SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Anyone Use MagicJack? I signed up with Viatalk, but am now reconsidering due to some restrictive terms.
I went ahead and ordered a MagicJack.
From what I have read, it seems like a heck of a good choice. Am I missing something?
The only negative I see on them is the current lack of area codes, but I think I have solved this minor issue by having grand central forward without any greeting all calls to my local number to the
out of area number given by MagicJack.
$40 shipped including a year of use seems too good to be true, but the reviews I have seen are very good.
Has anyone tried it themselves on here?
Good, bad, avearage? | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Seems like a good product.
Why aren't people jumping all over it? | |
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| | artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ  :Seems like a good product. Why aren't people jumping all over it? My understanding this does not replace real phone line in a house and good only if you have laptop connected to it all the time, right? They don't have standalone adapter basically. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Doesn't have to be a laptop-any computer will work.
My PC is always on anyway, so why not?
Also, I don't see where you cannot run it through your house. Even if not, just use cordless phones.
Seems like a real steal to me. I will let you know how it goes when I get it. | |
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tommy13v
Premium
join:2002-02-15
Glenville NY | I am waiting for some others to try it out first and then may give it a go. | |
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Juegos1960
join:2007-07-17
| I received it this morning--I ordered it Monday night and I am in the Chicagoland area.
Hookup was very simple--but I didn't get an option to pick my area code so I have a Detroit Number (I think) but I also got a GrandCentral Number that should forward. It must have been under 5 minutes to set up number and start dialing. I haven't received any calls yet, but so far it seems to work. | |
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TimuM
@comcast.net
1 edit | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Do you have any online control panel? Can you do call forwarding? What features do you have..
Thanks
Timu | |
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Mandelm
@mindspring.com
| I works. The audio is acceptable but not up to the quality of a real ATA device. Given it works with a phone or as a soft-phone, has voice mail, is portable and $40.00 for the first year you can't beat it. I don't think I would want one as my primary phone but I've had one for a week and have used it at 3 or 4 locations with my laptop. | |
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| AJICQ499087
join:2001-12-01
Louisville, KY | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? I have 3 magicJacks I have been using for 3 weeks plus.
The magicJack audio is better than cell and better than the crappy AT&T land lines in Louisville, KY
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low cost and fast speed is what customers want in broadband | |
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| coaster
join:2007-07-13
New Port Richey, FL
·PHONE POWER
 ·Bright House
2 edits | said by Mandelm :
I works. The audio is acceptable but not up to the quality of a real ATA device. Sound quality has been same or better than my spa-2102. Did have some annoying clicking and beeping noises at first. Figured out after reading their forums that sometimes sound card output goes out through the MJ. There is a manual fix though until they provide an update. Not much of an issue with the lack of local numbers for now if you get a GrandCentral number. | |
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| | Studly
join:2006-12-06
Lakeville, MN
·ooma
·VOIPo
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? I just ordered and rec'd MJ and installed it yesterday. Only made a few calls, but here are my early impressions:
* Sound quality is excellent. Even tried calling a number in rural North Dakota, which always gave me major problems when I used to call there on SunRocket. With SunRocket, the sound quality was terrible, with lots of delay, whenever I called numbers in this area of N.D. However, with MJ the sound was great ... just like a landline.
* Limited support hours, but very helpful support. When I installed MJ, I could instantly make outgoing calls, but couldn't make incoming calls. When I'd dial my MJ # from my landline, it would say phone is out of service. I tried the online chat at MJ, and a technician monitoring it called me right away and the incoming call worked. He said he didn't change any settings. Then he asked who our landline carrier was and I told him. He called my landline carrier, Frontier Communications, and got it ironed out with them immediately. I'm guessing my new MJ phone # in the 952 area code was probably using new exchange numbers or a new prefix that my local POTS carrier didn't have updated in their system. But what is impressive is that the MJ tech guy called and took care of this, when he could have easily told me that the "problem's not on my end, you'll have to figure it out with your landline carrier." And he solved the problem within 20 minutes.
* I'm guessing by the glitzy packaging that the MJ is sent in, and how it has a hole in it to be hung from a peg hook, once they get the bugs ironed out, I bet you'll see the MJ for sale on a wide scale, in Best Buy or WalMart or other retailers. You can tell by the packaging that they intend for this to be sold on retail shelves.
* Disadvantages I've discovered so far: Incoming caller ID only shows the caller's number and doesn't show a name. Hopefully they'll eventually fix this. Also, when you have a voice mail, you don't get a stuttered dial tone and the voice mail indicator on your regular phone doesn't get activated. From what I can tell, the only way you know if you have a voice mail, is you get an email notification. But this doesn't help if you're not at your computer. And the last big disadvantage is there is yet no number porting.
Because of the disadvantages, some of which are deal breakers for me because I'd like to use this as my main line, I'll probably return my MJ within 30 days and get the full refund. But once they have these things fixed, and work out the hiccups, I'd likely try them out again. And once they get things running smoothly, with all their features, with number porting and more area codes to choose from, I predict they'll be a major force in the VOIP world.
I think it's time they devote a new Broadband Reports forum here to MagicJack so people can start rating the company and offering official reviews, so we can all monitor MJ's progress. | |
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| | | johnlvs2run
join:2006-04-08
Santa Maria, CA
| 2 years of long distance for $59.90 I ordered the Magicjack with 2 years yesterday for $59.90, and also signed up with a Grandcental number for my mom. The MJ should be here in a few days.
In the meantime I called my mom in San Antonio and had her dial my new San Antonio number. She was very surprised  when I answered, as I live in Caifornia. Now she can call me any time with no long distance charge. This is cool.
Yes, MJ can be used with the internal wiring of your house, as I did previously with SR. By sure to unhook that line in the box outside your house first, and tape the wires. Otherwise the voltage could fry your equipment.
The main issue with MJ for me is that I will have to reboot my computer every time that I use it, as so far it only works on windows and not linux. However, I am using linux 100 percent of the time. So this will be a hassle until they figure out how to get it working with linux. But that shouldn't be hard (for them or someone) to do, so I hope they make it a priority.
Otherwise, 2 years of long distance for $59.90 is a great deal in today's market.
quote:
I think it's time they devote a new Broadband Reports forum here to MagicJack so people can start rating the company and offering official reviews, so we can all monitor MJ's progress.
I agree. | |
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| | | | AJICQ499087
join:2001-12-01
Louisville, KY | Re: 2 years of long distance for $59.90 It's time to add a magicJack forum over here and to delete the SunRocket forum. 
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low cost and fast speed is what customers want in broadband | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: 2 years of long distance for $59.90 Add MJ Forum=Agreed
Delete SR Forum=NO WAY. Too much fun still going on right now. | |
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swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL | I bought one a few days ago, should be here soon. I'll post a review when it arrives. | |
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| k1114
join:2002-07-26
Broken Arrow, OK | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Does this have a "virtual" outbound number, or do calls from this actual show as being from your inbound number? | |
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coppertrail
join:2006-01-10
Cleveland, OH
| The MagicJack arrived today. Extremely easy to set up. Plug it in, let it detect the new hardware, the MJ App updates the software and then takes you through a registration process whereby you choose an email address and password to create an account. You then choose your phone number, and you're making/receiving calls.
Made 3 calls so far, all were very clear. So far it seems to be pretty good. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Re: Arrived today . . . said by coppertrail :The MagicJack arrived today. Extremely easy to set up. Plug it in, let it detect the new hardware, the MJ App updates the software and then takes you through a registration process whereby you choose an email address and password to create an account. You then choose your phone number, and you're making/receiving calls. Made 3 calls so far, all were very clear. So far it seems to be pretty good. I'd appreciate it if you would let me know when you have tested it further. Mainly, I want to know if it can be used ok while being connected to your house's phoneline to maybe 1 or other phones. | |
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hoffa69
join:2007-07-17 | I don't believe that comes with a phone number. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by hoffa69 :I don't believe that comes with a phone number. Oh yes it does come with a phone number. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Have you tried hooking it into your home's wiring to other phones? | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
2 edits | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? There is no real answer in that forum.
I would like a real answer from someone who has tried it.
How about YOU try it and let us know? | |
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laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
·Cox HSI
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ :There is no real answer in that forum. I would like a real answer from someone who has tried it. How about YOU try it and let us know? I have no idea since mine is plugged into a multiple handset cordless. The guy in the post I referred to has 5 phones ringing.
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Vote for Ron Paul in the Republican Primaries | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? That is not what it says there. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? DOH! I don't know what you mean!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........donuts......aaaaauuuuuuuuuuuummmmm. | |
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Jaydeep
@verizon.net
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? A few questions for anyone who knows the answer for sure:
1. Can I port my home phone number (215 area code) to Magicjack?
2. I saw a mention of option on a forum that one could buy Magicjack without the memory stick for $29.99 but I did not see that option on the website's order form.
3. Will this service work with 730K download/100K upload speed connection (Verizon low speed DSL service) on a Windows XP computer? What are the minimum required download/upload speeds?
5. Which European countries are free to call? How about mobile numbers in UK?
Thanks.
Jay | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? I'll do the ones I know:
1. No, not yet. By year end you are supposed to be able to do this.
2. Nope-they never made that product.
3. Yes.
What happend to 4.?
5. NONE. This is strictly US and Canada. | |
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| | johnlvs2run
join:2006-04-08
Santa Maria, CA
1 edit | magicjack Yes it sure is. Thanks for your comments. | |
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ktdid
Premium
join:2007-05-19
Tucson, AZ
·ViaTalk
| If anyone is interested, here is the current Magic Jack list of cities/area codes available:
»www.magicjack.com/site/AreaCodes.html
Also, Terms of Service:
»/r0/download/1···0TOS.txt
I sent them an email with a couple of things, they were very professional and responsive.
Number porting to be available "by Christmas".
May change to local number when one becomes available if none in your area initially.
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to thee, these three: love, joy & the blues | |
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See 7 replies to this post |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | Their TOS mentioned advertising being bundled with their service. Has anyone who has the magicjack already mention if they've seen any type of ads when using the device? | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? The ads are attached to the softphone software. So far, no ads, but there is a place for them.
Big fat hairy deal.
I put it on a P3 in the corner with no monitor anyway.
HAHAHAHA. | |
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| | jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ :The ads are attached to the softphone software. So far, no ads, but there is a place for them. Big fat hairy deal. I put it on a P3 in the corner with no monitor anyway. HAHAHAHA. Whats a P3? | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Pentium 3, aka door stop. | |
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| | | | jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
3 edits | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ :Pentium 3, aka door stop. So you basically have the phone connected to an old pc, the monitor is off, you leave it running, and you use the phone like normal? Nice....
What would be really cool if computer could wake up from standby whenever a call is received or when its not. I might buy just for the heck of it. My parents have 2 pots lines with Verizon and I want them to at least get rid of 1. Offset their broadband fees.
2nd year is $19.95 but it trys to get u to order in advance - so it might not be $19.95 next year unless you prepay.
One more question.... I signed up. Do I have to wait for it to arrive before I can get a number and sign in? I saw no place to choose a number. | |
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| | | | | coaster
join:2007-07-13
New Port Richey, FL
·PHONE POWER
·Bright House
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ :One more question.... I signed up. Do I have to wait for it to arrive before I can get a number and sign in? I saw no place to choose a number. You don't pick your number until you receive it and register online. Not many choices now, but that is suppose to change in September. | |
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Fast Lane
@cox.net | I just ordered my and I have GranCentral number now. Reviews are looking good and their web site is really together | |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
2 edits | Not to be a bubble buster but the cost of leaving a pc on 24 hours a day every day can be somewhat high...
so consider 1st year - I know 2nd year is cheaper but with VOIP providers as demonstrated by Sunrocket - you cant bank on them being around a year from now.
$40/12 = $3.33
monthly cost of leaving a 65 watt laptop (which is low watt) on at .15 a kwh (which is actually a fair rate in NY - its actually higher in the summer) is about $7.50 a month -
so $11 per month --- not much less than some of the other voip deals out there that doesnt have the hassle of having to leave your pc on
now granted I leave my laptop on anyway and I do shut the monitor at night off plus an ata uses electricity too and is on all the time - so there are mitigating factors that reduce the relative cost - but to run a separate pc as SMCinAZ is doing can get expensive... hopefully electricity is cheaper in AZ than NY =)
just something to consider
wonder if it would work if you have the hard drives go into sleep mode | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
1 edit | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? My PC stays on 24/7 anyway.
BTW, you pay too much for kwh! I pay like 1/2 that here in AZ! | |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | Yeah - metro NY is expensive 
I actually think its much higher now cause its summer ~$0.20 | |
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rss23
@wideopenwest.com | Will you receive calls in their *97 voicemail without having your computer on, and thus, the phone doesn't ring? Having the computer on all the time isn't good unless you have some power saving mode. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? I have always had PC's on 24/7, so it really is no big deal.
No, they don't wear out faster.
Anyway, if you have your pc off or no phone connected, it rolls to voicemail automatically and it then emails you your voiccemail. | |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | Can you use it on a machine by running the software off the magic stick or do you have to install software on the host machine?
I ask because I want to know if you can use it while traveling off a public machine. | |
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See 14 replies to this post |
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noheater
@limno.com
| I have one, was one of the first to get one. It works exactly as expected although I did have one small issue with my work firewall. Using MagicJack in conjunction with GrandCentral is a god send. I got rid of my phone from the cable company and just use Magic Jack.
Here's my article on MagicJack...
»www.noheat.com/2007/03/09/skype-···gicjack/ | |
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ice5428
join:2007-07-17 | When you call out with majicjack what does the person you are calling see for a called ID number is it your incoming #? Or is it some wierd number everytime you call? | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? They see your actual Magic Jack assigned number.
The only bummer of MJ caller ID is that it only shows the number, no name. I hope they get that updated to show everything. | |
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| | dssman
join:2003-10-17 | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? My outgoing caller id shows my magicJack telephone number and the city the number is in. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by dssman :My outgoing caller id shows my magicJack telephone number and the city the number is in. [/BQUOTE Right, but no name (yet?) | |
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| | | | bigboffo
join:2006-07-23
Harlingen, TX
| Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? said by SMCinAZ :said by dssman :My outgoing caller id shows my magicJack telephone number and the city the number is in. [/BQUOTE Right, but no name (yet?) You can try: » listyourself.net/see if that will do what you want. | |
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SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | Re: Anyone Use MagicJack? Um, no.
MJ's Caller ID is limited. They need to add name support for it. | |
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See 11 replies to this post |
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brut7
join:2000-10-06
Babylon, NY
·magicjack.com
1 edit | If we could get it to work with say... and old SR DTA and still retain the MJ device for our laptops when on vacation or training then it could be a winner. As it is, it reminds me of very early VOIP ideas that didn't pan out well for me, all software based on the PC but it sounds as if it's working out better for people. | |
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