Ooma
Written by
Maab Saleem
About the brand
Ooma offers VoIP services that are slightly different than the traditional VoIP providers, bundles of international minutes and a wide range of solutions, and one-ups most of its competitors. With a one-time hardware cost, Ooma has monthly service packages that include local and toll-free phone number, as well as extensions for fax and conferences.
10
Price
8.0
Ease of use
9.0
Features
10
Service
9.3
Overall
Our Verdict
All in all, Ooma offers a superior internet phone system and a great cost benefit ratio for anyone looking for a stand-alone service with a wealth of flexible features. The basic plan covers the needs of most casual users, but in case you want to turn this into your main phone line, you might consider the premium plan. It will still offer you a better value than a traditional land-line, not to mention the wide range of services and features.
Pros
- Quality mobile apps
- Excellent call quality
- Can choose a number or port your own
- No standard monthly costs
- Easy set up
Cons
- Doesn't offer as many features as its competitors
- One-time hardware costs
Plans & Pricing
Ooma offers two two service plans, designed to suit a variety of business needs. Ooma Office has over over 35 features and Ooma Office Pro which includes additional perks like Call Recording and Enhanced Call Blocking.
Ooma Office
The business plan comes at a monthly rate of $19.95 per user. It includes a phone number for each user as well as a virtual fax. In order to use the VoIP service for your business, you will have to purchase the Ooma Office hardware package, which includes a Base Station and 2 Linx devices. Business users have only the pay-as-you-go option, with costs varying by location.
Ooma Office Pro
The business plan comes at a monthly rate of $24.95 per user. It includes a phone number for each user as well as virtual fax. Ooma Office Pro can block more than 2 million confirmed telemarketers, robocallers and phone spammers. It also has the ability to do call recording, voicemail transcription, overhead paging and enables higher usage limits for extension monitoring, call park, and audio conference room participants.
In-depth review
Hardware Options
Business Phone Starter Kit
Using your existing high-speed Internet, this base station is the hub of your phone service. Using the cloud, you get advanced features and you can add up to four expansion base stations. The starter kit comes with 2 Linx extensions, which allow you to wirelessly connect fax machines or phones with dedicated extensions to your service.
Yealink SIP-T21P
Boasting fantastic voice clarity and a great speaker, this entry-level phone includes an LCD backlit display and can support up to 4 lines at a time. Other features supported include caller-ID, call waiting, three-way conference calling, and more.
Yealink CP920 IP Conference
This phone is perfect for using in small or medium-sized conference rooms. It has powerful features such as a three micrphone array, background noise suppression, touch keypad, 360 degree voice pickup range, and a lot more.
Features and Functionality
Offering a system compatible with almost all land-line phones and hardware devices, Ooma has a lot of features that are not only great value for your money, but they will also make your life, and running your business, a lot easier.
Video Conferencing
Ooma Office has added a brand new advanced feature to their already robust Ooma Office Pro Plan. Video Conferencing gives teams the opportunity to be productive from wherever, whenever. The beauty of this wonderful new feature is its simplicity. You or anyone can join a video conference by simply using your browser or downloading their mobile app. A unique aspect unlike other video conferencing platforms, Ooma meetings allows two or more people to share their screens simultaneously and enjoy a more fluid collaboration. This advanced feature allows up to 25 participants to desktop share, invent, solve and collaborate easily and efficiently.
Additional Video Conferencing features include:
- Chat
- Mute Options
- One-time & Recurring Meetings
- Meet Now For Ad Hoc Meetings
- Password Option
Porting
Porting allows users to keep numbers from previous VoIP services and move them to their VoIPLy account. This process takes a while to complete, around 2-4 weeks, but it allows businesses to keep their phone numbers and upgrade to better VoIP services.
Enhanced caller-ID
While regular Caller-ID services show you only the number calling when they are not in your contact list, Ooma makes use of the national database to find out who’s calling you, and display the name on your screen whenever possible.
Enhanced call-waiting
Not only can you use this feature to get a beep when you have a second call while engaged in a phone conversation, but all of your other phones will continue to be available no matter how long your call is.
Instant second line
Just in case you need to make two calls at the same time, Ooma allows you to have two calls on the same number simultaneously.
Three-way conferencing
This feature comes in handy whenever you need to include a third party to one phone call.
Call forwarding and multi-ring
You can use this whenever you are on the go. Just set the numbers to be called in case you don’t answer on your main one.
Backup number
Together with call forwarding is another useful feature, backup number. It allows you to forward your calls to another phone whenever you don’t have an internet connection.
Call blocking
Ooma offers you a solution for protecting yourself from any kind of intrusions. If you want only people in your contact list to be able to reach you, if you suspect a spammer, or you simply don’t want to take calls from people you don’t know, you can use this feature to set your privacy limits.
Other features
- Virtual receptionist
- Extension dialing
- Voicemail
- Voicemail Monitoring
- Call transfer
- Call log
- Modes for business and after hours
- Ring groups
- Music on hold
- Conference bridge
- Virtual FAX
- Do Not Disturb
- Transfer Calls
- Extension dialing
- Call on hold
Advanced features (Ooma Office Pro)
- Call Recording
- Enhanced Call Blocking
- Overhead Paging
- Voicemail Transcription
- Higher usage limits for Extension Monitoring, Call Park, Audio Conference Room Participants
- Video Conferencing
Ease of Use
Easy do-it-yourself installation is one of Ooma’s greatest advantages. Setting up the system only takes a few minutes. You need to create a My Ooma account, activate it using the seven-digit code printed on the hardware, and pick a phone number. Next, you need to connect the Base Station to Internet and power, connect the phone as well. Then you’re all set to start making calls.
Customer Service
Ooma doesn’t leave you guessing when it comes to support services. Their online resources are comprehensive and include FAQs, troubleshooting guidance, manuals, video tutorials, and more. Customer service representatives are available by phone for business customers 24/7, and there’s even an email address for a customer advocate. Customer reviews suggest Ooma representatives are friendly and helpful, providing fast follow up.
Phone Support
Phone support is available 24/7.
Live Online Chat
Live chat support is available 24/7.
Customer support can be emailed directly.
User Reviews
Average User Rating
Ooma Office is Highly Recommended!
Ooma Office is Highly Recommended! I previously used Vonage and Intermedia with Intermedia being horrible, unethical support, and a very non-user friendly interface. Ooma Office has a wonderfully easy user interface. Installation of Ooma Office was easy and there mobile app's call quality is way better than Intermedia. Intermedia's call quality of their phones and mobile app was horrible so horrible I could not use my office phone and their tech support was utterly useless. It has been a refreshing and deliteful experience when I used Ooma Office tech support. If you have not tried Ooma Office you are missing out. Ooma Office is highly recommended!
Ooma Office
So happy with the money we've saved over the year's using Ooma Office
Good Choice
We have been very happy with Ooma Office. Set up was easy, admin is easy and call quality has been good.
Maab Saleem
We make the best effort to present up-to-date information; however, the terms of each offer can be revised according to the service provider’s discretion. The above shall not be considered as an expert or professional advice for any matter.
10
Price
8.0
Ease of use
9.0
Features
10
Service
9.3
Overall
Thank you!
How does call blocking work? I haven’t been able to get mine to work… Also I’m having a problem not receiving calls, people tell me the call and have left message and when I check nothing they end up coming to my house to make sure that everything is o.k. plus the fact I miss important calls,like my Dr. Insurance Co. Etc.
Hi Peggi, thank you for your question. For information on how to use our call blocking feature you can refer to our support website here: https://support.ooma.com/office/call-blocking-overview/
For further guidance you can also use our Live Chat, accessible from the same page.
Is this service compatible with Wi-Fi or is a hardwire internet connection needed?
In general, Ooma works best connected to a hardwire internet connection. However, they also have the Ooma Telo Base Station Wireless Adapter which allows your Ooma Telo Base Station to connect to the Internet using your Wi-Fi network instead of a cable.
how much are the fees and taxes wit an account in Houston, Texas
Ooma Office Pro Plus is priced at $29.95/mo with applicable taxes and fees. For more precise info check the rates in your area directly on the Ooma website.