14 DAY TRIAL // Although VoIP services have become extremely popular nowadays, wired and cellular networks still remain the most widespread communication networks. However, this situation might soon change, at least in the US, as a company called ooma has announced the development of a very innovative system for making very cheap long-distance phone calls towards landline or mobile numbers.
Thus, every ooma system includes the ooma Hub connected to a broadband Internet connection and to the main phone unit, as well as an ooma Scout for each additional active phone extension used around the house. Moreover, each of the ooma systems also provides quite a large suite of innovative features, including the Instant Second Line, which gives users access to a second line in their home, with no installation or new phones, or the Broadband Answering Machine, a feature that combines voicemail technology with the convenience of the Internet and ease-of-use of a traditional answering machine.
Moreover, the ooma system provides few interesting customization options, as for example the ooma Dial Tone, a feature that delivers customizable through an audio interface, creating a new dial tone, as well as the ooma Lounge, which provides consumers with the ability to manage their voice mail and call settings online.
According to the company, the concept behind the ooma system originated from its developer's (Andrew Frame, a former Cisco employee) passion for bringing innovation to home telephony. "I believe that consumers should have a better phone experience, one that combines convenience, innovation and cost savings," said Frame. "Just as consumers transformed the functionality of their television through TiVo and their music with the iPod, we expect that they will reinvent the way they use their home phone with an ooma system."
Patrick Monaghan, a senior analyst for Yankee Group, agrees with Frame that consumers are demanding more from their residential phone experience. "ooma is tapping into a category that is starving for a new solution," he said. "It is refreshing to see a product as innovative as ooma in this space-offering a unique approach to making long-distance calls from existing phones, via a peer-to-peer solution."
The ooma devices are still undergoing extensive tests and if all goes well, the first models might hit the shelves in late 2007 or early 2008.
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