Ooma

Ooma is an American telecommunications company headquartered in the Silicon Valley area of California. Its business centers on internet-based voice and communications services for residential users, small and medium-sized businesses, and larger organizations. The company combines cloud software, telephone hardware, mobile applications, broadband connectivity, and communications-management tools under the Ooma brand. Ooma was founded by Andrew Frame, a former Cisco Systems employee, and Michael Cerda. Its first concept was a so-called VoIP-in-a-box system. The original Ooma Hub and Scout architecture attempted to use peer-to-peer Voice over Internet Protocol technology, allowing calls to be routed through the landline connections of other Ooma users. Because that approach raised privacy and operational concerns, the company discontinued the option to activate peer-to-peer calling in January 2008. Ooma subsequently moved toward a more conventional hosted communications model supported by its own service infrastructure. The company introduced Ooma Telo in 2009 as a consumer phone system designed to provide internet calling through a base station connected to a customer's network. Telo supported features such as high-definition voice, Bluetooth integration, number porting, caller identification, and optional premium services. Additional hardware, including the HD2 and HD3 handsets and the Ooma Linx adapter, expanded the system into a household phone platform that could support multiple handsets and connected fax or telephone devices. The Telo 4G system, introduced in 2019, added wireless internet connectivity to the consumer offering. Ooma expanded into business communications with Ooma Office, launched in 2013. The service provides a cloud-based business phone system with extensions, virtual reception, conferencing, virtual fax, local and toll-free numbers, mobile access, and other administrative functions. Ooma later added Ooma Office Pro, which introduced features including video meetings, call recording, a desktop softphone, robocall blocking, and voicemail transcription. Ooma Office Pro Plus extended the platform with capabilities such as call queuing, hot desking, customer-relationship-management integrations, shared voicemail, call screening, digital call deflection, and automated texting. For larger organizations, Ooma Enterprise provides a customizable unified communications as a service offering. Ooma Connect, introduced in 2020, combines a base station and adapter to provide wireless internet connectivity and communications access. Ooma AirDial, introduced in 2021, is designed to replace traditional analog copper telephone lines for equipment that still requires dependable voice connectivity, including alarm systems, elevator emergency phones, building-entry systems, fire panels, and campus safety phones. Acquisitions have been an important part of Ooma's expansion from consumer VoIP into broader business communications. The company acquired security-camera startup Butterfleye in 2017, custom business communications provider Voxter in 2018, Broadsmart in 2019, OnSIP in 2022, and telecommunications-platform provider 2600Hz in 2023. These transactions broadened Ooma's capabilities in managed communications, cloud telephony, enterprise services, and programmable communications infrastructure. Ooma ended operation and support for its Butterfleye and Smart Cam camera services in October 2021, discontinuing that product category. Ooma became a publicly traded company in July 2015. Its current brand portfolio is organized primarily around residential Telo services and business offerings ranging from small-business phone systems to enterprise unified communications. The company is therefore positioned between consumer internet-phone providers, business cloud-communications vendors, and traditional telecommunications operators, with an emphasis on replacing legacy phone infrastructure with software-managed internet servic…

Ooma was established by Andrew Frame and Michael Cerda to develop consumer internet-telephony products. Frame had previously worked at Cisco Systems. The company's first product was conceived as a hardware-based VoIP system that would allow users to place calls through a network of Ooma customers' landline connections. The architecture used an Ooma Hub connected to a primary phone line and Scout units connected to additional telephones. Ooma later stopped allowing customers to activate the peer-to-peer calling feature in January 2008, following concerns associated with privacy and the practical operation of the system. The Ooma Hub received early product recognition, including a DigitalLife Best of Show award from PC Magazine in 2007. The company raised venture funding through several rounds during its early development, including rounds in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012. Sean Parker invested in Ooma in 2006. The company subsequently shifted its emphasis from its original peer-to-peer concept toward managed VoIP services and a more conventional consumer communications platform. In 2009, Ooma introduced the Telo system, a base station intended to provide internet-based home telephone service with features such as unlimited domestic calling, caller identification, high-definition voice, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for number porting. The Telo ecosystem expanded with HD2 handsets and the Linx adapter in 2012. The HD2 included one-touch voicemail, intercom, and baby-monitoring functions, while Linx allowed a telephone or fax machine to connect to the Telo base station through an electrical outlet. Ooma later introduced the HD3 handset in 2017 and the Telo 4G system in 2019. Ooma began broadening its geographic and civic-service footprint during the 2010s. In 2011, the company announced that its VoIP-in-a-box offering was expanding to Canada. In 2014, Ooma worked with West Valley City, Utah, to provide free telephone service to households using a fiber network. The company also received product and business awards during this period and was recognized by regional business publications as a fast-growing private company before its public offering. Business communications became a central growth area with the launch of Ooma Office in 2013. The service offered cloud-managed business telephony, extensions, conference facilities, virtual fax, virtual reception, and local or toll-free numbers. A mobile version released in 2016 allowed users to access business-phone functions without the Ooma Office base station. Ooma Enterprise followed in 2018 as a customizable unified communications service for larger organizations. Ooma added connectivity and advanced software features during the next phase of its development. Ooma Connect, introduced in 2020, provided wireless internet connectivity through a base station and adapter. Ooma Office Pro, also introduced in 2020, added video meetings, call recording, a desktop application, robocall blocking, and voicemail transcription. In 2021, Ooma introduced AirDial as a replacement for traditional POTS lines used by safety, security, elevator, access-control, and alarm equipment. Office Pro Plus followed in 2022 with additional collaboration, call-management, CRM, scheduling, and automated-texting tools. Acquisitions helped Ooma extend its business communications portfolio. It purchased Butterfleye in 2017, Voxter in 2018, Broadsmart in 2019, OnSIP in 2022, and 2600Hz in 2023. The Butterfleye acquisition briefly connected Ooma with consumer security cameras, but Ooma announced in September 2021 that it would end operation and support for Butterfleye and Smart Cam products the following month. The 2600Hz transaction further aligned Ooma with programmable and platform-based telecommunications services. Ooma completed its initial public offering in July 2015. The company is now organized around residential Telo services and business communications products serving small businesses, mid-sized organizations, and enterprise customers. Its development reflects the broader transition from circuit-switched and analog telephony toward software-defined, internet-delivered communications.

1. 20232600Hz acquisition

   Ooma acquired telecommunications-platform provider 2600Hz.

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2. 2022OnSIP acquisition and Office Pro Plus launch

   Ooma acquired OnSIP and introduced Office Pro Plus with additional business collaboration, CRM, scheduling, and call-management functions.

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3. 2021AirDial introduced and camera services retired

   Ooma launched AirDial as an analog-line replacement and ended operation and support for Butterfleye and Smart Cam products.

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4. 2020Ooma Connect and Office Pro introduced

   Ooma introduced Ooma Connect for wireless internet connectivity and Ooma Office Pro with expanded collaboration and call-management features.

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5. 2019Telo 4G and Broadsmart expansion

   Ooma introduced Telo 4G and acquired business communications provider Broadsmart.

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6. 2018Voxter acquisition

   Ooma acquired Voxter, a provider of custom business communications services.

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7. 2017Butterfleye acquisition and HD3 launch

   Ooma acquired security-camera startup Butterfleye and launched the HD3 handset.

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8. 2016Ooma Office mobile service

   The company released a mobile version of Ooma Office that did not require the service's physical base station.

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9. 2015Initial public offering

   Ooma became publicly traded through an initial public offering in July 2015.

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10. 2013Ooma Office launches

    Ooma launched its cloud-based business phone system for organizations needing extensions, conferencing, virtual fax, and related communication tools.

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11. 2012Telo ecosystem expands

    Ooma introduced the HD2 handset and Ooma Linx adapter, extending the functionality of the Telo platform.

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12. 2011Canadian expansion announced

    Ooma announced that its VoIP-in-a-box offering was expanding into Canada.

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13. 2009Leadership transition and Telo launch

    Andrew Frame stepped down as CEO and Eric Stang succeeded him. Ooma also released the Telo consumer phone system.

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14. 2008Peer-to-peer calling option discontinued

    Ooma formally ended the option for customers to enable its original peer-to-peer VoIP technology.

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15. 2007Ooma Hub receives product recognition

    The Ooma Hub received a DigitalLife Best of Show award from PC Magazine in the hardware innovator category.

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16. 2005Initial funding

    Ooma raised its first reported funding round as it developed its early consumer VoIP technology.

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A cloud communications provider spanning residential VoIP, small-business telephony, enterprise unified communications, and specialized connectivity for legacy analog devices.

• Ooma TeloResidential VoIP2009

  Ooma Telo is the company's residential internet-phone platform. It uses a base system to connect household telephones to Ooma's VoIP service and supports features such as high-definition voice, Bluetooth integration, caller identification, number porting, and optional premium calling functions. The Telo family has included related handsets and adapters, including the HD series and Linx, and later expanded to Telo 4G with wireless internet connectivity.

• Ooma OfficeCloud business telephony2013

  Ooma Office is a cloud-based business phone system aimed primarily at small and medium-sized organizations. Its functions include business extensions, virtual reception, call transfer, conference bridges, virtual fax, local and toll-free numbers, and mobile access. The platform is designed to provide a managed alternative to conventional on-premises telephone systems.

• Ooma Office ProCloud business communications2020

  Ooma Office Pro builds on the standard Office service with enhanced collaboration and call-management capabilities. The tier includes video meetings, call recording, a desktop softphone application, robocall blocking, and voicemail transcription, making it suitable for organizations requiring more integrated communications workflows than a basic cloud phone system.

• Ooma Office Pro PlusAdvanced cloud business communications2022

  Office Pro Plus is an expanded business-communications tier. Its documented capabilities include call queuing, hot desking, Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM integrations, meeting recordings, shared voicemail boxes, expanded schedules, call screening, digital call deflection, and automated texting. The product is intended for organizations with more complex call flows and collaboration requirements.

• Ooma EnterpriseUnified communications as a service2018

  Ooma Enterprise is a customizable unified communications service for larger organizations. It extends Ooma beyond packaged small-business phone plans by supporting broader enterprise communications requirements and configurable service deployments.

• Ooma ConnectWireless connectivity2020

  Ooma Connect combines a base station and adapter to provide wireless internet connectivity. It is part of Ooma's effort to connect voice and communications services in locations where conventional wired broadband or telephone infrastructure may be limited.

• Ooma AirDialAnalog-line replacement2021

  Ooma AirDial is designed to replace traditional analog POTS lines used by equipment that requires a dependable communications connection. Target applications include fire-alarm panels, elevator emergency phones, burglar alarms, building-entry systems, and blue-light campus safety phones.

• Ooma Butterfleye and Smart CamConnected security cameras

  Butterfleye and Smart Cam were Ooma's connected-camera offerings following its acquisition of Butterfleye. Ooma later announced that operation, maintenance, and support would end in October 2021, after which the cameras and associated video access would no longer function.

• 2014West Valley City fiber telephone service initiative

  United States

  Ooma worked with West Valley City, Utah, to offer free telephone service to households using a fiber network. The initiative demonstrated how Ooma's internet-based voice services could be delivered through community broadband infrastructure.

  Outcome. The initiative was reported as a municipal or community-service deployment; a broader commercial rollout outcome is not specified in the available material.

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• 20232600Hz acquisitionM&A

  Ooma continued to develop its position in cloud and programmable telecommunications services.

  What changed. Ooma acquired telecommunications-platform provider 2600Hz.

  Aftermath. The acquisition broadened Ooma's platform capabilities in communications infrastructure and cloud telephony.

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• 2022OnSIP acquisitionM&A

  Ooma sought to increase its scale and capabilities in hosted business communications.

  What changed. Ooma acquired business communications provider OnSIP.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Ooma's business communications platform and customer reach.

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• 2022Launch of Ooma Office Pro PlusProduct launch

  Ooma's business customers increasingly required advanced queue management, collaboration, CRM integration, and automated messaging.

  What changed. Ooma introduced Office Pro Plus with expanded call queuing, hot desking, CRM integrations, shared voicemail, call screening, digital call deflection, and automated texting.

  Aftermath. The tier gave Ooma a higher-feature offering for organizations with more complex communications workflows.

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• 2021Retirement of Butterfleye and Smart Cam servicesStrategy

  Ooma had operated camera services after acquiring Butterfleye, but later decided to leave that product category.

  What changed. Ooma notified camera users that operation, maintenance, and support would end, with the final service date set for October 22, 2021.

  Aftermath. The cameras stopped operating and recorded videos became unavailable through the Smart Cam application after the shutdown.

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• 2021Launch of Ooma AirDialProduct launch

  Many safety, security, elevator, and access-control systems continued to depend on analog POTS lines even as telecommunications networks moved toward IP connectivity.

  What changed. Ooma introduced AirDial as a replacement for traditional analog copper-wire telephone lines.

  Aftermath. The offering positioned Ooma to serve specialized communications endpoints that require reliable connectivity but do not use standard modern voice applications.

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• 2020Launch of Ooma Connect and Ooma Office ProProduct launch

  Ooma was broadening its offering from basic VoIP toward connectivity and integrated business communications.

  What changed. The company introduced Ooma Connect for wireless internet access and Ooma Office Pro with advanced collaboration and call-management features.

  Aftermath. The launches expanded Ooma's addressable market among businesses needing both connectivity and richer cloud-phone functionality.

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• 2019Broadsmart acquisitionM&A

  Ooma continued to expand its business communications and hosted-telephony capabilities.

  What changed. Ooma acquired business communications provider Broadsmart.

  Aftermath. The transaction added further business communications expertise and customer-service capabilities.

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• 2018Voxter acquisitionM&A

  Ooma was expanding its business communications capabilities.

  What changed. Ooma acquired custom business communications provider Voxter.

  Aftermath. The acquisition strengthened Ooma's business communications portfolio.

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• 2017Butterfleye acquisitionM&A

  Ooma sought to extend its connected-home portfolio beyond voice services.

  What changed. Ooma acquired security-camera startup Butterfleye.

  Aftermath. Ooma operated Butterfleye and Smart Cam services until announcing their retirement in 2021.

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• 2015Initial public offeringOther

  After several private funding rounds, Ooma pursued a public listing to support its development and expansion.

  What changed. Ooma completed its initial public offering in July 2015.

  Aftermath. The transaction made Ooma a publicly traded telecommunications company.

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• 2008End of customer-enabled peer-to-peer callingStrategy

  Ooma's original Hub and Scout concept used peer-to-peer VoIP routing through participating users' landline services. The model created privacy and operational concerns.

  What changed. The company discontinued the option for customers to enable the peer-to-peer technology and moved toward a centrally managed VoIP service model.

  Aftermath. Ooma's subsequent consumer and business products were based on managed internet communications rather than the original user-enabled peer-to-peer architecture.

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• 2023Ooma acquires 2600Hz

  Ooma acquired telecommunications-platform provider 2600Hz, expanding its capabilities in cloud communications and communications infrastructure.

  M&A
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• 2021Ooma discontinues Butterfleye and Smart Cam services

  Ooma informed camera customers that operation, maintenance, and support for Butterfleye and Smart Cam products would end in October 2021, after which the cameras would stop operating and stored videos would no longer be available through the application.

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1. Ooma