swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL
 ·Comcast
 ·magicjack.com
1 edit |  My review of MagicJack
The forums have been quite insane recently, mainly because of the SunRocket debacle, along with the common madness that DSLR always pleasantly hosts. I am a SR orphan and have since been searching for a relatively cheap alternative. Packet8 seemed like the best choice, but I recently ran into MagicJack, was very intrigued- and promised a few members here that I'd review it when I received the order. Well, today is that day. So here it is:
Ordered: 07/18
Shipped: 07/19
Received: 07/23
It arrived in a surprisingly professional retail-looking package, complete with a hole at the top for hanging on retail shelves. Anyway, I unpacked it and made use of the convenient little USB extension cord included with it.
The most interesting part of setting it up is that fact that the device is ENTIRELY plug and play in XP. On my desktop, it took around 50 seconds to install the various drivers and auto-launch the setup & registration dialogs. I was too excited to take screen shots, I apologize.
The dialog requested my email address, my zip code, and the setup of a password. After that, it wanted my address of 911 registration. I live in South Florida, so when I was prompted to pick a number, I was disappointed to only see about 5 states offered as local numbers currently. But, I read up on the MJ literature, my area code (and most) should be available in the next 60 days, good. I settled for a number out of Detroit. (Meanwhile, I’m using a GrandCentral number to forward to my MJ line.) After I picked my phone number, the screen changed to a normal looking soft-phone (see screen shot.)
I grabbed a cordless phone, plugged it in, and was happy to hear a dial-tone. First call was flawless, perfect clarity. I totally didn’t expect incoming calls to work, but to my surprise my cordless rang when I dialed the Detroit phone number from my cell. Another perfect call. I bought the device purely out of curiosity, not a true solution to a new VoIP provider. Turns out… I seemingly found my solution.
Keep in mind a few things: Price: $40 So obviously, with this price does NOT come with all the fancy features and web portals. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect it.. it’s $40. For those who don’t know, there is $0 monthly charge, only a $19.95 annual fee. That is, frankly, laughable if they are truly going to offer what they say they are. Always the service is still beta, and just launched for purchase earlier this month. I expect more features to be introduced as the service matures. As I type this, I am on the phone using MagicJack. It’s quite impressiveMJ may not be for everyone, but I for one don’t mind having to have the thing plugged in my computer. I would expect MJ to support some adapters coming up in the future. . For those who recognize the swanboy name, you know I’m usually not one to jump up and down with rave reviews, but this is a industry first, revolutionary product in my opinion, and I wanted to get an organized review out there for those who were waiting. I say go for it.
I'd be happy to entertain any questions.
As a side note, I’m looking for a place to port my number for really cheap as a safe-haven for my SR number until MJ supports porting. |
|
coaster
join:2007-07-13
New Port Richey, FL
·PHONE POWER
·Bright House
1 edit | Excellent review. I wish I could write as well in so much detail. The professional packaging surprised me also. I figured it would of been sent in generic packaging with some photocopied instructions. It looks like it is going to be very soon when you see MagicJack in mass market retail. The downside was the bubble pack is very difficult to open. This product is just on the verge of being huge. |
|
swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL
·Comcast
·magicjack.com
| reply to swanboy
MagicJack |
|
|
Fast Lane
@cox.net | reply to swanboy
I just order it and what put me over the top is the web site as it's very professional plus the reviews and with my GranCentral number here I go. If this works as good as think I will send them a lot of customers. |
|
95559781
join:2007-07-21
4 edits | reply to swanboy
I decided to order a MagicJack on Thursday after receiving a recommendation from laserjobs.
I received it today. This is an incredible, brilliant device. It is going to be very very big.
I am using it with 3 Uniden cordless phones and it works perfectly. You have caller id, voice mail, call waiting, a soft phone and conference calling all for only $39.95 which includes 1 year of service. The second year of service is only $19.95.
In my opinion, the MagicJack is going to destroy ALL of the voip providers as you would have to be insane to go with Vonage, Packet8, ViaTalk....when you could just purchase a MagicJack.
Do yourself a favor and order the MagicJack. This thing is just amazing. Be sure to use the coupon code sunrocket for free shipping.
In addition, they thought of everything. They even include for free, an optional USB cable extension in case you have a tight space around your USB port. |
|
swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL | Good to see I'm not the only one that feels like this. |
|
buckeyered
Premium
join:2005-05-07
Hamilton, OH
·VoicePulse
·QuantumVoice
| reply to 95559781
I remember the sun shiner's saying the same thing about SR.
I hope it works well for everyone, I will wait and see if they keep adding to the infrastructure to support the growth and then I might get one as a backup or to use in the Philippines.
said by 95559781  :In my opinion, the MagicJack is going to destroy ALL of the voip providers as you would have to be insane to go with Vonage, Packet8, ViaTalk....when you could just purchase a MagicJack.
--
'If you change phone numbers one more time I am leaving you.' - My wife |
|
Fast Lane
@cox.net
| reply to swanboy
Well Sunrocketers it looks like the dust is dieing down and Bad Bad TB finally has all the answers anyone would want on their web site now. It's been fun and I just ordered a MagicJack voip and a easy GrandCentral number so I'm set and will be changing over all business cards and ads to my new number (which is for life). If this works out I will port my number to MagicJack later this year and will have unlimited service for
19$ a year so thank you Sunrocket for tanking after all.
I thank all the people that posted their great reviews |
|
SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs: | reply to swanboy
MJ rocks!
Bye bye Via Talk.
It has some quirks like no name on caller id and the irritating ad/popup, but the quality of the calls in and out is very good. |
|
jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
2 edits | I just ordered mine tonight. Thanks for the great review.
Trying to port my sr number to voicestick next2nothing which is currently configured on a pap2t adapter with their temp number. So far I'm happy, will be happier once my number ports and dont need another account but for this price I said WTF!
I would use this for all my outgoing calls of course since its free but I need to support Voicestick a bit so they dont deactivate me. But I guess if I am going through my prepaid mintutes too fast I can make outgoing calls on MJ. "MJ" makes me think of the chick from Spiderman 
Might also be an inexpensive way of easing my parents into voip. There somewhat technophobes... |
|
voipjunk
join:2004-08-07
Largo, FL
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to swanboy
Great Swanboy..
I'm using MJ for over a week now and I will say I'm extremely satisfied with it. I tried it with multiple applications like during video processing, dvd burning, large file downloading/uploading, heavy file transfers on torrents and I have never faced any problem except for uploading of files/ torrents files. This may be due to limited bandwidth for my uploading (around 400). This looks like real alternative to any VOIP provider and the price is really great. |
|
Juegos1960
join:2007-07-17
| reply to swanboy
I've had my MJ for a few days now. Am using GC for local number until MJ has them out in my area. I do have to admit, I get kicks out calling friends and having my "Detroit" number show up. I has really surprised me! And I agree with the comment about the packaging being a little difficult to open. Other than that, it's great. I might get one for christmas for my friend and maybe a few others. I am also going to use one at work so I can have my own instant line that can call cellphones, etc. |
|
jrose78
join:2005-02-10
Bondsville, MA
1 edit | reply to swanboy
If someone could get this to work with the Linksys NSLU2 that would be awesome. I guess the only prob I could think of would be that you have to have a computer on all the time. Question for the users that have this, can you plug it into a wall phone jack and have it propogate to all the jacks in the house? Oh and is this device using the SIP protocal? |
|
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
2 edits | reply to swanboy
said by swanboy :For those who don’t know, there is $0 monthly charge, only a $19.95 annual fee. That is, frankly, laughable if they are truly going to offer what they say they are. But isn't that all that needs to be said? It's just not a workable business model, even less so than Sunrocket's was. These people aren't Google (who could afford to give it away for years if they chose) -- how can they continue to exist while giving away phone service?
The technology sounds OK -- an instant PBX of sorts via USB stick -- though you could accomplish the same thing any number of ways if you've already chosen to dedicate your PC to the task (Asterisk et al.) as you need to with MagicJack -- but it's the ongoing service that's got to be a primary concern!
EDIT: RockyBB, who knows this stuff intimately, has estimated elsewhere that providers pay about $.01 per minute for POTS calls. $19.95 per year means their "break even" would be an average customer use of less than 3 hours per month (assuming I just did the math correctly). If customers just use it when traveling, that might just work after all! But if people try to use it as home phone replacement....
Here's what their web site has to say about how they can afford it:
Question
How can you offer all this for such a low price?
Answers
The Inventor and CEO of the Company previously shattered the price barrier on consumer telephone services. They have now joined together to bring you the newest technology to enable you to get free telephone service. Uh, okay, if you say so....?
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
|
coaster
join:2007-07-13
New Port Richey, FL
·PHONE POWER
·Bright House
3 edits | Why would any business state their business model on their website? Put it out for any other business to try to copy it. I don't think so.
Anyway, there is more involved if you have been following this for any length of time. YMax Communications is the CLEC that MagicJack operates on. This CLEC gets a fee anytime an incoming call is placed to their network. There is also advertising involved with their softphone software. Now you start to see more of the bigger picture. |
|
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28 | No, I haven't been following it at all. Thanks for the explanation!
People seem quite fond of it already.
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
|
laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
·Cox HSI
| B you might want to take a gander over at »forum.magicjack.com
11. Advertisements
You also understand and agree that use of the magicJackTM device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJackTM device to work and for the service to be free in the first year of the agreement (and subsequent licenses to be at minimal cost). Advertisements will be served through the magicPageTM Software. magicPageTM Software attempts to serve local advertisements and classifieds using a completely automated process that enables us to effectively target dynamically changing content. Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads. We do not provide any personal information to our advertisers or third parties. magicJack has a policy of restricting advertisers that it believes are inappropriate, but it does not guarantee the accuracy or integrity of any advertisers and does not endorse any of the advertisements that may appear in connection with use of the magicJackTM device. You also understand and agree that use of the magicJackTM device and Software may include certain communications, such as service announcements, administrative messages and newsletters, and you will not be able to opt out of receiving them.
Think of targeted ads like Dominos or Pizza Hut
--
Vote for Ron Paul in the Republican Primaries |
|
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| Yeah. I was trying to bite my tongue above. Any mention of advertising and I'm running the other way.
This sounds eerily reminiscent of those "free" ISP services (dialup and even broadband) that depended on locked advertising bars across your screen. Even KMart ran one.
Only now, instead of tracking all your web site visits and targeting accordingly, they're tracking your personal phone calls!
Maybe that's worth it for some people, but I don't predict big things for this.
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
|
swanboy
join:2001-01-22
Hollywood, FL
·Comcast
·magicjack.com
| While I understand the stereotype here regarding ad-drive-revenue and free services, I really don't think all companies have to be crap just because they implement some kind of advertisement. The best example I can cite here is Google They have seamlessly integrated ad's, and look and their revenue and quality of service they offer. I'm not trying to say MJ is the next google by any means, I'm simply saying there is potential.
Personally, I have no problem with a few ad's on the side of my softphone window, if it comes to that.
-C |
|
gimme5
join:2002-12-23
Kissimmee, FL | reply to swanboy
Since you can't call international phone numbers with MJ, I have to stick with Lingo. |
|
