Obihai is a California-based voice over internet company that designs and produces Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA). Analog telephone adapters convert regular landline phones into VoIP phones. People and businesses can make cheap phone calls when the devices connect to a VoIP provider.
To take it a step further, when Google Voice connects to Obihai, there is no cost to make or receive calls from within the U.S. and Canada. Many people making the switch from using traditional phone lines to making calls over the internet. Obihai and Google Voice makes this a possibility.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out how you can eliminate your phone bill.
The figure 2 below shows how the Obihai device is set up in your home. The device is small, less than 3 inches long on each side. The box has 4 connections: phone, USB, internet, and power.
The Obihai ATA is compatible with the majority of VoIP providers. However, Google Voice is a free service for calls inside Canada and the U.S. The service provides International calls at a lower price. Google Voice was created as a softphone that lets Google users make free telephone calls from their computer. Obihai realized that they could create something that could utilize this technology and found a way to let users make phone calls using their own analog telephones.
Before you decide to use Obihai, there are a few things you should know:
1. Google does not offer any type of official tech support for this product. Also, Google can eliminate this service without notice. At one point, Google almost terminated the service before deciding to keep it as a part of their Google Hangout service.
2. Other VoIP providers have more features than Google Voice.
3. If you need any type of support, Google does not offer any form of assistance. Hopefully, you can get some type of assistance from this guide.
4. Choose your number wisely. If you are looking for a new telephone and want the number to have a particular area code, you have a problem. There is not a large selection of phone numbers. If you want to port an existing number into Google Voice, you can only port mobile phone numbers. Please be aware of the fact that porting a phone number comes with a $20 fee. Currently, Google Voice does not support the porting of landlines. Porting your Google Voice number out of Google will cost you $3. The costs reported are the costs associated with these services at the time of this writing.
5. E911 is not supported by Google Voice. However, Obihai has found a way around this issue. If you use Anveo, you can have access to E911 services. The Anveo service costs $15 a year.
To take it a step further, when Google Voice connects to Obihai, there is no cost to make or receive calls from within the U.S. and Canada. Many people making the switch from using traditional phone lines to making calls over the internet. Obihai and Google Voice makes this a possibility.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out how you can eliminate your phone bill.
How Do Obihai ATAs Work?
Obihai is the manufacturer of Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA). ATAs are devices that take your analog telephone, converts your voice into digital form and transmits it over your internet connection. This technology is called Voice over IP, or VoIP. Since the call is transmitted over the internet, the call is much cheaper than using a traditional phone service. Figure 1 is an example of the typical Obihai setup.The figure 2 below shows how the Obihai device is set up in your home. The device is small, less than 3 inches long on each side. The box has 4 connections: phone, USB, internet, and power.
Google Voice
Why is Google Voice required? Obihai ATA is only the software and hardware to make calls using your current telephone. The ATA does not route phone calls to the cell phones, other VoIP phones, or PSTN. A VoIP service provider is necessary to route the phone calls.The Obihai ATA is compatible with the majority of VoIP providers. However, Google Voice is a free service for calls inside Canada and the U.S. The service provides International calls at a lower price. Google Voice was created as a softphone that lets Google users make free telephone calls from their computer. Obihai realized that they could create something that could utilize this technology and found a way to let users make phone calls using their own analog telephones.
Free Phone Calls Using Google Voice and Obihai - Is There a Catch?
No, there isn't a catch. However, you need to purchase Obihai's ATA device. The device costs around $40 for the basic model. The only cost associated with the ATA device is the initial purchase price. Google Voice is free to use for calls made in Canada and the U.S.Before you decide to use Obihai, there are a few things you should know:
1. Google does not offer any type of official tech support for this product. Also, Google can eliminate this service without notice. At one point, Google almost terminated the service before deciding to keep it as a part of their Google Hangout service.
2. Other VoIP providers have more features than Google Voice.
3. If you need any type of support, Google does not offer any form of assistance. Hopefully, you can get some type of assistance from this guide.
4. Choose your number wisely. If you are looking for a new telephone and want the number to have a particular area code, you have a problem. There is not a large selection of phone numbers. If you want to port an existing number into Google Voice, you can only port mobile phone numbers. Please be aware of the fact that porting a phone number comes with a $20 fee. Currently, Google Voice does not support the porting of landlines. Porting your Google Voice number out of Google will cost you $3. The costs reported are the costs associated with these services at the time of this writing.
5. E911 is not supported by Google Voice. However, Obihai has found a way around this issue. If you use Anveo, you can have access to E911 services. The Anveo service costs $15 a year.
