[vivekmusic]

Hi,
(My apologies if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything identical)

Is it possible to use phone gnome without having a telephone connection? I just want to use it to talk to other phone-gnome users.

I saw that the normal setup requires me to connect to the telephone line but I was wondering if phone-gnome can assign me some fictitious telephone number which it can use to connect me to other phone gnome users.

Thanks.

[PhoneGnome]

One of the unique features of PhoneGnome is that it is about real phone numbers, the numbers people already know, not "made up" numbers or "handles".

The power of the PhoneGnome box is in seamlessly bringing VoIP capabilities to the household phone, where you can dial any number at any time, including 911 and other local-specific numbers, and the call will go through. Where people in the household don't have to learn new numbers or what phone to use for what call. They just pick up the phone and dial, as they always have.

Furthermore, PhoneGnome service distinguishes itself from most other VoIP services in leveragging the PSTN universe to make some identity assertions. This will become more important as VoIP spam and scams proliferate. PhoneGnome caller-ID, for example, is not subject to the kinds of spoofing that is prevalent among many VoIP systems as a result of these security practices. Even PhoneGnome web and softphone accounts are associated with real active phone numbers, that are asserted with callback verification. Once we go down the path of assigning "fake" numbers, we lose this advantage.

Having no active telephone service connected to the PhoneGnome LINE port is NOT a supported configuration. We know some customers use PhoneGnome this way, but they do so at their own risk. We do not suport that use. One reason is because it is unsafe to do so and the FCC would not permit us to support that configuration. IMPORTANT: PhoneGnome is not a replacement for your local telephone service. PhoneGnome must remain connected to an active local telephone service in order to access 911 services.

And more important from our perspective is that using the PhoneGnome box in this configuration doesn't provide the full PhoneGnome experience and presents PhoneGnome in a poor light. If you elect to use the PhoneGnome box in this way, you may not expect technical support. You must also affix stickers (such as those available here: http://www.callcentric.com/img/911_sticker_med.jpg

Disclaimers aside, if you MUST do this, the best way is to assign a "safe" number in the real PSTN world. You can request that number from: PhoneGnome :: Trouble Report You MUST provide the serial number of your PhoneGnome box.

Final disclaimer: Do this at your own peril. Seriously, you may render your PhoneGnome inoperable or other harmful effects may result. If you require technical support to diagnose or repair problems that turn out to be a result of this unsupported use, you could be subject to service fees or terminaton of your PhoneGnome service.

[srikrishnap]

Why would connect with out an active telephone connection ? Is it not allowed to do that in India ? I have purchased a Phonegnome box . I want to know how to use it .

[PhoneGnome]

Use it per the instructions on the website, and included with the device/service. It's pretty simple and clear. See: PhoneGnome - Setup is a snap

It sits between a phone service (whether traditional landline, cable, or Vonage-like) and the phone to intercept calls and divert as appropriate. It adds for the user: 100% pure IP free calls, SIP interconnectivity, new features for inbound calls like voicemail to email, multi-ring forwarding, hop-on/hop-off, etc. and choices of service provider for "paid" calls, and much more.

As we say, PhoneGnome doesn't replace home phone service - it just makes it better.

It's sort of like TiVo for your phone. Tivo doesn't replace TV, but it makes it a lot better and adds all kinds of new features to any existing service, even when the underlying provider doesn't offer those features.

With the PhoneGnome box connected, you continue to dial as normal - the same way you did before connecting the PhoneGnome box. Dial a person's ordinary phone number and PhoneGnome will place the call free when it can. It knows what numbers can be delivered using your high-speed Internet connection and which numbers can't. You simply continue to use your phone as you always have. When someone calls your number, whether a VoIP call or a normal call, your phone rings.

All your calls on the same phone, seamlessly and simply. Why is that so hard to understand?

We have seen that this can mbe difficult for people that are used to the flaming hoops that other VoIP services require you to jump through to "get" PhoneGnome, but we've found it's quite simple for an ordinary phone user to appreciate.