Freaky Frugalite » telephone

The Ooma!

Rebecca — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:59:44 +0000

The Ooma! I love that name! Say it ten times fast. lol. :jittery:

You’re probably wondering what the heck I’m blabbering about. The Ooma is a REAL thing, honest! It’s this VoIP device (Voice over Internet Protocol). I’ve been looking into replacing our telephone landline. Our telephone bill is going up and up, and I’m looking for ways to cut back. I checked into cell phones for the family, but a “family plan” would cost us nearly $80 a MONTH!
A VoIP device connects to your broadband modem which converts your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. They’re gaining popularity because so many people have computers now, and because telephone service is becoming so expensive. And VoIP is usually FREE! You just have to buy a device to make it work.

So enter the Ooma. It’s something like the MagicJack USB device I blogged about a few weeks ago. I decided not to get the MagicJack. The comments I got about it were very helpful (thanks!)– apparently, the MagicJack is just too unreliable and the quality is too poor to make it a permanent replacement for our landline. I’ve thought about Skype and actually used it for computer-to-computer calls, but it costs $$ to use Skype for computer-to-telephone calls. And it’s such a hassle with the purchasing of minutes, using a third-party server, etc etc. I’d much prefer a device to rig up here at home and be done with it. That’s why the Ooma looks so good.

Has anyone used something like this? I could sure use your opinion. The Ooma TELO VoIP System is a little pricey, but it’s on sale right now at Buy.com (my favorite online store!!) and includes free shipping. It looks phenomenal:

Free, unlimited calling to any number in the U.S. No monthly fees.
Caller-ID and Call-waiting
The option to get a new number; or you can keep your existing landline number (for a fee)
The ability to keep the landline, too
A “portal” to view call logs, set preferences, BLOCK callers (love that), and etc
Setup is easy: plug in my Internet connection into the Ooma device, and plug my home phone line into it.

It looks good. I would recoup the cost if the Ooma in half a year, based on what I pay now for my telephone service. I’m still looking into the device. If anyone has this or VoIP, would you please leave a comment and let me know how it’s working?

Does the MagicJack USB Really Work?

Rebecca — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:24:10 +0000

Someone recently told me about something called the MagicJack USB gadget. It’s a USB gadget that you plug into your computer and it allows you to use your computer as a telephone. You are assigned a telephone number with it, and apparently, you can make free phone calls– local and long-distance– for the first year. After that, you have to subscribe to MagicJack for $20 a year.

It sounds phenomenal!! But I have found very few reviews anywhere. I don’t want to shell out $40 for the MagicJack and *hope* that it works for me. Has anyone of you tried it?? Does it really work? My telephone bill is upwards of $60 A MONTH and if the MagicJack really works, you betcha I’m going to get it!

Please leave a comment and let me know if you have tried it. Thanks!

Cheap Long Distance

Rebecca — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:56:04 +0000

Cheap, cheap, cheap. That’s me. I’m pretty cheap. It makes my husband a little mad, sometimes. For one, I will not buy new shoes unless they are cheap. I almost wound up barefoot this summer until he forced me to get new shoes. They were $40 and I almost fainted!! :O I’m also a horrible tightwad when it comes to telephone service. Here in New York State, we practically pay the pensions of all government workers, with all the taxes, fees, surcharges, and fees on taxes, fees and surcharges– and all that just for HAVING a phone plugged in the wall. If I never received or made a telephone call, it costs me almost $50! Just for the pleasure of owning a telephone in New York State. :-p I have relatives who have left New York and calling them can pose a real financial burden. An hour-long chat with my sister in Arizona may cost me over $50. Holy cow, no wonder we never talk…

Needless to say, I am delighted over the new Tabrio long distance telephony and text messaging service. They are really cheap! International calls, global text messages, long distance calls– even over iPods where the sound is clear as a bell– are cheap.There’s a cool “global address book” you can make for yourself. Tabrio prides itself on exceptional sound quality and clear connections. The website even has a little rate-checker, where you can see ahead of time what your rates will be for a call! Now that’s stunning!

And the best thing about it is— I’ll bet the guys at Tabrio are not living off the public largess for their pensions! It’s about time the government and corporate monopoly got some competition! HA! <