VoIP service provider Ooma is expanding their “Premiere” service today to include several new features. While call logs and voicemail-as-email-attachments are probably overdue (compared to say a Vonage), the virtual numbers, multi-ring forwarding, multiple voicemail boxes, and blacklists truly expand the value of Ooma’s offering. As an Ooma owner, I’ve just enabled multi-ring forwarding. Though I use my system solely for outbound calls, some folks have jotted down the Ooma number and attempt to call me on it. So I’m looking forward to having my cell phone ring when a VoIP call comes in, regardless of my physical location.
As a refresher, the $250 Ooma hardware package gets you unlimited US calling and bundles typical features such as CallerID and voicemail – no landline needed. The Premiere tier adds all sorts of other goodies, including these new features, for $99/year.
In terms of full disclosure, I’m fine admitting my bias. A decent contingent of fellow Sling Media alumni landed at Ooma. I have a lot of respect for them and Ooma is a solid, compelling product offering – I’m rooting for their continued success. (Best Buy distribution and an additional $16 million investment don’t hurt.)
Other cool places some former Sling peeps have landed: EyeFi and Drobo. A less cool and questionable destination: Palm. Of course, there are still quite a few of Sling folks still at Sling. With the market conditions and forecast, they may want to stay put under the umbrella of a larger corporate entity (EchoStar).
“…So I’m looking forward to having my cell phone ring when a VoIP call comes in, regardless of my physical location.”
See stuff like that gets my attention, but then I see the proprietary hardware and get turned off. Wish Ooma was just a pure service and worked with generic hardware, like a cheap Skype phone from teh WalMart. [ insert sad face emoticon here ]
If Netflix can open up and just be a pire service, why can’t Ooma?
Ooma is advertising non-stop on KNBR here in SF. Which, was the first place that Sling first started advertisting. I guess the guys that left Sling knew where to go to kick things off?? I’ve been tempted to look into this more, but my HSI connection sometimes can be rather iffy at best.
Dave – I want to thank you for turning me on to Ooma. I am a faithful reader and read your review a couple of months ago. With your recommendation, I purchased a unit and the service is great. I am happy that they are adding the call logs and multi-ring service. I was a little hesitant to add the Premier services for $99/year, but it is worth it. I have been reading their forums and the people over there are very helpful and (as proof above) the service continues to add new useful features.