If you’re familiar with VoIP phone systems, it’s likely you’ve heard of Ooma. Is Ooma a VoIP provider? Yes, Ooma is a popular VoIP provider that specializes in helping small businesses and a variety of mobile VoIP users. In fact, in 2015 Ooma was named one of the fastest growing private companies by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Additionally, they were rated #1 in terms of reliability in PC Magazine.
How does Ooma VoIP Business Phone System work?
Ooma is a cloud-based VoIP provider that primarily offers mobile VoIP solutions for small businesses, remote workers, freelancers, and contractors. While they do offer options for enterprise level companies, they are best known for their plans for SMB.
Essentially, employees can connect their Ooma phone number to almost any device they own and use. You can use Ooma on your office desk phone, your smartphone or tablet, or your laptop or desktop computer. This helps employees stay productive and work in a way that best suits their work style!
What is Ooma Telo?
Ooma released “Ooma Telo” in 2009, and it is one of their most popular VoIP services. Ooma Telo is meant to cut costs and provide an easy way to make phone calls for households and small businesses. Users simply purchase the Telo device one time, then they can enjoy no monthly costs and unlimited calls through the device. You have the option to port your landline number to the Telo system or get a new number. Additionally, you have the option of connecting your Telo to a mobile app, or use it with devices you already own.
What is Ooma Office?
“Ooma Office” is another VoIP service option offered by Ooma. Launched in 2013, it provides features as well as an infrastructure meant to support small businesses in their daily operations. It includes useful features such as video calling, conference calling, faxing, and more. They also now have a mobile app that is compatible with Ooma office, which makes working on-the-go easy and convenient.
Ooma VoIP Business Phone System Features
As mentioned, while Ooma has options for larger companies, their plans are centered around helping small businesses. Although they don’t have quite as many features as some other VoIP providers, Ooma VoIP systems include 35 useful features while remaining cost-efficient.
Take a look at the robust features Ooma offers its users:
| Ooma Office | Ooma Office Pro | Ooma Telo |
| – Unlimited domestic calling – Low international rates – 911 service – Number porting – 1 free toll-free number – 500 minutes of inbound calls per month – Mobile App – Virtual Receptionist – Call Parking – Ring Groups – Music on Hold – Extension dialing – Call Forwarding – Virtual Extensions – Voicemail – Call Transferring – Company Directory – Call Logging – One conference bridge per user – Forward calls during device outages – Fax Online – Call Blocking – Intercom – Simultaneous Ring – Voicemail audio email attachments – Extension dialing to app – SMS Messaging – Call flip | All Ooma Office features plus: – Desktop App – Call Recording – Enhanced Call Blocking – Overhead Paging – Voicemail Transcription – Higher usage limits for: Extension Monitoring, Call Park, Audio Conference Room Participants | – High quality voice – Mobile app – Number porting – Free domestic calls – Amazon echo & Google Home integration – Live customer support – Online portal – Caller-ID, call waiting, call return – 911 and 911 text alerts – 30-day money-back guarantee – And more |
Keep in mind that Ooma Office and Ooma Telo have different features and focus on helping certain businesses. Office is better for small to medium sized businesses, while Telo is better for remote workers, home owners, freelancers, and contractors.
Ooma VoIP Business Phone System Pricing
Compared to other leading cloud-based VoIP providers such as Grasshopper, Ooma has fewer pricing options and plans. Note that it is typical of VoIP providers to offer at least 3 different plans, and Ooma offers just 2. However, their features are competitive and many enjoy that their plans are more simple and straight-forward.
Here is the breakdown of Ooma’s different prices and plans:
| Ooma Office | Ooma Office Pro |
| $19.95 per user per month | $24.95 per user per month |
Keep in mind that even though Ooma has only one “standard” plan, their rates are among the lowest of all VoIP providers. Additionally, the standard plan includes more features compared to other providers such as Nextiva, RingCentral, and Vonage.
Remember you also have the option to go with Ooma Telo, which involves a one-time purchase of the Telo equipment and no monthly fees. The equipment costs for Telo are as follows:
| Ooma Telo | Ooma Telo Air | Ooma Telo 4G |
| $99.99 No monthly fees | $129.99 No monthly fees | $129.99 No monthly fees |
If you choose Ooma Telo, there is also the option to choose the Ooma Premier plan to go with it, which offers additional features. To learn more about Ooma Premier, take a look here.
Ooma VoIP Business Phone System Customer Service
Ooma provides many different customer service resources to help users have a positive experience. Like many VoIP providers, they include:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Set-up and Installation Guide
- Manuals and Video Tutorials
- 24/7 phone support availability
- Anytime live chat feature
Pros and Cons
Ultimately, to figure out whether or not an Ooma VoIP system is the best fit for your business needs, you will want to weigh their pros and cons. Depending on what kind of VoIP service you are looking for, there are plenty of strengths and weaknesses to Ooma’s service. Here are some commonly reported pros and cons to Ooma.
Pros
- Affordable. Ooma provides one of the most cost-effective VoIP solutions in the industry. At under $20 for the standard plan, they offer the most features at the lowest cost, making them adorable for just about any small business.
- Mobile. Ooma offers one of the best mobile VoIP systems. It can be accessed from anywhere in the world, so you can always stay in touch with your business contacts.
- Easy to use. The mobile applications and user interface are simple and easy to use, so professionals can easily navigate through their portals and access their communication tasks throughout the day.
Cons
- Limited plans. Compared to other VoIP providers, there are fewer options for pricing and plans under Ooma. Ooma VoIP systems offer a simple “one or the other” model for their plans, which can be constricting for certain companies who want more customization in their telecom system.
- Complaints of disconnected calls. Some user reviews report that they have had issues with dropped calls and latency while using Ooma. Note: if you are worried about dropped calls, make sure you have enough bandwidth to support your VoIP system.
- Few integration options. Although Ooma has some compatibility with Google and Amazon systems, there is limited connectivity to back-end applications and systems. For instance, if you want your phone system to integrate with your CRM or email platform, you may not be able to do so.
Alternatives to Ooma VoIP Business Phone System
Want to compare a few more VoIP systems that are similar to Ooma? Luckily, in the VoIP industry, you have MANY options! We recommend taking a look at our list of top 5 business VoIP providers. Then continue your research by looking into:
You can also consider whether non-fixed VoIP solutions may be a good fit for your business needs. Keep in mind that there are lots of reputable, reliable VoIP providers on the market today. Some providers may offer more features at a lower rate so you can get the best business phone system for your needs. 360Connect can help you get started for free! Simply fill out our online form and we’ll match you with providers that best fit your business needs.