Contents

• Popular FAQs
  
• How does the ooma System work?
  
• Set-up & usage
  
• Company profile
  
• Top Tech FAQs
  

Popular FAQs

• How does ooma compare with other VoIP services?
  • ooma is the only company in the history of the telecom industry that lets you own your dialtone. Your one-time ooma purchase eliminates monthly charges for unlimited US calling. Compared to other stand-alone VoIP providers, there are no monthly fees for US calling. Plus, the ooma system has been architected to deliver exceptional voice quality and reliability, giving you the crisp, acoustic performance of a landline, without the associated fees. A number of our customers have reported that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline."
• What do I need for the ooma system to work?
  • All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a regular home phone. If you'll be installing an ooma Scout™ device to extend the power of ooma to other areas of your home, you'll need to connect all ooma devices to standard phone jacks. (Landline phone service is not required.)
• Is the ooma system difficult to install and operate?
  • Our easy-to-read manuals are full of colorful diagrams and simple instructions to make set-up as painless as possible. It takes the average customer less than 20 minutes to activate and install the ooma system. Using the ooma system is even easier! ooma devices have been designed to provide an intuitive out-of-box experience. If you have any questions, feel free to check out our online support site. There you'll find articles, tips, and a lively user forum to help you make the most of your ooma system.
• How many Scout devices do I need?
  • Each ooma device can support one regular home phone or cordless phone set. If you wish to take advantage of the Instant Second Line™ feature (part of ooma Premier), you'll need to install at least one ooma Scout™ device and a separate phone. Remember, each ooma Scout device extends the power of ooma to other areas of your home using standard phone wiring and wall jacks (landline phone service is not required). ooma Scouts cost $59.99 each.
• Can I keep my current phone number?
  • ooma can move your number from your current phone provider for a one-time fee of $39.99. If you sign-up for an annual subscription to ooma Premier ($99.99/yr), we'll waive the porting fee. Please note that porting typically takes up to three weeks. You must keep your current phone service until porting is complete. Alternatively, you can keep your existing phone service as a back-up and continue to use your current phone number without interruption. To confirm that number porting is available in your area, please call a member of our customer support team.
• How do I make 911 calls?
  • Simply dial 911, same as ever!
    
    If you're using the ooma system without a landline, you'll get access to E911 (where regionally supported). This means your emergency calls will be routed over the Internet with whatever service address and phone number you've registered with ooma. For this reason, we urge customers to keep contact information up to date. If Internet service is unavailable, non-landline customers will need to call from a mobile phone.
    
    If you're using your ooma system with a landline back-up, your 911 calls will be routed over your landline, same as ever. Just pick up the phone and dial.
• Can I call anywhere in the US for free?
  • Your one-time purchase of an ooma system provides unlimited residential calling to US numbers. There are a few minor caveats. Calls to 900 numbers and similar value-added service numbers will be blocked. Phone chat services are not covered. We will charge you 99 cents for 411 calls.
• I'm sold on ooma, but how do I know you guys will still be in business in a few years?
  • ooma is the only company that offers customers the freedom to eliminate monthly phone bills for US calling. We've architected our devices to provide exceptional voice quality and to serve as a platform for constant innovation. Public feedback has been fantastic, exceeding expectations. Our customers have reported that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline." Based on the enthusiasm of the marketplace and our financial backers, you can be confident that ooma is here to stay!
• Do the people I call need to own an ooma device for the calls to be free?
  • Nope. Unlike some of our competitors, ooma lets you call anyone, at any number, anywhere in the US without charge. A few exceptions apply: ooma does not support 900 calls and may not cover phone chat services. We will charge you 99 cents for 411 calls.
• Can I access my voicemail from any phone or computer?
  • Sure thing! You can call in for voicemail from any phone. You can also listen to your messages online in the ooma Lounge.
• Can I use the ooma system internationally?
  • The ooma system was designed for installation and use in the US with a high-speed Internet connection. It provides residential US calling and low-cost international calling rates. Although we hear the system works well overseas, we cannot guarantee use outside the US. If you choose to install and use the ooma system outside the US, you'll be solely responsible for compliance with international laws. You'll also be subject to all associated fees, taxes, tariffs, and legal penalties.
• Do I have to decide in advance whether I will be using the ooma system with or without a landline? Can I drop my landline later?
  • Absolutely! The ooma system is flexible enough to work with or without a basic landline. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a regular home phone. Best of all, you can call a member of our customer support team if you wish to drop your landline later. Keep in mind that if you wish to move your current phone number to ooma, you'll need to allow three weeks for porting, and a one-time porting fee may apply.

How does the ooma system work?

• What do I need to use the ooma system?
  • To use the ooma Hub device, you need TWO things:

    1. A high-speed Internet connection (cable/DSL/fiber-optic); and
    2. A home phone.

• Can I use the ooma system with a wireless or satellite Internet service?
  • The ooma Hub device has been designed to work with a wired high-speed Internet connection (such as DSL, cable, or fiber-optic). While we have a number of customers who have used the ooma system with a wireless Internet connection, we cannot guarantee the performance will be quite as good. Please note that you can still use a Wi-Fi network in your home. For more home set-up information, please refer to the product documentation.
• What's the difference between the ooma Hub device and the ooma Scout device?
  • The ooma Hub device is the brains of the ooma system and must be installed for the ooma service to work. The ooma Scout device extends the power of ooma to other areas of your home. It also gives you access to the Instant Second Line feature (part of ooma Premier). Simply connect the ooma Scout device to a standard phone jack, a power outlet, and a regular home phone.
• I don't get it. How can I make phone calls without a landline?
  • Your landline is one way to route calls from one phone number to another. The Internet can do the same thing using a technology called VoIP (which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol). Simply put, you can transmit calls over the Internet in the same way you send email. Our state-of-the-art encryption helps ensure that all your calls remain secure and private. In addition, the ooma system has been architected to deliver exceptional voice quality and reliability, giving you the crisp, acoustic performance of a landline, without the associated fees. Our customers report that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline."
• What is the Broadband Answering Machine feature?
  • The Broadband Answering Machine feature lets you hear messages, screen and intercept calls, and set privacy settings at the touch of a button, like Send to Voicemail and Do Not Disturb. You can also visit the online ooma Lounge to hear voicemail, set up notifications to email/SMS, and manage your voicemail preferences. Some of the features of the Broadband Answering Machine, such as message screening, Do Not Disturb, and Send to Voicemail, are part of ooma Premier and may carry additional monthly fees after the free trial. If you purchased your ooma Hub device for $399, you'll continue to receive these services without charge.
• What is the "Do Not Disturb" feature?
  • The Do Not Disturb feature helps you control your privacy. Simply press and hold the envelope icon on any personal or shared ooma device for two seconds, and your calls will roll into voicemail without ringing. To deactivate Do Not Disturb, hold down the envelope icon for two more seconds. Do Not Disturb is part of the ooma Premier package and may carry additional monthly fees after the free 60-day trial. If you purchased an ooma Hub device for $399, you'll continue to receive this service without charge.

Set-up & usage

• How hard is it to set up my ooma system?
  • If you can follow a few simple instructions, you can set up your ooma system. Our installation guide offers colorful, easy-to-read diagrams and instructions to get you up and dialing in about 20 minutes.
• That installation business sounds tough. Can I hire someone to do it for me?
  • Hey, we hear you. Depending on where you live, we can arrange for professional in-home installation for $79.95. To request installation, please call a member of our customer support team at 1-888-711-6662. Please note that you'll be billed by the installation company when you set up the appointment.
• Some of my friends have VoIP and, frankly, the voice quality isn't so hot. How is the voice quality with ooma?
  • The ooma system has been architected to deliver exceptional voice quality and reliability, giving you the crisp, acoustic performance of a landline, without the associated fees. Our customers report that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline." This is one of the areas in which we truly excel.
• Hey, I ditched my landline long ago. Can I still use the ooma system?
  • Definitely! The ooma system works with or without a basic landline. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a home phone.
• I currently get voicemail through my home phone service. Can I cut that cost too?
  • You bet! ooma provides voicemail at no extra charge.
• Will the ooma system work with my cordless phone set?
  • Definitely! What's more, ALL the phones associated with your cordless phone set will work with either the ooma Hub or the ooma Scout device. Please note that you cannot divide the handsets of a single cordless phone set among different ooma devices.
• I'm planning to relocate across the country. Should I wait until I move to buy my ooma system?
  • Why wait? You can take the ooma system anywhere you move in the US. And if you're using the ooma system without a landline, you can take your phone number or request a phone number in your new area code!
• Does ooma provide caller-ID service?
  • ooma provides inbound caller-ID at no extra charge for all calls that come in on a number you've selected from ooma or a number you've ported to ooma. If you're using the ooma system with a landline back-up, however, you'll need to get inbound caller-ID from your landline phone company.
    
    ooma also provides outgoing caller-ID at no extra charge. By default, during activation, your caller-ID will be set to use your last and first names. If you wish to change or personalize an existing outgoing caller-ID name at a later time, you can choose to do so for a one-time charge of $11.99. Acceptable caller-ID names contain some combination of your first name, last name and/or your home business name. New requests and changes for outgoing caller-ID name are processed within 5 business days.
• Do you offer three-way conferencing?
  • ooma makes three-way conferencing easy! Once you're on a call, simply press the second line button to make or take a second call. Then press down both line buttons at once, and you've got yourself a three-way call! Please note that this feature is part of the ooma Premier package and may carry an additional monthly fee. If you purchased an ooma Hub device for $399, you'll continue to receive this service without charge.
• I just installed an ooma Hub and an ooma Scout. How do I use the Instant Second Line feature?
  • If you're a new customer, you automatically get a free 60-day trial of ooma Premier. This means you have access to the Instant Second Line feature. To make two calls at once, simply pick up a phone associated with a different ooma device than the one supporting the call in progress. If you're using the ooma system with a landline back-up, you'll need to select a second phone number in the ooma Lounge to receive calls on the second line during the free trial of ooma Premier. If you purchased an ooma Hub device for $399, you'll continue to receive this service without charge.
• If the power goes out in my house, can I still make calls?
  • That depends on whether you're using the ooma system with or without a basic landline back-up. If you're using your ooma system without a landline, you won't be able to make or receive calls until the power is restored.
    
    If you're using the ooma system with a landline back-up and the power goes out, all the lights on your ooma devices will turn off and the dialtone will revert to your local landline. If you have a line-powered phone, you'll be able to make and receive calls, but you may incur charges from your local phone company. If your phone requires electrical power, you won't be able to make calls until the power is restored.
• What happens if my Internet connection goes down?
  • In the event of an Internet outage, you won't hear the signature ooma dialtone and the ooma Tab will turn from solid blue to blinking red. If you're using the ooma system without a landline, you won't be able to make calls until your Internet service is restored. If you're using the ooma system with a landline back-up, you'll be able to make calls (although you may incur calling charges from your landline service provider).
• Can I use a Fax machine with my ooma system?
  • While we don't guarantee use of a Fax machine with the ooma system, it generally works, provided you connect the Fax to the back of your ooma Hub device. To send a Fax, dial the prefix *99 before you place an outgoing Fax call. To receive a Fax, we recommend that you add a dedicated number in the ooma Lounge or set your Fax machine to "manual pick-up" to prevent interference with the Broadband Answering Machine feature. For additional information, visit our support site.
• What if I have TiVo® or another satellite/cable box that needs to be hooked up to a phone line? Can I still use them?
  • Of course! Just connect these devices to your landline through a standard phone jack without routing through the ooma system (although you may incur monthly charges from your local phone company).
• I'm not sure if ooma will work with my network configuration. Is there anyone I can talk to?
  • Why, certainly! Our customer support team will be delighted to answer your questions. Just call toll-free at 1-888-711-6662.
• Is it difficult to use the ooma system?
  • Learning to use the ooma system is easier than making microwave popcorn. We've designed the ooma system with familiar icons to ensure an intuitive user experience. Chances are you'll be up and dialing in minutes. If not, you can visit our support site. There you'll find dozens of articles, tips, diagrams, and a lively customer forum.
• Can I take advantage of ooma's savings using my cell phone?
  • No, the current system does not support cell phones.
• What if my ooma system breaks? Is there a warranty?
  • Absolutely. All ooma devices come with a one-year limited warranty for material defects. This means, we'll replace or repair your ooma device for one year from the date of purchase. You can extend the one-year warranty to three years for the one-time fee of $69.99. This option is available any time during the first year of service. To purchase an extended warranty, please call a member of our customer support team at 1-888-711-6662. If you purchased an ooma Hub device for $399, you'll automatically receive an extended warranty without charge.

Company profile

• What is ooma's core philosophy?
  • ooma is a technology start-up, based in Palo Alto, California, which is rapidly transforming the landscape of consumer telephony by offering constant innovation at unprecedented savings. When you buy the ooma Hub device, you own your dialtone. That means you won't pay monthly phone bills for unlimited US calling and bundled features for the life of the ooma Hub device.
• When was ooma founded?
  • ooma was founded in 2004 and introduced to the public in July of 2007.
• Who started ooma?
  • Andrew Frame, formerly of Cisco Systems, is our founder. The ooma Management Team includes seasoned leadership from Sling Media, Apple, Cisco and TiVo®:
    
    

    - Andrew Frame, CEO & Founder

    - Rich Buchanan, Chief Marketing Office, formerly of Sling Media

    - Tami Bhaumik, VP Corporate Marketing, formerly of Sling Media

    - Toby Farrand, VP of Engineering and Operations, formerly of Apple

    - Ashton Kutcher, Creative Director, Co-Founder of Katalyst Films

    - Dennis Peng, VP of Product Management, formerly of Cisco

    
    

    Our board of directors includes:

    - Keith Krach, Co-Founder, Former Chairman and CEO of Ariba

    - Warren Packard, Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson

    - Sean Parker, Chairman, Philotic, Inc. (Project Agape) and Managing Partner, The Founders Fund

    - Mike Ramsay, Co-Founder, Former Chairman and CEO, TiVo®, Inc.

    - Tim Weingarten, General Partner of Worldview Technology Partners

• Where is the company located?
  • ooma is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the heart of Silicon Valley.
• Who are your main investors?
  • Draper Fisher Jurvetson, The Founder's Fund, Worldview Partners, Draper-Richards and WI Harper.
• Are you hiring?
  • Always! We're a fast-growing company that values creativity, integrity, innovation, and passion. If you think you're a good fit, forward a resume to info@ooma.com. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Top Tech FAQs

• It seems like everyone out there has a VoIP product. What makes ooma different?
  • For starters, ooma does not charge monthly fees for US calling. In addition, the ooma system has been architected to deliver exceptional voice quality and reliability, giving you the crisp, acoustic performance of a landline, but without the associated fees. Our customers have reported that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline." Lastly, the ooma device is not just an ATA, it's an intelligent telephony platform that enables a new class of services to be instantly delivered to your home. We currently offer the ability to personalize ooma devices with additional phone numbers and private voicemail accounts. We have lots more innovative features on the way!
• If there's a lot of traffic on the Internet, will that impact my voice quality?
  • ooma has optimized its architecture to ensure low latency and reliable performance. When you place calls, information packets are intelligently prioritized over the Internet to ensure a seamless calling experience. This technology also ensures that your Internet service will not be adversely affected when you talk on the phone.
• Why is call forward busy ("CFB") recommended when you use the ooma system with a landline?
  • Call forward busy ("CFB") forwards your calls to an ooma gateway, which routes your calls over the Internet back to your ooma system. When you use the ooma system with a landline back-up, CFB ensures the function of the Instant Second Line feature, which allows you to take a second incoming call or send it to voicemail. When you become an ooma Premier subscriber, one of our customer support agents will setup CFB on your landline. Please note that your landline phone company may charge you a nominal monthly fee for CFB.
• If my calls are routed over the Internet, how does ooma ensure that my calls remain private and secure?
  • The ooma system uses the latest security and data encryption technologies. As a result, ooma is as secure as a traditional landline.
• What is the Peer-to-Peer concept behind ooma?
  • ooma's call-routing algorithm, a/k/a the people-powered network, uses the Internet to connect local calling areas throughout the US for free instead of relying primarily on traditional phone switches, known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). ooma's call-routing technology ensures a completely transparent experience, so the ability to make and receive calls is not impacted when the line is in use by another ooma caller. Customers who purchase or subscribe to ooma Premier are automatically exempted from the people-powered network.