ooma
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Tapping founders of market shifting companies such as TiVo and Napster for information and advice, Andrew Frame, CEO and founder of ooma has plans to do more than just challenge the way traditional telephony operates. ooma’s technology, if successful, will provide broadband connected homes with a much cheaper way to make long distance phone calls and control its phone service. Essentially, ooma users will own their own phone service, as the ooma hub changes the telephony game from service to device centered. The ooma hub will connect to a broadband line and will allow its users to make calls to wireless phones and wired land lines. ooma has no service fees, but plans to offer new products for its telephone unit that will provide for a continuous revenue stream.

ooma’s future plans involve making home phones more like cell phones by adding such capabilities as customizable ring tones and others.

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ooma hub
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Website	ooma.com
Launch Date	July 1, 2007
Tags	ip-telephony

The ooma hub centers the ooma user’s telephone experience. Connected to a phone and broadband cable, it generates a more “soothing” dial tone according to CEO, Frame, one that means “free calling”. The hub also automatically creates a second phone line from which users can make a call even when the first line is in use (both lines have the same number). Features include a broadband answering machine and ooma lounge which offers an easy place to control call and voice mail settings.

Above: ooma hub Screenshot -- #1
Uploaded: 2/5/08

Above: ooma hub Screenshot -- #2
Uploaded: 2/5/08

Above: ooma hub Screenshot -- #3
Uploaded: 2/5/08

ooma scout
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Website	ooma.com
Launch Date	July 1, 2007
Tags	ip-telephony

ooma scouts are connected to each additional phone extension in a user’s home. This connection allows all phones to use the ooma hub.

Above: ooma scout Screenshot -- #1
Uploaded: 2/5/08

Above: ooma scout Screenshot -- #2
Uploaded: 2/5/08

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sandra - July 2, 2009 at 7:59am

we really need a phone system that can do both phone calls and fax we now have magic jack and cannot fax so guess we'll wait and see if ooma will figure out how this can happen.

D.WEBB - June 24, 2009 at 9:58am

I understand very little about electronics; however, purchased the OOMA several weeks back and, using the installation directions and a few calls to technical support, was able to hook-up the system to my internet service. I haven't connected the scout yet, but am working on that now. I am on the east coast and am very pleased with this phone system . . . have already said good-bye to Embarq's landline! Am talking up this great package to anyone who will listen.

Paul - April 17, 2009 at 11:00pm

Been using my ooma for over a week now. It in no way requires hook up to a landline. I have mine not tapped into my home phone system at all, although I have done it that way and it works great. I have just two phones on my desk with their corresponding hub and scout. (I use it to run my home office.) No wires touch my home phone lines. I must say that if it continues to work as well as it has, there is no question it is a keeper. It won't work for faxes, at least not well. But as an alternate to traditional pay through the nose landline(s), so far it can't be beat. I'm sending in my 99 bucks for Premier as soon as my trial ends, if this service continues 45 more free days. I could chose to pay nothing and just have one line, but I like the convenience of two and feel it's worth the money for a full year of service. It's a 200/300 gamble that so far is paying off big.

Lorraine - April 3, 2009 at 1:32am

I'd love to try Ooma, but how long can this company be survived?

Robert Solimine - March 31, 2009 at 9:54pm

Outstanding service. Phone works great. Does just what I want. The call forwarding to my cell or office phone is valuable. I really don't use a home phone much but it is required by my employer to have a land line for a second means of contacting me. Great job OOMA. I'll let you know how the porting went when it is complete. So far so good. I don't expect any problems. Perfect sound quality. Have not heard any delay to date.

debbie - January 8, 2009 at 12:06pm

I love my ooma. It was very easy to set up (surprised me). The sound is great! Best of all...no phone bills.

Shree Mulay - November 22, 2007 at 2:18pm

Peace, I'm proud to be an early adopter of Ooma! I've been using Ooma for the past 1 1/2 months and the experience has been wonderful, by the Grace of God. I recommend you go ahead and hop on board. But, make sure you've got proper 'upload' bandwidth. Though I had a 5mbps connection, I only get about 500kbps, which means I've got to keep my bittorrent uploads limited to 10k/s in order to ensure that my voice quality is not affected at any point. Well, I'm satisfied, apart from the upload limit for my bittorrents. Perhaps, I'll get a different connection...

Average Phone User - September 17, 2007 at 1:11am

So, I guess this thing has pretty much died on the vine, huh? I participated in the White Rabbit program, but my box died less than a week into the trial, and I have been trying to get a replacement ever since. There is certainly some fine print to using this service..........the changes they make can be charged for by your local phone company. that much is a given. In my case, I was charged $10.80 to add CF-B to my line, which is an additional $1.75 a month. Then, when my Ooma box broke, I didn't have VM for 2 weeks. So, after no signs of getting a new box in the mail, I pleaded w/ Ooma to add my VM back until I get a new box. So, they do, which adds an additional $10.80 charge to my phone bill. To add insult to injury, the customer care reps w/ Ooma had the audacity to tell me that they never removed my VM to begin with, and moreover, that my phone company stated that I never had VM w/ my service. Someone must have been giving it to me for free for the last 2 years then.........please! So far Ooma has cost me $23.35 and w/ Unlimited LD only costing $5 more a month, I could have gotten more usage out of my money by upgrading my account w/ my local carrier; 4 monhts of US domestic calling versus 2 days.

Mike P - August 26, 2007 at 8:52am

Before you jump on the Ooma band-wagon, better look into the technical, operational, and security issues. Check out ooma-revealed.info. Interesting that many of the commenters want Ooma to be able to ditch their land line, butd Ooma requires you to have a land-line (for now until they can figure out how to do E911).

Nick - August 16, 2007 at 6:34am

I am very impressed where the voip industry is leading. I was a sunrocket customer until they crumbled. it was an eye opener for me and I have learned a great deal about the voip industry. if ooma is what it is hyped up to be then it may be revolutionary. however I am a skeptic thanks to sunrocket and need more convincing. You still have to be careful of Marketing vs. real life. I hope it is all they say. im so tired of being ripped off by corporate America.

Terry - August 10, 2007 at 5:48pm

I've been a Vonage user for years and because of the fear of them going under with the Verizon lawsuit, I switched to VOIP Your Life - big mistake, terrible service with less features. Anyway, I'm back with Vonage now, and will do anything to get away from the telephony treadmill ripoff. I would love to try Ooma and test its features. Questions: Can you have more than one line? If so, can you change the features such as call forwarding individually like with Vonage?

Ricardo - August 9, 2007 at 6:00pm

I'll try it. Very happy with Vonage and Skype. Would love to try Ooma. I like the 2 phone lines with the same phone number idea. That breaks the mold.

Jason - August 9, 2007 at 5:46pm

I would love to try this out... I have been a VoIP user for a few years now and am currently a customer of the potentially failing Vonage. This sounds like it would be the perfect replacement. Please send me an Ooma so that I can represent the potential of the product by being a satisfied customer on the East Coast...=)

Scott - August 9, 2007 at 4:54pm

I would love an Ooma! I've tried to convince my wife that we should switch to fully VoIP at home, but she hasn't bought in yet... Ooma might do the trick! I've been using Vonage for my home office phone, but have wanted to get away for some time and I'm sure that hasn't helped my argument with my wife to go VoIP. PLEASE help me convert my wife, and send a couple of Oomas our way! :-)

Jay Nulu - August 3, 2007 at 8:02pm

What a wonderful product! I'm sure this'll be huge hit with everyone. Can't wait to get my hands one too!! :-))

Andrew - July 24, 2007 at 10:36pm

I won the Ooma / TC contest. Can't wait to get it and review it.

Seancurt - July 24, 2007 at 7:01am

I would like to try the ooma out aswell. Based on the interview. It sounds like this could very well be pulled off. I think the users that will find this most attractive are the podcasters. Specially if there is a feature to record the call some how. Mike was it a landline-to-ooma call you had or skype-to-ooma? Either way I would definatel like to try it out.

Don Benton - July 22, 2007 at 8:23pm

I used to be in the Bell System and have seen and experienced many things. The statement above that intrigues me the most is: "Essentially, ooma users will own their own phone service, as the ooma hub changes the telephony game from service to device centered." I'd also like to test the concept of six degrees of separation to see if anyone would pass along a free token to me :-)

Mehmet E - July 21, 2007 at 10:28pm

Since I can't get my hands on Uma or Oprah, I'll happily settle for ooma. However, if I do get my Ooma, and since it will be providing me with free VOIP, I can't promise I won't use it to call into every show Uma is a guest. Oh my!

Bruce Schechter - July 21, 2007 at 3:47am

I need this Ooma device for more reasons than I can count... 1) I am a techno-junkie and have a burning desire to experience each new new thing. 2) I have been amazed for years that the relatively nascent cellular phone industry out-innovates that POTS industry in spite of their one century lead in the marketplace. Itâ€™s time for something new and exciting for wired phones. 3) Iâ€™m an avid Skype fan, but yet am overdue to bring (free!) VOIP service to the normal handsets in my home rather than simply to the computer screens. 4) Ooma has some excellent founders and Iâ€™d love to meet them sometime. Maybe this is a way forward on that front. You might conclude that I can only count to four, but if so Iâ€™d be happy to provide more reasons why I need the Oooma device. Cheers, Bruce

A Hyder - July 21, 2007 at 2:39am

I would like to try one. I am in a desperate need of a VOIP system. Just got ripped off by SunRocket. I paid for the full year in advance and now they are out of business. I am certain all VOIP operators are headed for trouble. However, ooma appears to be different and want to go with someone who is in it for the long haul.

Andrew Stajduhar - July 21, 2007 at 1:04am

I need a ooma, because the squirrels have gotten into the walls and eaten my telephone wires. The only way for me to make a call now to my family in Chicago is through ooma. Please send me one.

Thiru Srinivasan - July 21, 2007 at 12:42am

I would like one because I pay $45+ for the phone service. After the first 9 months, I can start to donate the $45 to a charity and still have a phone to use. There are people in many countries, including the one I immigrated from, that can live on $45 per month. And, I mean it, seriously!!!

William J. Bell - July 20, 2007 at 10:20pm

My god I would kill for one of these, Verizon raped us on install and repair fees after moving into a new apartment that is in a really old building with lots of wiring problems. Paying out the A$$ for the next few months because of it and on top of that I now can't afford to pay for long distance because of the extra fee's

gil elliot - July 20, 2007 at 9:35pm

I would like one of these because I've tried for 6 weeks to get Verizon to hook up residential service and they have yet to even transfer my call to the right person much less schedule me, and I would like very much to hook this up to my broadband connection and call them and tell them to go to hell and that all this took me less than 6 minutes, much less 6 weeks. Thank you.

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Citation Needed [add]
Ooma gets $16M in 3rd round (washington.bizjournals.com) [edit]
Ooma Gets $14 Million, Survival Looks Like A Real Possibility (techcrunch.com) [edit]

Website	ooma.com
Blog	ooma.com
Category	Mobile/Wireless
Phone	650-566-6637
Email
Employees	47
Founded	1/04
Description	VOIP for home telephones

Total	$60.3M
Series A, 1/05 Draper Fisher Jurvetson Worldview Technology Partners Draper Richards WI Harper Group	$8M
Series B, 12/06 Draper Fisher Jurvetson The Founders Fund Worldview Technology Partners Draper Richards WI Harper Group	$18M
Series C, 9/08 Draper Fisher Jurvetson Worldview Technology Partners The Founders Fund WI Harper Group Draper Richards TDF Fund (Telecommunications Development Fund)	$16M
Series D, 6/09 Worldview Technology Partners	$18.3M

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