# Best internet phone to POTS interface? (Skype, Google Voice, etc) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645 "2013-04-02T17:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/1 "2013-04-02T17:46:31Z")
I’m waiting for Google Fiber to come to my Kansas City apartment this summer. Currently I’m using IP phone service supplied by the current cable company. That will be going away, and Google Fiber does not include or offer telephone service. So while I’ve played with IP telephony, I’ve never used it exclusively. And I really would rather have a standard cordless phone, rather than being required to be connected to my computer (and I have no intention to move to a cell phone exclusively.) So, anyone done this? I use Google Voice for long distance calling, and I think I’d be perfectly happy sticking with that, but Skype or other IP phone systems would work as well. I’ve installed Ooma for a customer, and was surprised by how expensive it got with all the required taxes, E911 and other fees. My 911 service can be handled perfectly well by my hated cell phone, so I don’t really need that on the “land line”. The vast majority of my calling is done to my wife back home in Chicago, and I need to call the land line back home. (And again, I have NO intention to get any cell “family plan” or any of that shit.) Anyone cut the phone cord but kept their cordless phone? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/2 "2013-04-02T17:56:20Z")
I bought a USA phone number through Skype, $3 USD a month for incoming unlimited calls. My family/friends in the USA call the number and it rings on my computer/iphone here in Trinidad. Has unlimited voicemail too. No problems to report, the line occasionally suffers some delay or warbly feedback but not often. For me to make outgoing unlimited calls in the USA/Canada and some other countries is something like $6 USD a month. It really is an unbeatable deal when you compare normal long distance charges(ungodly). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/3 "2013-04-02T17:58:02Z")
I’m very happy with my [Ooma](http://www.ooma.com) box. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/4 "2013-04-02T18:06:24Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I’m very happy with my [Ooma](http://www.ooma.com) box. The problem with the Ooma box, as I mentioned, is the on-going monthly costs associated with the E911 system. The customer wound up paying Ooma $20 a month. Cheaper than the Baby Bell, but still an on-going expense. > [@grude](#): > > I bought a USA phone number through Skype, $3 USD a month for incoming unlimited calls. My family/friends in the USA call the number and it rings on my computer/iphone here in Trinidad. Has unlimited voicemail too. > > No problems to report, the line occasionally suffers some delay or warbly feedback but not often. > > For me to make outgoing unlimited calls in the USA/Canada and some other countries is something like $6 USD a month. > > It really is an unbeatable deal when you compare normal long distance charges(ungodly). Right, but Google Voice costs me $0 a month for unlimited US long distance. I’m really looking for a tool that will hook up to the phone line and allow me to use my Google Voice number, if at all possible. The problem with anything with a monthly fee is the hassle of paying any additional monthly bills. I don’t have any credit cards. Google Fiber will be shared with my family at this apartment. Again, I’m looking for a POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) interface that is not part of anyone’s ongoing revenue stream, which eliminates Ooma and the standard Skype service. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/5 "2013-04-02T18:10:32Z")
Anyone used [one of these](http://store.voxilla.com/shop.php?c=all&n=493964&i=B004LO098O&x=OBi100_VoIP_Telephone_Adapter_and_Voice_Service_Bridge&=)? By the way, I’m more than geeky enough to configure and install an Asterisk/FreePBX system and dedicate a computer to that role. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/6 "2013-04-02T18:13:44Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Right, but Google Voice costs me $0 a month for unlimited US long distance. I’m really looking for a tool that will hook up to the phone line and allow me to use my Google Voice number, if at all possible. The problem with anything with a monthly fee is the hassle of paying any additional monthly bills. I don’t have any credit cards. Google Fiber will be shared with my family at this apartment. > > Again, I’m looking for a POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) interface that is not part of anyone’s ongoing revenue stream, which eliminates Ooma and the standard Skype service. You sir want a variation on this device, they are available very cheaply. Google “USB to phone adapter” and look around. I used free googlevoice for a while, until they started checking what IP you were from and cut off non-USA numbers. I was amazed how much better Skype was, GV would tend to let calls go into “wahhhhhhhhhhh wah” mode after about five minutes. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/7 "2013-04-02T18:13:46Z")
Why did the customer end up paying $20/month? In fact how did any government tax collector even know the customer had Ooma (vs no phone at all)? Please clarify. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/8 "2013-04-02T18:25:16Z")
> [@grude](#): > > You sir want a variation on this device, they are available very cheaply. > > Google “USB to phone adapter” and look around. > > I used free googlevoice for a while, until they started checking what IP you were from and cut off non-USA numbers. I was amazed how much better Skype was, GV would tend to let calls go into “wahhhhhhhhhhh wah” mode after about five minutes. Your experience might be very different if you were using it from outside the US. I’m going to be calling from Kansas City to Chicago, and am going to be on a gigibit up and down Google Fiber connection from the Kansas City end. So I doubt that I’ll have any problems from the data end. > [@PastTense](#): > > Why did the customer end up paying $20/month? In fact how did any government tax collector even know the customer had Ooma (vs no phone at all)? > > Please clarify. It’s been a couple of years since I performed the move for them, but the E911 service and associated taxes applied. They ported their existing phone service to Ooma. Ooma’s [own web site has the “applicable taxes and fees”](http://www.ooma.com/how-ooma-works/savings) asterisk on their “free” service. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/9 "2013-04-02T19:12:02Z")
You want cheap or quality or flexibility ? Using google voice directly, or google voice with another service, for any flexibility Obi is probably the best, although I would choose this device: > **[Amazon.com: Obihai OBi202 2-Port VoIP Phone Adapter with Google Voice and Fax...](https://www.amazon.com/OBi202-2-Port-Adapter-Support-Service/dp/B007D930YO)** > > Product Name: OBi202 VoIP Telephone Adapter with 2-Phone Ports, Router and USB- Product Description: With the OBi202, you are in control of your digital and analog communications life. Via the OBi202's two (2) on-board phone connections as well as... Also cheap but not on your computer is Nettalk Duo: [http://www.amazon.com/Nettalk-Duo-VOIP-Telephone-Service/dp/B0045S2JE8/](http://www.amazon.com/Nettalk-Duo-VOIP-Telephone-Service/dp/B0045S2JE8/) If you want something better quality, or more flexible, you can get the Obi202 or something like the Cisco SPA112 > **[Amazon.com: Cisco SPA112 2 Port Phone Adapter : Everything Else](https://www.amazon.com/Cisco-SPA112-Port-Phone-Adapter/dp/B00684PN54)** > > Product Description The Cisco SPA112 2 Port Phone Adapter enables high-quality, feature-rich VoIP service through a broadband Internet connection. Easy to install and use, the adapter connects to a router or gateway and then provides two... and then sign up for any provider you want that provides “SIP” service. I personally use VOIP.ms because they bill per minute (1 cent ish). Plus $/month for any incoming numbers, which depends on the area code and exchange - generally 2.95-5.95/mo (suprisingly, not actually required - you could use google voice to forward incoming calls to cell phone, call out via VOIP.ms and pay only a few a year if you never use your landline). The advantage to this is the _extreme_ flexibility. I can use a SIP account on a computer softphone, on a cell phone connected to Wifi or 3g (using SIP app like CSipSimple), or on a dedicated device like the ones linked above or a SIP based IP phone. Using a SIP provider you can use something like the T-Mobile Prepaid $30/month plan which is 5gb/texting/100 minutes and make as many calls as you want. Edit to add, or even setup a whole corporate office with a homebuilt Asterisk server. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/10 "2013-04-03T00:04:39Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > You want cheap or quality or flexibility ? > Using google voice directly, or google voice with another service, for any flexibility Obi is probably the best, although I would choose this device: > [Amazon.com: OBi202 VoIP Phone Adapter with Router, 2-Phone Ports, T.38 Fax (Unlocked)](http://www.amazon.com/OBi202-Phone-Adapter-Router-2-Phone/dp/B007D930YO/) Cool, thanks. I’m not sure the OBi202 is necessary, as I only need one telephone line and the QoS features might be less critical with a one gigabit connection. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/11 "2013-04-03T00:43:25Z")
The device is going to be somewhat more reliable in general if you can put it in front of your router rather than behind it - only the 202 supports that. If you are going to Fax, “T.38” only the 202 supports that as well, although frankly faxing doesn’t work half the time on VOIP regardless in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-internet-phone-to-pots-interface-skype-google-voice-etc/654645/12 "2013-04-03T02:26:53Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > The device is going to be somewhat more reliable in general if you can put it in front of your router rather than behind it - only the 202 supports that. That’s not going to happen. Mainly because I doubt the network interfaces of the 202 are gigabit. > [@](#): > > If you are going to Fax, “T.38” only the 202 supports that as well, although frankly faxing doesn’t work half the time on VOIP regardless in my experience. Never going to fax.