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 fuziwuziNot born yesterdayPremium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA | so far so good I've been using a MagicJack for about 6 months now. So far I've been satisfied with the service. I originally could not get an area code local to me, but within a few months this area became available and I was able to change the number without a fee. Occasionally I'll get a call with a tiny amount of echo, but the people I talk to using it have never reported any issues. I have a DECT 6.0 wireless 2-handset system connected to it, giving me freedom to move around the house.
You really cannot beat it for the money. I'm buying another unit to ship to a friend in another country, so that he can send and receive calls to me and other friends here in the USA.
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***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
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 Mactronel Camino RealPremium
join:2001-12-16
CM94sv | Not bad at all I don't use it as my primary phone. I do use it for talking on my laptop at home and traveling. I've had it for about a year now and it works so well I just renewed it for 4 more years for the price of three. 
Sure hope they don't go the way of Sunrocket...
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If only the Verizon CSRs worked this well.  | |
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 |  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: Not bad at all said by Mactron:Sure hope they don't go the way of Sunrocket... Interesting observation. Here is a comment that has the same worry:
»blog.isp-planet.com/blog/2008/06···hon.html
Update:
I received the following reply on the ISP-Wireless list:
magicjack is a simply an extreme example of a company selling service below cost to drive subscriber base, and therefor their stock value. We operate over 200 VoIP brands. I have a solid understanding of the real costs to provide PSTN termination and origination in the US. Unless Magicjack really is...magic, they are losing money on every customer. Remember Sunrocket? Woo hoo! Unlimited calling for $99 a year!. Fastest growing phone company in the US! Going to kill vonage and packet8 and everyone else and drive the cost down to zero. Well, now they are gone, because once the bean counters and the idiot investors figure out that you are NEVER going to make any money, they pull the plug. Only hope MJ has is that ebay will purchase them for $5 Billion or so.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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| | | | Re: Not bad at all If they keep growing the way they are, someone will absolutely buy them out. Google, Microsoft, ATT, or any other big company interested in VoIP or phone service. | |
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| |  dbmavenThere's no shortagePremium,Mod
join:1999-10-26
Sty in Sky
kudos:2
 ·VOIPo
 ·Optimum Online
Host:
Filesharing Software
No, I Will Not Fix..
Road Runner
Bright House Netwo..
Computer Hardware ..
| The difference between MJ and "those other services like SunRocket" is that they have their own "phone company" - YMAX Communications. Thus, they collect interconnect fees for inbound call termination/switching - which none (or few) of the other VoIP companies do.
As for "noise on the line" when anything is being done on the computer - that's a PC issue and not something commonly complained about (although there are plenty of other complaints). I've used MJ on an older Athlon XP1800 based computer with 256MB of RAM, with BOINC Rosetta@Home running in the background, and have never had any noise on the line during calls.
I'd never use it as a full home phone line replacement - but it makes an outstanding 2nd line - for kids who spend hours on end on the phone, people who travel, or people who make lots of long distance calls. For $50/year (first year, $20/year afterwards at current pricing) - you get unlimited US/Canada long distance - lots of people can run that up in 2 weeks using a tradition POTS service, and even the other "name" VoIP services will cost 6-7 times that for a year in most cases.
It ain't perfect - but if you use it as part of a telephony portfolio approach, it's hard to beat.
--
If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
Living in "an optimized state of temporary chaos" | |
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| | | | Isn't MJ subsidized to some extent by ads? (Which might make it fit right in with a Google purchase. "MagicCentral" anyone? ) | |
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| | | | | Re: Not bad at all I would love to see some bizzare amalgamation of GrandCentral and MagicJack. | |
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| | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| said by Romney2012:magicjack is a simply an extreme example of a company selling service below cost to drive subscriber base, and therefor their stock value. MJ's intended revenue will be advertising. That could be a big success. Or, it could be that the people buying 8000 units a day don't realize the privacy issues involved in that. When advertising begins, MJ may sell fewer units.
Also, MJ's advertising scheme means there's no way to use an ATA for always-on phone service (avoiding the expense of running a computer 24/7). There are reports MJ will provide an ATA device. But, I don't know how they'll do it unless they charge more for that service (to compensate for the loss of advertising revenue).
Mark | |
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Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 |  Worthless piece of junk if below is true
I find I cannot do anything else on the PC while using a MagicJack. Computer activity of any kind causes noise on the line. Luckily, I have a work PC and home PC so, for work, I run the business calls on my home PC and take notes on the work PC. When I want to make personal calls, however, I have to not use the PC for anything else. If this description of a limitation is accurate, then the MagicJack is worthless on a PC with something running in the background all the time. Who wants to make calls with a constant noise on the call.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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|  JeffreyWilpon please sell the MetsPremium
join:2002-12-24
Long Island
kudos:3
·Vonage
·Optimum Online
| Re: Worthless piece of junk if below is true said by Romney2012:» blog.isp-planet.com/blog/2008/06···hon.htmlI find I cannot do anything else on the PC while using a MagicJack. Computer activity of any kind causes noise on the line. Luckily, I have a work PC and home PC so, for work, I run the business calls on my home PC and take notes on the work PC. When I want to make personal calls, however, I have to not use the PC for anything else. If this description of a limitation is accurate, then the MagicJack is worthless on a PC with something running in the background all the time. Who wants to make calls with a constant noise on the call. I have had MJ running on a 3 year old Pentium M 1.6Ghz CPU with 1GB of RAM while using Outlook 2007, Firefox, Trillian, and Excel 2007 open and no problem at all.
On a side note, I find MJ's installation software - and the removal of said software - something to be less than desirable. They need to improve it.
--
And so castles made of sand, slip into the sea, eventually.
I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing. | |
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mrsdrgn
join:2007-12-25
Lake Worth, FL | Other alternatives Why pay for the jack!! There are many other ways to call for free over the internet. Try VOIP Raider. If you are going to call from your computer there is nothing magic about the jack. | |
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| Reviews:
·magicjack.com
3 edits | Re: Other alternatives said by mrsdrgn:Why pay for the jack!! There are many other ways to call for free over the internet. Try VOIP Raider. If you are going to call from your computer there is nothing magic about the jack. Depends on a person's anticipated usage. Voipvoip.com (or Skype) are perfect for someone who has a limited number of people to communicate with, and they can all be on the same service. That's free. Voipvoip also looks like the best choice for an always-on, ATA connected phone (if someone needs that, and they make infrequent calls. Otherwise a Skype subscription.).
But, MJ (for $20 a year) is a nice option. Especially when you consider it comes with a real phone number. Someone who travels a lot can maintain a US number cheaply. Get emailed whenever there is voicemail. Start up the computer and make a free call ("Sorry, I was just outside playing with the Lawn Darts."). That US number is worth about $70 a year with other services.
Mark | |
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|  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | said by mrsdrgn:Why pay for the jack!! There are many other ways to call for free over the internet. Try VOIP Raider. If you are going to call from your computer there is nothing magic about the jack. most of those other free options WON'T let you call regular telephones for free.
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
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 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | It will be ad supported.... What I don't like is the idea of the MJ scanning the calls I make and targeting ads based on my caling.
Thanks but no thanks. | |
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|  NanoprobeCrunching in memory of MomPremium
join:2003-05-11
Crab Nebula
kudos:1
·magicjack.com
·Skype
1 edit | Re: It will be ad supported.... I tried it and I found that it didn't work for me. Consistently dropped calls and would not complete long distance calls most of the time. Friends that used it with cable modems had huge issues a peak demand times, especially nights and weekends. It also seems to work better if you have at least 768K upload. I like the idea but it has a long way to go.
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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein | |
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| | We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits Most primary phone services are people's Cell Phone not home service.That is actually a large reason we are doing so well and selling a lot of magicJacks.Their cell phone service does not work well in their house,or their International rates are very high,or people need a phone with 911 on it for their children in their house .Then you have people who travel who save a ton of money with magicJack and other's in this economy who just can't afford Ma Bell,particularly when they do not use their home phone that often.magicJack solves all these problems and more.
As our customer service has gone through large improvements,more Phone numbers became available and word of mouth has taken over,we have actually turned a profit now.This is the first time ever,that a company has made money from acquiring customers as opposed to spending money to get that customer.So although we have less profit,we make up for it by selling many,many units.The bigger the better,or so they say.
WE have some very exciting things coming out over the next few weeks and we just released a large upgrade in the network this week.
Inventor
Dan Borislow | |
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|  amarryatVerizon FiOS
join:2005-05-02
Marshfield, MA
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by Dan the Inventor :
WE have some very exciting things coming out over the next few weeks and we just released a large upgrade in the network this week.
Inventor
Dan Borislow
Could it be echo cancellation? I like mine, but people on the other end keep hearing themselves a split second later. Annoying to them. From my end, it works very well and doesn't sound bad at all. Probably better than a cell phone, but not as good as a traditional land line or standard VoIP. | |
|
| Reviews:
·magicjack.com
1 edit | said by Dan the Inventor :
Inventor
Dan Borislow
Dan, I wish you guys would make your web site a little less "As Seen on TV," and more mainstream (presenting information in a structured manner). Even though I'd recommend MJ to anyone, I'm always embarassed to refer someone to the MJ site because it doesn't do justice to the actual product/service you're selling.
The FAQ/Knowledgebase has a lot of good information. I wouldn't get rid of that. But, it just seems odd that someone has to go to the FAQ to find out the price, or the international rates. It seems like it's in the FAQ because it doesn't fit anywhere else. That ought to tell you something (that the page is overloaded with marketing spiel instead of information that belongs there.).
Mark | |
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| | | | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits I am going to test this week,putting a lot more info out on the front page and see how that does.For good or bad,we have to put out what sells magicJacks on the website.The more profitable we can make the business,the more I can offer all my customers.As much as I would like a more traditional page,this is what has worked best after about 200 tests.Thanks for your opinion Mark.
Dan | |
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| | | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
2 edits | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by Dan the Inventor :
As much as I would like a more traditional page,this is what has worked best after about 200 tests. Thanks Dan. I don't want to interfere with what works. I understand the realities of sales driving everything. Personally, I kind of like the structure/hierarchy of a site like voipvoip.com (with "learn more" links to dive deeper). But, maybe the hard-sell, "come on" approach works better. Don't listen to me. I'd price everything in the world in whole dollars, not $9.99. I guess everyone does that because it works. 
I recently read an article where the MJ device was referred to as an important part of what sets MJ apart. Does the device do more than act as an ATA (to connect an analog handset to the computer)? If so, what does it do to give MJ an edge? I hope that's not a trade secret. I'm just curious what it's doing for me compared to using a straight softphone with another service.
Thanks,
Mark | |
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| | | Congrats on the profits..enjoy them while they last. The MJ is a wonderful device, when it works. Problem is, it does no work very often. Each time a new update comes down, service goes out for many. All these upgrades and no improvement on service? What gives?
Your statment about your CS being improved got my intention. I have yet to find one rep that has a clue...after waiting for 3 hours or more to talk to said rep.
The best thing MJ could do right now is get their devices working and working all the time and then worry about "exciting things coming out" Bells and whistles will do nothing if you MJ does not work.
PLEASE make the devices and service more reliable. Is that too much to ask? | |
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| | baj475
join:2004-11-02
Chico, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corp..
| Re: Improved CS My experience has been different with respect to waits. Reps generally come on line within 10 to 20 seconds. Sometimes you have to wait a minute or three before they get back to you and yes they are not generally tech savvy. While I did experience a problem with the 911 display of my address, this did not keep my MJs from making or receiving calls. Just took about three hours before a 3rd or 4th tier rep told me that is was a MJ problem and that they were working on it. Of course before that I had to restart the MJ several time and reboot my computer at least once, all for nothing. Took about a week before they fixed the problem. They need a status board so users do not waste their time and the time of the reps on known problems. | |
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| | | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| Re: Improved CS said by baj475: They need a status board so users do not waste their time and the time of the reps on known problems. That's a great idea. A "known problems" sort of thing, so 1000 people don't waste their time reporting the same problem.
Mark | |
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| | | | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits I tried MagicJack and found the quality lacking. And, if they get too successful, someone will sue them out of existence.
--
Saving the world keeps me busy. However, I find Earth very primitive from my home planet of Krypton.
-Supergirl | |
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|  DaneJasperSonic.NetPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:7 | Dan,
Is the only magic that you can use a good old fashioned phone instead of a PC headset?
It seems like the jack is just simply a way to use the speaker/mic and keypad on a phone instead of a headset/mic (like Skype).
Why all the fuss about that?
-Dane | |
|
| | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by DaneJasper:It seems like the jack is just simply a way to use the speaker/mic and keypad on a phone instead of a headset/mic (like Skype). Can you expand on that? I don't understand what you're saying. You can use a headset/mic just like Skype. Or, you can plug a traditional phone into the MJ device.
Have you experienced something different?
Mark | |
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| | | DaneJasperSonic.NetPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:7 | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by amigo_boy:said by DaneJasper:It seems like the jack is just simply a way to use the speaker/mic and keypad on a phone instead of a headset/mic (like Skype). Can you expand on that? I don't understand what you're saying. You can use a headset/mic just like Skype. Or, you can plug a traditional phone into the MJ device. Have you experienced something different? Mark I just don't get the "Magic" in the service. There are lots of ways to make cheap or free calls from your PC (Skype, for example), so it seems like the only part that's kind of cool is the ability to plug in an old school phone, right?
-Dane | |
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| | | | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
4 edits | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by DaneJasper:I just don't get the "Magic" in the service. There are lots of ways to make cheap or free calls from your PC (Skype, for example), so it seems like the only part that's kind of cool is the ability to plug in an old school phone, right? As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think it depends on each individual's needs. If your needs are limited to calling six other people who can all be on the same service, Skype or voipvoip.com are better deals because you can talk for free.
If you need an always-on ATA system, and you make infrequent calls, voipvoip.com is better (pay as you go). If you make a lot of calls, Skype or Vonage with a subscription is better (depending on whether you need BYOD, bring your own device).
If you need a "real" US (or Canadian) number, MagicJack looks good. That's a $70-a-year feature for $20. Unlimited calls look good compared to pay as you go. BYOD (bring your own device) looks good compared to Skype. The lack of an ATA (always-on, unattended) option isn't so good.
Each person's different. MJ is a valuable option in many ways. But, I agree that I'd like to know what value the USB device adds. I get the impression that adding a hardware component increases the chance of incompatibility. So, I wonder what I get in return compared to a pure softphone.
Mark | |
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| | | | | DaneJasperSonic.NetPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:7 | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits I haven't compared costs - but I must say that I always worry about companies that are willing to take money for years and years of service in advance. When cost basis changes, they've got not ability to raise rates, so they can go BK.
Regarding the jack and a regular phone, there are some great alternatives for Skype too. Magic! =)
»www.voipuser.org/review_12.html
-Dane | |
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| | | | | | baj475
join:2004-11-02
Chico, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corp..
| Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits Dane,
Thanks for pointing to an alternative. Only problem I have with Skype is that when I had SkypeOut it did not always work well. Several of the recipients of my SkypeOut calls complained about not being able to hear me and when my father used SkypeOut to call me, sound quality was not always that good.
While there are reasons for concern with not being able to compensate for future price increases, the cost of internet service has generally declined. | |
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| | | | | | | DaneJasperSonic.NetPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:7 | Re: We have been on Market less than 6 months and have profits said by baj475:While there are reasons for concern with not being able to compensate for future price increases, the cost of internet service has generally declined. I'm just always worried when a business is willing take many years worth of money up front. It often seems that they tank part way through the term.
On the other hand, I think my lifetime Tivo membership is still valid (though the hardware is no longer relevant.)
-Dane | |
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| baj475
join:2004-11-02
Chico, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corp..
| As for exciting things, I hope this includes being able to use two or more magicjacks at the same time on a single computer and running under Linux. It would also be nice if you added Chico, CA to the list of cities in the 530 area code and completed adding Modesto to the 209 area code. | |
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| | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| Re: exciting things coming out said by baj475:As for exciting things, I hope this includes ... running under Linux. I second that. If MJ ran under Linux it would be feasible to run an always-on system inexpensively. Puppy Linux runs off a 64m USB thumb drive and old hardware. With a 256m or 1g USB drive, a person could easily use an old laptop as an always-on system. Disconnect laptop's hard drive (to save electricity), or replace it with a "Disk on Module" or Flash-to-IDE adapter, and eliminate the thumb drive.
Puppy's optimized so it doesn't write much to the flash drive, increasing its life expectancy.
Mark | |
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| | | Dan,
You're idea is a good one, but my only reservation is that you don't offer *nix support/drivers/software. (I hate Windows and refuse to use Micro$oft's poorly engineered and coded OS's.) If you ever offer *nix support, I will happily purchase one to try it out. Any time line on this? Will MJ run under Linux's WINE?
At any rate, I will be happy to dump my overpriced POTS service ($60 a month for BASIC service -- what a rip-off) when Linux support becomes available.
Good luck with your product. I hope you put a dent into the telcos' outrageous long-running racket. | |
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| | | I read about magicJack being first introduced at a Ted Conference in March 2007. I started using magicJacks in June of 2007. magicJack is the greatest invention since the wheel! I can even do streaming video on a computer and still receive and send calls with crystal clear audio!
--
low cost and fast speed is what customers want in broadband | |
|
| | | said by Dan the Inventor :
Most primary phone services are people's Cell Phone not home service.That is actually a large reason we are doing so well and selling a lot of magicJacks.Their cell phone service does not work well in their house,or their International rates are very high,or people need a phone with 911 on it for their children in their house .Then you have people who travel who save a ton of money with magicJack and other's in this economy who just can't afford Ma Bell,particularly when they do not use their home phone that often.magicJack solves all these problems and more.
As our customer service has gone through large improvements,more Phone numbers became available and word of mouth has taken over,we have actually turned a profit now.This is the first time ever,that a company has made money from acquiring customers as opposed to spending money to get that customer.So although we have less profit,we make up for it by selling many,many units.The bigger the better,or so they say.
WE have some very exciting things coming out over the next few weeks and we just released a large upgrade in the network this week.
Inventor
Dan Borislow
No offense, but it's a good thing you aren't a public company. You almost sound more dreamy than Vonage before their IPO.
Most people's primary phone is their cell phone? Really? My experience has been cell's rock for people that call each other often while mobile (and to avoid telephone toll charges). Seems like plenty of "home phones" given entry by cable companies in the phone market.
Depending on the state in the US, even disconnected phones may have 911. All cells do, provided battery is charged, whether service is subscribed to.
Travelers make sense. Course, the better hotels hit you up for a broadband fee...cheaper ones are still giving it away, but that will change I bet.
Out of curiousity, what do Customer Service improvements have to do with number block acquisitions?
I'm pretty sure Google has you beat. Hype ?
I've never ever seen Google advertise mass market since day 1
With all due respect, you really do sound like a used car salesman when he isn't under pressure. All of your statements appear to be legally defensible without being outright fraudulent.
Then again, for 20 bucks, your cheaper than a prepaid card
Then again again, not sure you are really Dan, but I do recall you posting here in the past..... | |
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ebubman
join:2002-01-17
Mechanicsburg, PA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·Comcast
| sounds too good to be true $40 for an entire year sounds too good 2 b true. with my luck i'll send them the $40 & they'll declare chapter 13 the next day. btw, anytime a company wants to take your money but fails to provide a physical address or phone #, one had better be prepared to lose the moolah. bub | |
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| baj475
join:2004-11-02
Chico, CA | Re: sounds too good to be true Be prepared to lose moolah?
At $24/mo for my home land line, not including local toll and long distance, it will pay for itself in under 2 months, no need to wait a year! | |
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| | ebubman
join:2002-01-17
Mechanicsburg, PA | Re: sounds too good to be true be prepared to lose moolah means that if you pay & they close shortly thereafter, you lose. it has nothing to do with allocating $40 over 12 months. | |
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| | | baj475
join:2004-11-02
Chico, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corp..
| Re: sounds too good to be true I wasn't allocating $40 over 12 months. Without considering savings on toll calls, the break even point for me is two months. If they go out of business after that I will not lose moolah, although it would be a pain getting replacement phone service. | |
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| | | | | | Re: sounds too good to be true said by baj475:I wasn't allocating $40 over 12 months. Without considering savings on toll calls, the break even point for me is two months. If they go out of business after that I will not lose moolah, although it would be a pain getting replacement phone service. Exactly...it's certainly more inexpensive than prepaid phone cards! | |
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 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | I'm sure MJ is in danger of being "Network Managed"... Wonder how long before "Network Management" kicks in on MagicJack.... | |
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| | | Re: I'm sure MJ is in danger of being "Network Managed"... I wonder how long after that the lawyer will run amok with anti-competetive law suits? | |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 |  Is MagicJack a Pyramid scheme?
| |
|
| Reviews:
·magicjack.com
2 edits | Re: Is MagicJack a Pyramid scheme? said by Mr Matt: Is MagicJack to good to be true? I hope that in the future, customers do not find themselves being jacked off, without aural stimulation! What's to lose? I bought 5 years of service (for about $14 a year). That's not a lot of money to lose. Even throwing $20 a year at MJ isn't a lot to lose. I'd do it just to support them and have a tool in my computer bag.
Mark | |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | scam Scam, service is free for 1 year only. And the service is partly funded by popups on the computer application and targeted telemarketing. | |
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| NanoprobeCrunching in memory of MomPremium
join:2003-05-11
Crab Nebula
kudos:1 Reviews:
·magicjack.com
·Skype
| Re: scam said by patcat88:Scam, service is free for 1 year only. And the service is partly funded by popups on the computer application and targeted telemarketing. Just for the record, the service is not free. It's $40 for the first year and $20 per year afterward. Pop-ups are not an issue with FF and I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number.
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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein | |
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| | | | Re: scam said by Nanoprobe:said by patcat88:Scam, service is free for 1 year only. And the service is partly funded by popups on the computer application and targeted telemarketing. Just for the record, the service is not free. It's $40 for the first year and $20 per year afterward. Pop-ups are not an issue with FF and I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number. You do realize even "blocked" pop-ups are bandwith used by you, right?
Just something to think about when the bandwith measurements start to take their toll...
In the US at least...
Comcast (network management)
Att (Tiered Pricing is Inevitable)
Verizon (Wireless capped)
T & Vz seem to communicate and place toes in the water by countering each other in press releases to test regulatory push back. In the end, they will price similarly | |
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| dbmavenThere's no shortagePremium,Mod
join:1999-10-26
Sty in Sky
kudos:2 Reviews:
·VOIPo
·Optimum Online
Host:
Filesharing Software
No, I Will Not Fix..
Road Runner
Bright House Netwo..
Computer Hardware ..
| Depends on how you define it.
For the 1st year, you pay for the USB device and an "account". That gets you unlimited, no additional charge calls to the US and Canada.
Subsequent years cost $20 to maintain your account, and you still get unlimited, no additional charge calls to the US and Canada.
The calls are free, maintaining an account costs you $20.
"Popups" is a bad description - the softphone application has a window where advertising could be placed, when and if they ever start using it for that purpose. For the past year, the ONLY stuff that appears in that window are messages from the company about the service.
And if you use a "regular" phone attached to the USB device, you never have to see the softphone app anyway. Plus, many people create a separate user account for the MJ app, so they never see it when using the computer. The whole "ads" thing is an overblown non-issue tossed about by people who've never used the product... | |
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| | Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| Re: scam said by dbmaven:The whole "ads" thing is an overblown non-issue tossed about by people who've never used the product... I don't think someone has to be an MJ user to have concerns about data mining for targeted ads. Or, that an emphasis on ad-generated revenue may eliminate the possibility of an ATA (always-on, unattended) device.
I'm personally not concerned about data mining. But, I understand why some are. I wouldn't say they have to use MJ for their concerns to be valid.
Mark | |
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sjr
join:2006-08-27
Osseo, MN |  Best $20 a year phone service I have used
As far as the actual service I think on 2 or 3 calls I have heard a bit of an echo on my side but it was still better than what I usually got on the cell phone and on the other end no one has noticed anything off, most figured I just got a new regular phone line when I said I had a new home phone. I suppose the only real negative for most is that your pc has to be on in order to use it but for me that is not a issue as I have a htpc I run 24/7. I do not notice anything when the pc is running something intensive, plus I run Seti on it all the time plus if it is recording a show that eats a fair bit of cpu as well and doing both it has no effect on the phone. But unlike most of the other posters saying what they are running I am using a quad core cpu. | |
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pules
join:2001-01-10
Los Angeles, CA | I'm very happy with MJ and ViaTalk I know at least 3 friends/family members I've introduced magic jack to and they LOVE it. Unfortunately, I learned about magic jack right after my 14 day trial of ViaTalk expired. At first I was very skeptical of both ViaTalk and Magic Jack, but both companies have come through and impressed me. I am very satisfied with both.
I believe a good VOIP experience is based on having a good solid ISP providing you broadband access. Good internet access = good VOIP voice line. | |
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| amarryatVerizon FiOS
join:2005-05-02
Marshfield, MA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: I'm very happy with MJ and ViaTalk said by pules:I believe a good VOIP experience is based on having a good solid ISP providing you broadband access. Good internet access = good VOIP voice line. That's been my experience. Using another VoIP provider was a bit erratic under Comcast, but under FIOS has been much better. Fewer dropped calls, sound breakups etc. | |
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 PacketeersPremium
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
kudos:1
·Time Warner Cable
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Fax Machine Compatible? I canceled my POTs years ago, and only have Dry Loop DSL at home. it would be nice to use my fax machine for incoming and outgoing faxes. will MagicJack allow me to do this seamlessly (as long as my computer is on)? I just saw it on a shopping channel, $40 for the USB stick, and $20/year subscription... but I thought the stick was free? | |
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| Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| Re: Fax Machine Compatible? said by Packeteers: I just saw it on a shopping channel, $40 for the USB stick, and $20/year subscription... but I thought the stick was free? Nope. It's $20 a year, and $20 for the USB device (one-time charge), making the first year $40. When you go through the "trial offer" you'll have the option to buy 4 years for $50. So, that's 5 years for $70, or $14 a year.
You're presented with some other "come on" offers, like to pay for expedited service. I declined those and my MJ shipped within 2 days.
Mark | |
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| Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by Packeteers:I canceled my POTs years ago, and only have Dry Loop DSL at home. it would be nice to use my fax machine for incoming and outgoing faxes. will MagicJack allow me to do this seamlessly (as long as my computer is on)? I fax through MJ with a fax program and it works just fine. Having a good connection helps, I have FIOS and with the low latency that FIOS provides, it works flawlessly, not so with my old ISP, Suscom.
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The older I get, the more I prefer to hang out with my dogs than be with humanity | |
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nitzanPremium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
kudos:2 | MagicJack's "business plan", explained. Step 1: Start a company.
Step 2: Sell a million units at $90 "for 5 years or service".
Step 3: Issue the owners 90 million in dividends.
Step 4: File bankruptcy, and live happily ever after.
MagicJack is a pure SCAM. They CANNOT and WILL NOT live up to their promised 5 years. If you think you can get your money's worth in a couple of months, go for it - but don't expect the company to be here forever. You can't get something from nothing, which is exactly what they promise. Too good to be true is NOT TRUE.
Their sales figures are MADE UP in order to attract more sales, they're trying to use the "everyone is buying it, and so should you" mentality against you.
Their 5 years promotion, as well as reporting "increased sales" are both tell-tale signs of the end. They are getting desperate for new customers and new revenue, and soon they will no longer be able to keep up with their bills.
Do yourself a favor, and get a REAL VoIP provider!!! | |
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See 48 replies to this post |
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PacketeersPremium
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
kudos:1 | will it answer when your PC saves power? does this thing still ring/pickup the phone
when your computer goes on Standby or Hibernate
to conserve electricity? or must you always
have it set full on all the time. | |
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 BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Not for me right now nearest "local" number is 20 miles away. | |
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| NanoprobeCrunching in memory of MomPremium
join:2003-05-11
Crab Nebula
kudos:1 Reviews:
·magicjack.com
·Skype
| Re: Not for me right now said by BF69:nearest "local" number is 20 miles away. That was another issue I had with their service. There were no numbers available in my area code. | |
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| | MagicJack needs an ATA And here is how they need to do it:
Their service costs $19.95/year. Thats what they want from you. They want to put ads on your dialer's screen (should you happen to use the dialer, I don't.) Apparently that is worth some $$ to them.
So why not do an ATA program? I would gladly pay the base $19.95/year and an additional $19.95/year for service (for the convenience of an ATA) and an additional $$ for the cost of the ATA. That way everyone is happy.
I don't think MagicJack is going to get more than $19.95 in advertising revenues from ads in a window inside the dialer...
Basically:
NOW : $45 initial + $19.95/year + ads in dialer window
FUTURE: $45 initial + $19.95/year + $19.95 (cost of ads) + $xx for ATA.
I would happily pay for that. Just keep it under $100. Otherwise you will be closer competing against established companies like ViaTalk, etc. | |
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| | magicjack I adore MagicJsck!! I have saved hundreds of dollars on long distance. Voice quality is excellent and I was up and calling within less than two minutes and I'm no techie! | |
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