JetSet Shows Off Ooma
VOIP stands for “Voice Over IP.” It’s a way to make telephone calls using your Internet connection instead of the normal phone lines. It can be incredibly less expensive if you make long distance or international phone calls on a regular basis.
It’s also a pain in the butt to set up and use. Many times the signal will cut out and the quality can be much lower than even your cell phone, especially if you try to use the Internet when you are on a phone call.
The first VOIP company I ever heard of was Vonage. It used to be REALLY cheap to use them, but slowly over the years, they have raised their prices. Now, it looks like there are lots of companies ready to undercut them. One of them is Ooma.
On JetSet this week, Zadi and Steve show off Ooma, which is a VOIP phone system that works differently than the others.
It is a Linux box that connects between your Internet connection and your computer. When you are calling, it will give priority to the voice data packets and manage the data packets around the talking.
Instead of a monthly fee like Vonage, Ooma only has the initial setup fee for the Ooma box and accessories. When compared to Vonage (2 lines over 3 years), Ooma would cost $438 and Vonage would cost $2100.
Of course, in three years, the entire world could be completely different than it is now. If you currently use Vonage, Ooma might be for you.
If you don’t know what Vonage or VOIP is, then stick with your land line or cellphone. Dealing with VOIP right now can be time-consuming and unreliable, even if you have an easy to set up system like Ooma.