Many people don't read through the end user license agreements (EULA) that come with, well, just about anything. Including VoIP service. Mostly, they get ignored and clicked-through.
Lucky for Andy Abramson, he did. He found quite a doozy in the one for Ooma. I've written about Ooma before.
The main issue is that Ooma seems to want to control your PSTN line. The EULA gives Ooma the right to modify your PSTN service, including altering the long distance carrier! This sure isn't something I would knowingly sign up for unless:
- The changes they need to make to your service were clearly documented.
- The changes were reversible, which in many cases, may not be possible. Especially if you're on a discontinued calling plan like I was prior to my move.
- Ooma's ability to change your services was not perpetual.
As it stands, this service opens up all kinds of scary possibilities that I'm not comfortable with. Like Andy, I think the PhoneGnome approach is much better. It doesn't mess with what you already have. What do you think?
{ 4 } Comments
If you purchase the box to get rid of long distance fees, then you don’t need long distance anymore. I read up on how exactly ooma does this. You can call your phone company if you don’t want ooma to contact them on your behalf. Either way you have to give them permission to act on your behalf. Go to ooma.com in the FAQ’s section, you still keep the account in your name.
The thing or should I say things, I don’t like about PhoneGnome is you pay $100 for this dinky box then there are all these “options” to pay monthly or annual fees for voicemail features, mobile, ringbacks, etc. Too confusing.
I would rather pay $400 and be done with it…no charging extra for this and that. Ooma is such a simple concept.
Ooma requires you to go “all in” with their offering. PhoneGnome may
“nickel and dime you,” but you get exactly the features you want
without the huge up-front cost. Also, your PhoneGnome isn’t completely
useless if the company behind it goes belly up.
Agree! I raised same concerns. Here is OOMA’s response to it and more details
http://blog.motiwala.com/2007/08/02/ooma-concerns-more-insights
Good stuff, Yusuf. Keep them coming!
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