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Re: How to integrate a landline after activation?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:59 am
by BCNeuman
I am trying to figure out land line integration with Ooma, and that aspect of the system does not seem to be very well documented (or if it is, that documentation is difficult to find).

In particular, the integration seems to work differently than I expected, based on what I read when deciding to purchase the system (not that I read anything that contradicted how things seem to be - but I had made some assumptions that were incorrect). Ooma is still a great system even with this limitation, and I will be keeping it.

Here is how I thought things would work:

1) I could have a new Ooma number that would be used for all my outgoing calls (including local calls), just as is the case when there is no landline tied to the system.

2) I could have my old number ring my ooma phones either by:

a) Porting my old number to ooma
b) Forwarding my old number to ooma.
c) Plugging my existing landline into the ooma hub.

In my case, I get few calls on the old number since almost all my contacts use my GrandCentral number instead, which I simply update to ring my ooma phone, rather than my landline (that works fine).

For the few callers (only one) that actually know my landline number, I would still like them to get through, but don't want to add forwarding to my landline phone, since I want to minimize its cost, using it only as a backup, for the occasional incomming FAX, and these few callers.

When I plug my landline into the wall outlet on the hub, the phone will ring through when power is off, but calls are not recognized when my landline rings when the ooma hub is on. I am guessing that this is because I might have initially set up the box without the landline.

I do not want OOMA to "provision" anything on my existing landline. I want to leave the service on that line as it is with no changes to my service from ATT.

Question 1: How do I configure the hub to recognize the landline. I can not find a place to do this in the lounge, nor on the setup page.

When I called customer support to ask about this, I was also told that if I connect the landline, then the landline will be used for all my local outgoing calls, and the hub only used for LD and voicemail.

Question 2: Is there a way to configure it so that it uses the Ooma for all outgoing calls when connected to the internet, and basically uses the landline only for backup dialtone when disconnected, and to accept inbound calls which should then ring on the phone connected to the phone port on the hub?

I don't really care what number is displayed on caller ID when I call out, since I have it set up to be blocked anyway.

Re: How to integrate a landline after activation?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:24 am
by inrame
BCNeuman wrote:Question 1: How do I configure the hub to recognize the landline. I can not find a place to do this in the lounge, nor on the setup page.

When I called customer support to ask about this, I was also told that if I connect the landline, then the landline will be used for all my local outgoing calls, and the hub only used for LD and voicemail.
unfortunately, 'you' can't configure the hub to use the landline. you will have to ask ooma to do it for you. that is correct, if the hub is setup to work with a landline connection, any local calls will go out through your landline.
BCNeuman wrote:Question 2: Is there a way to configure it so that it uses the Ooma for all outgoing calls when connected to the internet, and basically uses the landline only for backup dialtone when disconnected, and to accept inbound calls which should then ring on the phone connected to the phone port on the hub?
no that isn't an option. maybe something to request as an optional feature, however, this would of course cause more traffic to go through their systems which in turn will add costs for everyone.

as far as the call forwarding goes, you don't 'have to' have it, however, if you are on a call on the landline and another call comes in, it won't forward it and will ring busy instead of rolling over to the second line or going to voice mail

Re: How to integrate a landline after activation?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:30 am
by WayneDsr
Another choice is not to configure ooma with the landline. Leave it separate and put call forwarding on your landline number.

All calls coming in to your landline number will be forwarded to ooma. All calls dialed out will use ooma. If your power goes out or network goes down, ooma automatically switches to the landline dialtone.

This is how I am set up.

Wayne

Re: How to integrate a landline after activation?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:36 pm
by BCNeuman
inrame wrote:no that isn't an option. maybe something to request as an optional feature, however, this would of course cause more traffic to go through their systems which in turn will add costs for everyone.
Sad to hear it is not currently supported, I will request it as a future option. This option would not cause any more traffic to go through their system than it would in the configuration without an integrated landline, which is how I have things set up now.

Re: How to integrate a landline after activation?

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:55 am
by johnz8
Why keep the land line? I have one reason but there are 2. If you want 911 rather than e911 is one reason. I personally don't care. We have a land line number we have had since 1978 and we want to keep that number. I want a window of time to make sure I am comfortable with Ooma only and I need to keep my land line active until I port my land line over to Ooma and from what I have heard here on the forum, that could take up to a month.
av8rdude wrote:Why would you want to keep a landline after buying ooma? Save the money and cancel or port your landline number into ooma.

My security system works great with ooma as does my directv, etc. I can think of no reason for a landline?

Just curious,
Scott