Ooma Bluetooth Adapter
Your Ooma Bluetooth Adapter is the missing link between your home phone and your cell phone. With the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter you’ll enjoy unprecedented integration of your phone systems and convenience at home.
- What is Bluetooth and why would I want to use it?
- How does Bluetooth work with Ooma?
- Does the Bluetooth Adapter work on the Ooma Hub?
- Is my Bluetooth device compatible with the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
- My phone/headset don’t show up in the compatibility list. What should I do?
- How many devices can I pair with my Ooma Bluetooth Adapter? How do multiple devices work?
- What are the benefits of using the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
- How do I install my Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
- I already have a Bluetooth USB adapter. Can I use that?
- How do I pair my mobile phone with the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie?
- When I get a call over Bluetooth, do I get caller-ID
- When I take a call on my home phone over Bluetooth, am I still using mobile phone minutes?
- Does the Bluetooth Adapter improve my cell phone reception?
- What happens if I’m talking on my cell phone when I get home?
- How do I pair my Bluetooth headset to the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie?
- How do I answer a call on my Bluetooth headset?
- How do I make a phone call using a Bluetooth headset?
- How do I hang up on a call from my Bluetooth headset?
- What is the range of the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
- What frequency does Bluetooth operate at?
- Can I use the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter and the Ooma Wireless Adapter at the same time?
What is Bluetooth and why would I want to use it?
Bluetooth is a standard, short-range radio technology that allows devices to communicate with each other wirelessly. In other words, a Bluetooth connection allows you to use your Ooma telephone connection hands-free without any of the cords and wires that a traditional telephone headset employs. Bluetooth will also allow you to enjoy your hands-free conversations with crystal-clear quality, and without any of the interference that some telephone headsets experience.
How does Bluetooth work with Ooma?
The Ooma Bluetooth Adapter is a hardware add-on for the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie. The adapter adds Bluetooth capability to the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, allowing it to communicate with other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as a mobile phone or a headset that slides over one ear. In order for two Bluetooth devices to talk to each other, they must be manually told how to work together, or “paired”. Pairing is a secure, one-time process to ensure that two devices are allowed to connect to each other via Bluetooth. The Ooma Bluetooth Adapter is compatible with all leading manufacturers of mobile phones and headsets. Click here for a complete list of compatible devices.
Does the Bluetooth Adapter work on the Ooma Hub?
No, the Bluetooth Adapter only works on the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie. There are no plans to extend support to the Ooma Hub. However, Ooma does offer a trade-up program for Hub owners interested in Bluetooth functionality. See this article for more details.
Is my Bluetooth device compatible with the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
You can find whether your device is compatible with the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter by checking our compatibility list. Please keep in mind that this list is made up of devices that have been tested and verified to work with the Bluetooth Adapter. If your device is not specifically listed it may still work with the adapter, but Ooma cannot guarantee that it will be fully supported.
My phone/headset don’t show up in the compatibility list. What should I do?
The compatibility list shows devices that Ooma has tested and verified to work with our Bluetooth Adapter. Other devices have a high likelihood of working, but Ooma cannot guarantee that they are fully supported.
Please keep in mind that our Customer Care team cannot assist you in selecting a Bluetooth device that best suits your needs. If you would like to try using a device that is not listed as supported, you may need to simply try the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter out and return it if you find that it is not compatible with your preferred Bluetooth device. Don’t worry if it doesn’t work out – you have 30 days to make a decision whether the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter is right for your needs.
How many devices can I pair with my Ooma Bluetooth Adapter? How do multiple devices work?
You may pair up to seven Bluetooth-enabled devices to your Ooma Bluetooth Adapter. Keep in mind when you are pairing devices that only one device may be on a call at any time. For example, if you have two mobile phones paired with the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, the first one to receive a call will occupy the Bluetooth connection. If a call came in on the other mobile phone, it would be ignored by the Telo Base Station or Phone Genie and not ring on your home phone – only the mobile phone receiving the call would ring. If no call is currently connected, then either mobile phone could receive a call and it would ring on all the home phones.
What are the benefits of using the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
The benefits of numerous! You can now keep your phone on the charger so it is ready to go next time you are heading out. You’ll never miss a call just because you didn’t hear your mobile phone ring, and you don’t need to worry about poor coverage or dead spots since you can keep the phone charged in the location that has the best reception in your home. Furthermore, you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience, ergonomics and battery life of your home telephone, which is often far superior to your mobile phone.
How do I install my Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
Installing the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter is simple! All you have to do is plug your Ooma Bluetooth Adapter into the USB port on the back panel of the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie and you are ready to start pairing your Bluetooth-enabled devices right away. Please see our Bluetooth Setup Guide for a more detailed walk-through of setting up Bluetooth on your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie.
I already have a Bluetooth USB adapter. Can I use that?
No. Only an Ooma Bluetooth Adapter will work with the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie. Other Bluetooth adapters will not be recognized by your Telo Base Station or Phone Genie.
How do I pair my mobile phone with the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie?
Once a mobile phone has been paired with your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, your home phones become an extension of your mobile phone. When someone calls your mobile phone while it is within range of the Bluetooth Adapter, your house phones will ring along with your mobile phone. You can answer the call on your mobile phone or on any of your home phones.
You can pair your mobile phone with your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie by following these instructions:
- Pick up your home telephone and dial *#*#501
- Wait until you hear a confirmation tone
- Use your mobile phone to look for a new Bluetooth device (check your phone’s user guide for exact instructions on how to accomplish this)
- Wait for your mobile phone to find a device called “Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie”
- Select the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie and type in a PIN of 0000 when prompted
When I get a call over Bluetooth, do I get caller-ID
Yes! The phone number of the caller is transmitted from your mobile phone to the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, allowing you to see the caller-ID from your mobile phone on your home phones. In addition, the name of the mobile phone that the call came in on is displayed so you know whose cell phone the call was originally meant for.
When I take a call on my home phone over Bluetooth, am I still using mobile phone minutes?
Yes. Since the other party called your mobile phone number, the call is routed through your cellular carrier to your mobile phone “over-the-air”. Ooma connects your home telephones to your cell phone via Bluetooth so you are alerted and can answer the call on your home telephone. However, the call is not actually being redirected to your home telephone number so you are still consuming minutes on your mobile calling plan.
Does the Bluetooth Adapter improve my cell phone reception?
Not directly, but it gives you the freedom to place your mobile phone in the location in your home that has the best reception. Since the Bluetooth Adapter allows you to ring and answer calls on your home phone, you can roam in your home with a cordless handset instead of carrying your mobile on you all the time. As long as your cell phone stays within Bluetooth operating range of the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie device, wireless dead spots and dropped calls should be a thing of the past.
What happens if I’m talking on my cell phone when I get home?
The Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie is not set up to automatically switch calls from your mobile phone to your Bluetooth headset. If you would like to be able to transfer calls to your home phone, please see the Bluetooth Setup Guide for more information.
Note: Some mobile phones are not compatible with this feature.
How do I pair my Bluetooth headset to the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie?
Pairing your Bluetooth headset with your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie requires you to access the setup page on your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie. Please see the Bluetooth Setup Guide for detailed instructions on how to do this.
How do I answer a call on my Bluetooth headset?
If your headset is paired with the Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, it will ring whenever you get an incoming call. To connect to the caller, press the answer button on the headset just like you would if you were using your headset with a mobile phone.
How do I make a phone call using a Bluetooth headset?
To make a phone call, you must use a phone to dial the phone number since your headset has no number pad. Pick up your home telephone and dial *15 prior to the destination phone number to alert your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie that your call needs to be routed to your Bluetooth headset. For example, if you want to call the number 1-650-555-1212 you would dial *1516505551212 on the telephone. You’ll hear your Bluetooth headset start to ring and once you answer the call, Ooma will connect you to your destination.
Note: If you have multiple Bluetooth headsets paired with your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie, you may need to dial *16, *17, or *18 to let your Ooma Telo Base Station or Phone Genie know to route the call through your particular headset.
How do I hang up on a call from my Bluetooth headset?
This depends on Bluetooth headset you have. Most headsets require you to press the talk button twice or to hold it down to end a call. Consult your specific Bluetooth headset’s user manual for more information.
What is the range of the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter?
Standard Bluetooth operating range is approximately 30 ft (10m).
What frequency does Bluetooth operate at?
Bluetooth operates in the unlicensed frequency band of 2.4 GHz. Other home devices that use or emit at this frequency band include:
- Wi-Fi (b/g/n)
- 2.4 GHz cordless phones
- Some baby monitors
- Microwave ovens
Note: For best reception and range, we recommend that you keep these other devices as far away from the Bluetooth Adapter as possible.
Can I use the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter and the Ooma Wireless Adapter at the same time?
Yes! You can use both the Ooma Bluetooth Adapter and the Ooma Wireless Adapter at the same time by using a USB hub with your Telo Base Station or Phone Genie.