Ooma adds Google Voice support

VoIP provider ooma has just announced a series of premier Google Voice Extensions (GVE). The company says the new enhancements will simplify the Google Voice user experience; we're more interested in how those features were added.

Google Voice features ooma is adding/supporting within its Premier (i.e. you gotta pay for it) package include: caller ID integration, allowing ooma users to display their Google Voice caller ID on outbound calls from ooma hardware without having to dial additional call prompts; forwarding inbound calls made to an ooma phone directly to a Google Voice number for routing; explicit forwarding of Google Voice calls to a specific handset in a home; an announcement of who in the household the call is for based upon which Google Voice account originated the call; and one-touch voice mail from ooma handsets (no need to dial a Google Voice number and password). The forthcoming second-generation ooma Telo handsets will also display Google Voice SMS text messages.

Perhaps more interesting is the relative rapidity that ooma cranked out its announcement of Google Voice support. If ooma just cranked out the features within the past week based upon the unveiling of Google Voice, that's a pretty quick turn around. If it has been working on and testing features for a while, that would imply a more interesting relationship between ooma and the GV guys.

Ooma's business model is pretty straightforward. You buy the hardware for a one-time fee (currently $249.99 for the baseline hardware bundle) and connect it to a broadband connection, along with your own existing RJ-11 phone. You get your own PSTN phone number with calls between oomas and all U.S. domestic calls free. Adding on the ooma Premier package for advanced IP phone features costs $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year and adds such things as call screening, multi-ring, second-line calling, personalized phone numbers and inbound "blacklists."

Ooma hardware can be purchased at more than 1,000 Best Buy stores and other retail locations including Datavision, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center and J&R, plus tons of online places.