VoIP Forum

Cutting the cord and getting rid of a home or small business landline telephone usually means picking a voice-over Internet VoIP solution as an alternative, as mobile phones alone often dont provide enough reliable coverage or enough talk time to suffice. But VoIP services that let you use a traditional phone handset, like Vonage and netTALK DUO, require that you plug a device into your modem, router, or computer. The gadget has to be physically connected, limited where you can put it in your home or office. VoIP services provider Ooma, however, is going wireless. Ooma, which makes and provides service for the Ooma Telo (slideshow below), has announced a new wireless adapter called the Ooma Telo Air. The small black plastic device, which has a USB connector on a pivot joint, easily fits in the palm of your hand, measuring 3.75 by 1 by 0.5 inches (HWD). It acts as a Wi-Fi receiver when plugged into an Ooma Telo, letting you place the Telo anywhere within range of a signal. VoIP users previously had to keep their phone bases (the Telo is a kind of base) in the same location as their modem, router, or computer, but the Telo can now live in the kitchen, hallway, or any other room where youd rather keep your phone. View Slideshow See all (6) slides MoreThe ability to place the Ooma Telo anywhere in the home without being tied to the office or wiring closet is one of the top requests that our customers have asked of us, said Jim Gustke, vice president of marketing at Ooma. Another interesting fact about the Ooma Telo is that the hardware is, technically, a router, so its possible to use it as a bridge to connect other devices to the Internet by plugging them into the Teloeven when the Telo itself is connected via Wi-Fi. They also have the option of using the Ooma Telo as a wireless bridge for laptops and other devices throughout the home. Ooma has offered (and still does offer) other kinds of wireless options, such as cordless handset phones, but the Telo Air adapter is the first device that lets the base itself work without being wired to the Internet. In a related announcement, Ooma also will be offering a new Bluetooth service to all Ooma Telo subscribers (previously restricted to premium members), which allows mobile phones to integrate with Ooma. For example, you can configure your mobile phone to send calls to your Ooma handset when youre home, giving you a more comfortable device for talking no matter which line you use. The Bluetooth Adapter sells for $29.99.