Ooma, Inc., a California-based provider of smart home and business communication systems, has announced the launch of the Ooma Safety Phone (News - Alert), which allows users to instantly contact 911, family members and friends using two programmable speed-dial buttons. The device is an extension of the company’s 911 Alerts feature, which notifies subscribers when 911 is called from their home.
Using the first speed-dial button, Safety Phone users can call 911 and issue email and text alerts to up to three individuals simultaneously. By pressing the second speed-dial button, up to five individuals will be dialed until the call is answered. The features are set up using an online control panel.
"More people than ever are finding themselves caring for an aging parent. The Ooma Safety Phone works with Ooma's award-winning home phone service to provide added peace of mind to any care giver knowing that help is a touch of a button away," said Jim Gustke, vice president of marketing at Ooma, in a statement.
The phone can also be used to answer standard everyday calls via speakerphone, can be worn around the neck and operates hands-free from up to 150 feet away from the base station. With a built-in battery and charger, the phone provides up to five hours of talk time and 120 hours in standby mode. The phone costs $49.99 and will be available next month at Ooma.com.
The company is already well-known for its VoIP phone service for both homes and small businesses and also announced this week that it has expanded its Ooma Office service to Canada.
"We launched our home phone service, Ooma Telo, to the Canadian market in 2011 and consumers have been incredibly receptive to the affordable pricing and advanced technology," Gustke said in separate statement. "Small businesses have many of the same pain points as consumers; there is simply a lack of high-quality affordable solutions available to them. Ooma Office gives Canadian small businesses a feature-rich, professional phone system without the need for expensive equipment and consultants."
Edited by Blaise McNamee