Voice accounts (or other SIP providers), and up to one PSTN line; all with call waiting, on the same phones you currently use now in your home.
**To connect the Obi to your existing wiring, some wiring modifications may be needed depending on your current wiring/service configuration.
It will also work with other SIP based voip providers, many of the settings for those providers are preset into the device for easy configuration.
Obion PC & Smartphone App (Obi110, Obi100 & Obion apps are referred to as Obi ENDPOINTS)
Obihai also has Obion, which is a PC softphone app or Smartphone apps that can be used for placing/receiving free calls between any Obi ATA or Obion app. You can also place free calls to regular phone numbers from these apps, using wifi or 3G, through an Obi. The new apps support direct dialing from the app to regular numbers by choosing an Obi as your default gateway. Just dial a domestic, or international, number and the call will be placed through the Obi using your Google Voice account, or other configured SIP or PSTN line. You will have a separate contact list for the Obion app with up to 99 speed dials.
You can also make calls through the Obi from a regular phone or cell phone using the Circle of Trust feature.
NOTES ABOUT CALLING WITH THE Obi110 In order to make calls to regular phone numbers anywhere with the Obi ATA, you need a voip provider or Google Chat.
NOTE: Your voip provider's (or google's) calling restrictions are not modified by using the Obi. If the provider or GV charges for domestic or international calls, you will still be charged.
If you want to place free calls you need a voip provider that gives you that service. You can always place free calls between any two Obi Endpoints, located anywhere in the world, because Obitalk is providing the voip between the Endpoints free of charge. If you also have a landline connected to, or google chat set up on (in the US), the Obi device, you can access that landline or GV line remotely from another obi Endpoint, as long as you are in the circle of trust for that device.
See this image
http://thejmart.com/Feature2.gif - The last configuration can be used to place free calls without a separate voip provider, as Obitalk is providing the voip between their devices. On the first two the voip is provided by a service provider other than Obitalk.
Configuration Wizards
http://www.obihai.com/tutorials-tips.htmlTakes longer to read than to enter the setup info - 5 Minute Setup for Google Voice on the Obi
http://www.obihai.com/itspConfiguration/itspConfiguration-googlevoice.html With that configuration your Google Voice number will be the default for outgoing calls and you can use 7 digit dialing within your local area code. If your area requires 10 digit dialing then just leave the area code field empty.
If you also have a landline or equivalent plugged into the LINE port. Pressing # will connect you to that line's dial tone, place calls as normal.
If you want to keep your landline as the primary just do not check the box on the config page. (checking the box makes Google Voice primary)
With the landline as primary, you will need to press * * 1 before dialing a number in order to call out on the Google Voice number (no dial tone after pressing * * 1)
If you need to configure a second Google Voice account or SIP provider you can do that at Obitalk.com
http://obitalk.com. You will need to register an account and add the device to your account. By registering an account you will also get a free SoftPhone number that can be used with one of the Obion apps
http://www.obihai.com/obiapps.html for even more features.
See the Obitalk screen shots
http://www.obihai.com/obitalkscreens.html Part 2Using the Obi ATA with GoogleThe Obi device uses the Google Chat feature that is part of Gmail. You must have a Gmail account in order to place outgoing calls. To receive incoming calls you will also need a Google Voice number.
Already have a Google Voice account, but not a Gmail account?This is not for people that have their @domain registered with Google Apps. This is for people that have an existing Google Voice account
without a Gmail account associated with it.
Do not go to Google and set up Gmail separate from your existing Google Account.
You cannot use a Gmail account that is not associated with the same Google Account as your Google Voice.
Log into your Google Account using the same log in credentials as your existing Google Voice account, and then set up a Gmail account. There is a request to combine two separate accounts that can be used, but it takes 2 weeks to process.
Follow this procedure- Sign in to your Google Voice page
- Click on "Mail" at the upper left
- Set up a Gmail account
- From your Gmail page click on the phone on the lower left, under the Chat heading.
Install the Google Voice & Video plug in if prompted
- Complete one successful call to anywere using Google Chat from Gmail
- Return to your Google Voice page
- Click the gear icon in the upper right and select "Voice Settings".
Google Chat will now be listed in your phones list.
Check the box in front of Google Chat to select it as a forwarding phone.
NOTE - There may be 2 Google Chats listed, one for your @gmail user and one for your @domain user.
Select the one with the @gmail.com
- Return to your Obi configuration and make the necessary changes for the log in credentials,
using the new @gmail.com user id.
I don't know why 2 Google Chats show up on the Google Voice page. Selecting the one with the @domain.com will not ring into the Google Chat in the Gmail account but calls to it do show up in the Google Voice/Google Chat call history. You can delete it from your phones list if you like but it may be beneficial in the future if you want to abandon the Google Voice account. Just leave the non Gmail Google Chat unchecked.
Your old @domain.com user nameYou can now sign into your Google account, Gmail account or Google Voice account using either your original @domain user name or your new @gmail user name. When sigining in with your @gmail user name you only have to put in your user id, not the @gmail.com part.
Your new Gmail user id will become your primary Google id. Your old email will be your secondary id. You can continue to use your old email log in as long as it is not removed from your email list in your Google Account settings. Once removed from the list, it can be re-added but you will not be able to use it for login at any Google page.
After you complete this sign-up process, your primary username will be yourusername@gmail.com. The original email address associated with your account will become your alternate email address, which means you can use it to sign in if it was verified before adding Gmail. You won't be able to change your primary username once Gmail is added.
To access all your favorite Google products, including Gmail, just sign in with your new Gmail username
