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jill97266
join:2009-06-01
Portland, OR
| Magicjack Review or Why I Love This Cute Little Box My magicjack experience started on Wednesday May 24, 2009. I went into this purchase with a positive mental attitude and reasonable expectations. I stopped by my local Best Buy store in Clackamas Oregon 97266 and paid thirty nine ninety nine for my unit.
My computer is a seven year old Toshiba running at 2.8 gigahertz and sporting one gigabyte of main memory. My connection is your run of the mill 1.5 DSL.
I reviewed the instructions to see if the install was really as easy as magicjack claimed. Before I began I verified that my phones were fully charged, my DSL connection, wifi router and computer were all up and ready for the install.
I opened the bubble pack and plugged my telephone directly into the magicjack adapter. I removed the supplied USB cable from the packaging and inserted one end into the magicjack adapter and the other end into my computer.
I then clicked start and then my computer and there were two new magicjack icons there. A small pop up advised me that magicjack was downloading the latest software. About a minute later it completed and magicjack opened a dialogue box for me to provide my credentials. After this very quick and easy process magicjack assigned a telephone number for me.
Curious I picked up my telephone and yes I had that all important dial tone. As of June 1, 2009 I have made numerous calls to Nevada, Oregon and Puerto Rico USA. In under a week I have accumulated approximately five hours of long distance time and love my magicjack.
At about five and a half cents a day only a competitor, a scammer or a zombie would not love this cute little box.
When I see people complain about magicjack I remember my proklean experience. There too the vast majority of the feedback was very positive only to be interrupted by somebody complaining very loudly that their product did not work. Well I read between the lies and ordered. Yes proklean like magicjack definitely works.
Remember that just because somebody has a really big mouth does not mean they are telling the truth.
Great product! | |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| Re: Magicjack Review or Why I Love This Cute Little Box said by jill97266  :Remember that just because somebody has a really big mouth does not mean they are telling the truth. While your sample size of one is certainly a compelling story, it is not the whole story. The fact that your device actually works is not remarkable -- why should anyone be surprised that it works? Isn't it supposed to work? Your lifetime experience of 7 days of troublefree performance does not address any of the major issues identified about MJ.
Despite FCC regulations requiring "interconnected VOIP providers" supporting number portability, can you port a US phone number in or out of MJ?
When customers see TV advertising stating "$19.95 a year," is that what they pay to acquire the device? Or do they have to pay for the device, too, so the cash out of wallet is double what the customer expected to pay?
When you arrive at MJ's website and see the counter, is it a real counter or a random number generator designed to create a false sense of safety in numbers?
If you have an issue or problem, can you speak on a phone (even a MJ phone) to a tech support or customer service rep?
If you take your MJ device to a friend's house to show it off on his computer, is there any MJ software left behind on the hard drive? Is there an UNINSTALL capability provided by MJ to clean it off your friend's PC? If not, why do you think MJ wants their advertising client software to remain on that machine forever?
I believe that you are telling the truth about your device working flawlessly for one week. Please tell us the truth about my questions. And then discuss your long term confidence about a company that ignores federal regulations, practices deceptive advertising, will not speak on the phone with you, and doesn't want their software removed from any computer. | |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
| Re: Magicjack Review or Why I Love This Cute Little Box said by RockyBB :And then discuss your long term confidence about a company that ignores federal regulations, practices deceptive advertising, will not speak on the phone with you, and doesn't want their software removed from any computer. Nobody would mistake me with a company shill. But, even with all the problems (which irritate me because I think MJ could be a lot better, and mainstream), it's still a great bargain for $3.33 a month (assuming it works for the entire year).
I think that's worth pointing out, and goes to the OP's point. But, it's also rather pathetic too. It doesn't seem like a winning strategy to say "sure, we may spit in your salad, and kick you in the groin... but, what do you expect for $3.33 a month?"
This reasoning applies differently to everyone. If someone makes a lot of long distance calls they can save a lot of money. If they are an ex pat living in a foreign country, it's a good deal to maintain a US phone number. If they replace their landline, they can save money if it lasts for 3-4 months. But, it's a dicey proposition.
I think that's due to the fact that MJ is everything to everyone. Not an ala carte service like other voip providers (pay as you go, or monthly subscription? Softphone or ATA? Outgoing only or pay extra for a phone number?). Dan was a genius to bury all these details into one little device. The average user doesn't have to analyze their requirements. But, that's also the nasty downside to MJ. You can't tailor it to your own needs (you live and die with a USB device you may not want... Or, you're stuck with a lightweight USB device when you really wanted a configurable ATA for whole-house usage.).
FYI, I saw MJ at Staples last night. It makes me wonder when Dan will saturate the market for this niche/novelty service? After the infomercials, and Walmart, Best Buy and Radio Shack, how many more people will he reach by adding additional exposure like Staples?
It seems to me like the only way he'll "cross the chasm" to mainstream users will be if he offers a more configurable, ala carte service. From softphone only (with no phone number, for travellers) to ATA service (for landline replacement).
Mark | |
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jefe
Premium
join:2001-05-19
Northport, NY | Re: Magicjack Review or Why I Love This Cute Little Box Add to that how 'bout MJ working as a fax line, as other VoIP services do? | |
| | | | | sabresfan
Sabresfan
join:2009-05-03
Hope Mills, NC
| MJ is certainly not for everyone but after six months with mj I'am more than happy with it's performance. I did a lot of reading and learning and now I forget that I'm even using it when I'm on the phone most of the time. It may not be as simple to setup as the infomercials make it out to be but it's a great product for the price. I run mj constantly and have not had problems in a long time. I have been able to send and receive faxes without any problems and the call quality seems to be as good as my cell phone. I have had no problems with call forwarding if I use it or call forwarding to MJ if I turn my cell phone off. I may be one of the lucky ones but this has been a great deal for me and my family. I do agree that there should be a simple way to remove the software so I would not recommend using it on someone else's computer without their knowing this. Considering I pay Verizon $160 a month for a family cell plan MJ is a great fit for a home phone. | |
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swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL | Good to see a positive, balanced review for once. I agree. I've been quite satisfied over the years with the level of service received. | |
| voipjunk
join:2004-08-07
Largo, FL
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Now a days Dan is promoting MJ aggressively. I can see MJ in all drug stores, staples, BB, even local convenience store near my place has it. I think with more number of people buying MJ, its better for them to terminate calls from MJ to MJ. I don't know, is there is any cost involve in SIP to SIP termination? | |
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r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium
join:2001-11-14
St John'S, NL | I am in Canada for 6 months and Magic Jacks works just fine for practically free. Without Magic Jack, I would be spending a lot more money.
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For those of you playing a drinking game.... MY FRIENDS! | |
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Racerbob
join:2001-06-24
Webster, NY | My MJ continues to work very well. My only complaint remains the lack of 585 exchanges for the greater Rochester/Monroe County area. | |
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Packeteers
Premium
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
2 edits | I just got one for $39+tax from a Radio Shack "sale".
It included a short USB extension cord.
I was making and receiving phone calls within minutes
of cutting this device out of it's blister pack.
I was relieved to find it did not require
a credit card to work (1yr is prepaid)
it seems to work best with a computer mic&speaker.
with a regular analog phone the sound cuts out a lot.
I only wish it would have let me
choose among available last 4 digits
like grandcentral/googlevoice did.
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question:
does that $60 5-year extension ever go on sale?
is there a way to pay it without a credit card? | |
| | | | sabresfan
Sabresfan
join:2009-05-03
Hope Mills, NC | Great find. | |
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(topic move) Magicjack Review or Why I Love This Cute Little Box