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laserjobs
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join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
 ·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
 ·1and1
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edit:
July 29th, @11:25PM
| Why MagicJack has a competitive advantage in VoIP
A lot of people have been wondering how magicJack can be only $40 a year based on an ad panel on the softphone. There is another side that the end users don't see. While all the other VoIP providers are using CLECs like Level3, magicJack is their own CLEC.
If you look at a phone number provided by magicJack you will see that it is not a major CLEC holding the number. For example my number CLEC comes up as "324E", where as my other numbers come up as Level3 and Pac-West.
»nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/w···CLanding
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TexasPlus
join:2004-06-16
Bedford, TX
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edit:
July 30th, @04:47AM
| said by laserjobs  :A lot of people have been wondering how magicJack can be only $40 a year based on an ad panel on the softphone. There is another side that the end users don't see. While all the other VoIP providers are using CLECs like Level3, magicJack is their own CLEC. If you look at a phone number provided by magicJack you will see that it is not a major CLEC holding the number. For example my number CLEC comes up as "324E", where as my other numbers come up as Level3 and Pac-West. » nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/w···CLanding Are you sure you have the right link?
Your link is trying to port the number to a crappy Sprint jokework. I have no wish to have anything to do ever again with the slime balls at sprint....but that's another story for another long forgotten thread. 
For finding the owners name and switch location, I use this link. »www.fonefinder.net/index.php
My MJ number in TN comes up as "MAX COMMUNCATIONS CORP. - F".
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usa2k
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Canton, MI
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edit:
July 30th, @06:34AM
| reply to laserjobs
»gigaom.com/2007/03/20/the-magic-···gicjack/
The business side of MagicJack, as best as we can tell, comes from the subscription plans as well as interconnect fees paid to MagicJack’s CLEC partner company (apparently called YMax Communications Corp.) Maybe they work more closely than someone else with a Level3 "CLEC Partner"?
This was interesting:
"Look for MagicJack in the SJ Labs booth at VON, since MagicJack acquired the softphone-technology firm as part of its inception."
Still, their pricing does not sound realistic to me.
Maybe they can market a USB/SoftPhone-to-HardPhone gadget for other providers? Hardware sales could make some money I bet. | |
laserjobs
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Las Vegas, NV
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| reply to laserjobs
Here is a post explaining the magicJack from Dan Borislow off Gigaom
»gigaom.com/2007/03/09/magicjack-···n-skype/
What makes the magicJack so different?
1.Ease of use.There is no other device in the world,where you plug into a USB,up and running in a minute with plug and play and you plug in a telephone.This is one of a kind.
2.The price for the device and service will be unmatched.For the $40 or so dollars,you will get free LD and Local for a year,you will get a memory stick,you will get software and you will have the only single device that enables click to call.
3.The Network is considerably different than all others.We have 31 Gateways that enables us to achieve the best quality,and the lowest cost structure.There isn’t another consumer marketing company,that can say the same.
4.The CLEC is certified in 49 states with interconnection everywhere.This is a real Phone company.
The list goes on.To compare Skype to magicJack is disgraceful.Their quality of service is far inferior to magicJack as they use their customers own computers for their Network.That is the largest reason Skype has done little in US,Americans won’t put up with this service level.
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VoIPdevotee
| reply to laserjobs
I have to tell you, some of these messages remind me so much of the enthusiastic messages we used to see from the "sunshine pumpers" when SunRocket first came out. If you believe this company can be financially viable under the current pricing model, I've got a lovely bridge in Brooklyn to sell you...
However as I said in another post in the SR section, I suspect that this company THINKS they are going to make money by pushing ads to customers. Read the Terms and Conditions. I'm guessing this is why they will not let you use a standalone adapter, and why they haven't made their stick compatible with Macintosh or Linux computers. If I had to guess, my thinking is that they want to push annoying ads to users (these ads may or may not be limited to times when you are actually using the phone). Windows is a platform that allows them to do this, although if the ads become annoying enough, I'll bet that someone will come up with a hack that disables them completely.
The problem is, I do NOT EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES want my primary phone service dependent upon a computer running ANY Microsoft operating system. If you think Windows is reliable enough for the purpose, and don't mind the fact that you might miss an important call because Windows has decided to lock up, or you are rebooting after installing or updating a new piece of software (or Windows itself), then so be it. I might use one of these devices for a kids' line or just for long distance calls, but no way would I ever use it for my primary phone service.
My attitude might be different if they used an ATA, or even if they would let you plug their device into something other than Windows (for example, a Linksys NSLU2 doesn't use much electricity, and that device can run the Linux OS and will run for months between reboots). But I'm sure they won't ever support devices like that, because you wouldn't be able to see their forthcoming advertising if you had the stick plugged into a device that doesn't even have a video display.
Some of you folks are looking at the service the way it is today. It's cheap, you say it works fairly well, and you aren't getting hit with intrusive advertising. That does NOT mean that all of those things will continue to be true. We have seen many VoIP providers experience downturns in service once they started growing too quickly. And right now they may not have enough users to interest advertisers. But keep pumping this unit and those things just might change.
I have to admit that there is just one reason I personally don't like this unit, and that's because it depends on your computer being powered-up AND functioning correctly (AND probably not tied up in a CPU-intensive process). I don't have that kind of confidence in my computer, or ANY computer that runs the Windows operating system. I don't use Linux on my main system (I might but there is software I use that has no Linux equivalents and won't run properly under Wine) but I do note that most Linux computers can go for months without being rebooted, and also that most truly low-powered devices run some form of Linux. But this unit won't work with Linux, and they have no plans to make it do so.
But beyond that, while I'd love to think that you can now actually make money just by selling unlimited service for about $20 a year, the practical side of me says that's like believing in the Tooth Fairy. You can make up all the theories you want for why it should work but the FACT is that when they complete calls to the PSTN they have to pay per-minute terminating charges, and there's no way they can avoid those charges unless they are doing something illegal (or some billionaire just decided to pay for everyone's phone usage out of the goodness of his heart - and I'd believe in the Tooth Fairy before I'd believe that would ever happen). Unless they can somehow convince people to sign up for the service and then not use it to actually make calls that transverse the PSTN, they are going to lose money. It doesn't matter if they are their own CLEC; that doesn't relieve them of the obligation to pay when they send calls to other carriers.
For those of you who don't mind relying on your computer for you phone service, don't mind paying for the extra electricity, and think a great price is everything, enjoy it while you can, because I'd be extremely surprised if it's going to be around in a year or two (unless, as I said in another thread, they totally change the deal so they can actually make money). But I'd be real careful about pumping this unit on forums like this, and especially to friends, family, bosses, co-workers, etc. There are a lot of SunRocket users whose name is mud right now because they did that. Just a word to the wise.
As always the above is just my opinion! | |
bostonkarl
join:2003-07-09
Arlington, VA
| reply to laserjobs
"But I'd be real careful about pumping this unit on forums like this, and especially to friends, family, bosses, co-workers, etc. There are a lot of SunRocket users whose name is mud right now because they did that. Just a word to the wise."
QFT. Just ask the folks with $200 sun burns. No gotchas, indeed.
That said, I'm interested in this because I use VOIP for outgoing only to keep in contact with friends and family peppered about the US. For 40 bucks I might be willing to take the risk, but for now (and it can't possibly last forever) grandcentral + gizmo provides free outgoing using my bluetooth headset (or by connecting to my work landline at lunch hour).
More choices are good for consumers. An ad-based VOIP might be successful if it doesn't become too invasive or obnoxious. Just be careful of hype and keep expectations reasonable. | |
no1g8r
join:2005-05-05
Lawrenceville, GA
·callwithus
| reply to VoIPdevotee
Just a follow-up to the "But this unit won't work with Linux, and they have no plans to make it do so" comment.
I was in a chat with Dan Borislow, the inventor of the MagicJack, and asked about the device running on Linux. He replied that he knows for a fact that it DOES run on Linux, but that it is not currently supported under Linux. When asked when it would be supported he said "probably later this year".
Obviously that's not a commitment, but on the other hand it is confirmation that it will run under Linux now (others have posted that they have it up and running under Linux as well - I haven't tried it yet), which throws that part of your statement out the window.
I don't disagree with the sentiment behind your post, and I agree that folks shouldn't put all their phone communication eggs in the MagicJack basket, but for folks who are looking for a bargain on LD calling, the return compared to others offering this service is around 2 months. So a person who doesn't mind the VOIP change-game process would be "gambling" that MagicJack will last at least 2 months before going away. Anything beyond that is gravy.
That's a big difference from gambling that Sunrocket would last another 2 years (or even 1 year, if they didn't get the special). $40 at risk isn't huge for most folks. For folks that it IS a big deal for, they should probably avoid this.
Otherwise, it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. Dan Borislow has solid experience in the telecomms industry, responsible for the success behind his YMax communications company and a key player in the SJLabs softphone, if I remember correctly. Given that experience, I have to believe that he sees profit potential that we may be overlooking. At least he believes that he sees it.
Quotes from the past:
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
"While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially I consider it an impossibility, a development of which we need waste little time dreaming." -- Lee DeForest, American radio pioneer and inventor of the vacuum tube, 1926
Will this also be a quote from the past:
"If you believe this company can be financially viable under the current pricing model, I've got a lovely bridge in Brooklyn to sell you..." - VOIPdevotee, 2007 
Only time will tell. In the meantime let's see how long (and how well) the MagicJack trudges along. | |
TexasPlus
join:2004-06-16
Bedford, TX
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| reply to laserjobs
said by laserjobs :4.The CLEC is certified in 49 states with interconnection everywhere.This is a real Phone company. Ok, I see the connection now. 
I did a search on "MAX COMMUNICATIONS CORP" the CLEC that supplied my MagicJack number, and came up with several things including this.
»www.icc.illinois.gov/e-docket/re···&strC=bd
BEFORE THE
ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF:
Y MAX COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE
OF LOCAL AND INTEREXCHANGE
AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AS A
RESELLER
)))))))))
No. 05-0784
Chicago, Illinois
February 17th, 2006
Met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m.
BEFORE:
MS. EVE MORAN, Administrative Law Judge
[and further on:]
JUDGE MORAN: Pursuant to the direction of the
Illinois Commerce Commission, I call Docket 05-0784.
This is Y Max Communications Corporation. It is an
Application for a Certificate of Local and
Interchange Authority to Operate as a Reseller of
Interchange Telecommunications Services and a
Facilities-Based Carrier of Local Telecommunications
Services in the State of Illinois.
May I have the appearances for the
record, please.
MR. DAN BORISLOW: This is Dan Borislow from
Y Max.
JUDGE MORAN: Oh, sorry. You're going to have
to speak up.
MR. DAN BORISLOW: I'm sorry, I have a cold
also.
This is Dan Borislow from Y Max.
JUDGE MORAN: Okay. Can you spell your last
name, please.
MR. DAN BORISLOW: Yes. B-o-r-i-s-l-o-w.
JUDGE MORAN: Okay. And you are?
MR. DAN BORISLOW: The founder, chairman, CEO of Y Max.
JUDGE MORAN: Founder, chairman, and CEO of Y Max.
And your address, please.
[and on:]
JUDGE MORAN: Okay. I am going to be repeating
for the court reporter.
All right. Is anyone else appearing
at this hearing?
MR. KOCH: Yes. Appearing on behalf of Staff
for the Illinois Commerce Commission, Robert Koch,
K-o-c-h; 527 East Capitol; Springfield, Illinois
62701.
JUDGE MORAN: Thank you. I'm going to swear in
the parties that are testifying today. Would you
please raise your right hand.
(Witness sworn.)
JUDGE MORAN: And, Ms. Thomas --
MS. THOMAS: Yes.
JUDGE MORAN: -- you are the consultant to
Y Max?
MS. THOMAS: Y Max. That's correct.
JUDGE MORAN: Okay. Do you want to ask
questions of your witness, or do you want me to ask
questions? Or how do you want to proceed?
MS. THOMAS: Well, the only question we had was
to make a correction, or recision, to his testimony.
So if you --
JUDGE MORAN: Okay. Very good. Okay. Let me
run through the documents I have.
There is an application for the
certificate to become a telecommunications carrier,
which also includes answers to a number of standard
questions that would be found in Appendix 2 to that
application -- I mean Appendix A and Appendix B and
Appendix C.
I also have Exhibit 1, which is the
Articles of Incorporation, the Secretary of State
Certificate of Authority. I have Exhibit 2, which is
management resumes. I have Exhibit 3, which is
financial statements that includes a balance sheet.
I have Exhibit 4, which is a chart of accounts. And
then I have Exhibit A, which is a Customer Change
Policy Statement. And I have Exhibit 5, which is a
copy of the I-tag and U-tag applications. And then I
have the testimony of Daniel Borislow.
And there are changes to that
testimony that the witness wishes to make; am I
correct?
[and on for a total of 21 pages]
Like I have said several other places, in a couple of years, we will see Bubble Carded MagicJacks hanging next to the Pre-Paid phone cards in convenience stores everywhere.
--
"The world is a book; those who do not travel read but a single page." -St. Augustine | |
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28 | reply to laserjobs
Well, either that, or out of sight in dusty bottom drawers next to all the CueCats.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function | |
laserjobs
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Las Vegas, NV
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| said by B :Well, either that, or out of sight in dusty bottom drawers next to all the CueCats. -- B LOL!!! CueCats!!! Didn't you hack it?
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B
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join:2000-10-28
| Sealed in plastic baby. One day I'm going to make a fortune, assuming I can get over my visceral distaste for the very idea of e-Bay.
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In a realm outside causality and function | |
TexasPlus
join:2004-06-16
Bedford, TX
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| reply to B
said by B :Well, either that, or out of sight in dusty bottom drawers next to all the CueCats. -- B LOL..ahhh yes still have a few unhacked ones....converted one of them critters to a fair barcode reader, but at the time did not have a use for a reader. These days I buy equipment the clerks don't bust too fast.
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"The world is a book; those who do not travel read but a single page." -St. Augustine | |
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