For anyone using an Obihai device (ATA or IP Phone) and Google Voice

General
1

Today is supposed to be the day the OBiTalk portal (the only supported means of configuring the consumer version of Google Voice on supported devices) shuts down. This does not mean your OBI is now e-waste!

Currently working consumer Google Voice configurations on supported OBi devices will continue to work until one of the following happens:

  1. Your OBi’s hardware fails
  2. You factory reset your OBi
  3. Google makes some change to GV that cannot be accommodated by current OBi firmware

If none of the above applies, you don’t need to do anything other than continue to enjoy consumer Google Voice service using your OBi device.

In the event Google Voice should stop working with your OBi device, your OBi still not need be considered e-waste. It remains compatible with alternative (albeit not free) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The “big 3” of DIY VoIP are:

  • Anveo
  • Callcentric
  • VoIP.ms

Of the 3, Anveo has the steepest learning curve, so, generally, I suggest Callcentric or VoIP.ms. That said, because it’s the cheapest retail host for VoIP numbers of which I’m aware, I do use Anveo (and Callcentric). I know others happily using VoIP.ms.

The OBiTalk portal has been a convenient means of configuring compatible OBi devices but it is not the only means of doing so. There is a local web-based interface as well. To get to it:

  1. Determine your OBi’s IP address by dialing ***1 from a phone connected to your OBi.
  2. Point a web browser using a computer or tablet connected to the same network as your OBi to the IP address determined in step 1.
  3. Login to the local web interface. The default username and password is admin for both.

Additionally, presuming no hardware failure or changes from Google, there is a means of using the local web interface to configure consumer Google Voice. I’m going to omit details on that for now because as long as consumer Google Voice is already configured and working there is no need to attempt it.

As an aside, configuring the now defunct RingTo on an OBi device might be considered my first step toward becoming a member of the old RW. :wink:

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You stated that there is a means of using the local web interface to configure consumer GV. My obi appears to be dying but I have another. How do I do this? I am familiar with the web interface. Thanks

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Hi @helpful55,

Apologies for the delayed reply. You would need to flash the alternative third party firmware for your OBi available here:

Doing so will add a Google Voice selection to the local interface settings. Clicking the GV selection provides the instructions for manually adding GV via the local interface.

For what’s it’s worth my experience with OBi’s is they tend not to die a slow death over time. The power supplies, however, sometimes flake out with age. You might try swapping the power supply from your spare OBi to your current OBi.

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