Travel Technology - Anyone try Ooma hub, and how do you become a beta user?

I stumbled upon Ooma (http://www.amazon.com/Ooma-Hub-Device-Monthly-Service/dp/B0010WG2H2/ref=pe_17240_7840970_fe_exp_1/) recently. Basically it's a VOIP phone like Vonage, except there are no monthly fees or contract for calls within the US.

It's got very favorable reviews on Amazon and from Walter Mossberg. The initial price is high but the ROI is good with no subsequent fees for US calling. That's of course until whenever Ooma folds in the future.

Anyone here use this?

Also, on a related subject, there was a reviewer who was a beta tester for 1 year. I also ran into someone who was a beta tester for Slingbox for 1 year. How do these people get to be beta testers for these products? Anyone here beta test consumer products?

Anyone here beta test consumer products?

I test loads of stuff (and I know a few others here that test products), but if they are doing their job, they will never mention what they tested as the NDA's are pretty strict.

Try starting out at Centercode (https://connect3.centercode.com/signup/default.html)

You can also search for your favorite firm and "beta" on Google, you'll be surprised what you run into ;)

As for Ooma, I've been meaning to try one out, perhaps I'll order one and give it a spin...

Oh, now I remember why I never signed up:

ooma's patent-pending call-routing algorithm-Distributed Termination-uses the internet to connect local calling areas throughout the United States for free instead of relying primarily on traditional phone switches, known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). As a result, each ooma customer who maintains their landline helps grow the ooma network. ooma's call-routing technology ensures a completely transparent experience so that the ability to make and receive phone calls is not impacted when their line is in use by another ooma caller.
As an example: Let's say you want to call "Claire" in Boston. You simply pick up the phone and dial. The ooma call is routed via the internet to an ooma customer with a landline in the 617 area code (let's call her "Cassy"). Cassy's ooma device (in Boston) completes the call by acting as a gateway and routes the call from her broadband to her landline, which is used to place a free call to your friend Claire. All this is done without any interruption to Cassy's phone service. In fact, Cassy doesn't even know her landline is in use and shall still be able to make and take phone calls.

No matter how often I read their site, I don't understand how they plan to use the landline of other ooma customers, I also do not like the idea of my calls being routed over the internet to some stangers house and THEN diverted over their landline. I've never feel safe calling the bank or anything else personal again.

Local Trunk termination.

A number of friends here in the valley have them, for free, it is a pretty decent product, but I don't think anyone is going to pay 400$ for something even for life, if the life might be less than 3+ years.

I also don't like devices that utilize my bandwidth, upstream. Too much traffic, that is why I keep skype off when not in use.