Released: September 20, 2007

Hanging up on phone bills

Source: Edward C. Baig, USA Today

Monthly telephone bills have long been the way of the world. A promising Palo Alto, Calif., start-up called Ooma hopes to make them a thing of the past.

Ooma turns the traditional phone model on its ear. You shell out $399 ($599 starting in 2008) for a slick gray-and-white box that is smaller than a typical answering machine. This Ooma Hub connects to your high-speed broadband Internet service and whatever telephone handset you have lying around. From then on, all local and long-distance calls in the USA made through that phone are free. You can plug in additional handsets by buying optional $39.95 devices called Ooma Scouts. Scouts aren’t required for additional cordless handsets.

The only extra fees are for making cheap international calls at rates similar to what you’d pay on the Skype Internet service. 

Read Full Article: Hanging up on phone bills