Magic Jack

[sandangel]

Hi Everyone,

Would anyone here happen to know anything about magicjack for making calls anywhere for free? I can't seem to find much on the internet that is positive - the reviews are more on the negative side.

I have thought about downloading Skype - maybe that is a better alternative?

Thanks!

Sand

[JonathanBoettcher]

Hmm I looked into that a while ago, but unfortunately they don't offer it in British Columbia yet. If they had, I would have tried it out. You can hardly go wrong at that price.

[koolphoto]

Use it in the US. I have been using it for about 8 months. Don't have any problems with it. Occasionally, I get an echo when talking. Again, it is only occasionally. Installs easily. Just plug it into your computer and they will assign you a phone number with a local area code.

Ken

[misterwrecker]

If you want to talk to people in the US you just need the magic jack and hook it up to your computer and you plug in your existing phone.

Now if you want to talk international for example. India. You would need to send the person that you want to talk to a magic jack. Then if you both have a magic jack you could talk "free." I put free in quotes because there is a $20 yearly fee.


-John

[Scot Standke]

I use it as my primary phone line here in the US.

Works fantastic 99% of the time, and the price...

$19.95 a year

Scot

[GarrieWilson]

If its locked to a certain PC, why not just use skype and Google Voice?

[Scot Standke]

Garrie,

Actually it's not tied to a certain PC, you can take it with you and plug and go from any PC.

Does Skype offer a local number?

Can you plug a normal cordless phone into Skype?

If so, then Skype would be a great alternative.

Scot

[lisag]

I use it as my business line. Love it. No major issues other than the standard VOIP stuff like echos and the occasional dropped bit of conversation if my husband and kids are all online at the same time I am talking. The portability is an excellent feature. So is the ability to plug my main cordless phone station into it and have all of my cordless phones in the office and house live.

[George Wright]

It's a nice alternative to a cell phone when you are working with your laptop in a hot spot wifi area. I know there must be a way to hook it up to an itouch ipod but I haven't figured it out yet.

George Wright

[sandangel]

Thanks everyone for all your helpful info! The reason I need to find an affordable way to talk on the phone is because I am in Mexico most of the time and I need a cheap, reliable way to call to the US and Canada. Calling from Mexico with my landline or cell phone is terribly expensive.

So I am trying to determine if Magicjack or Skype would better suit my needs. It would be nice as well for people from the US and Canada to be able to call me when I'm in Mexico without emptying their wallet.

[internetmarketer99]

It's terrific, 5 stars. It's one of those really rare things that's super-cheap, works really well, great features, designed & implemented beautifully, and did I mention super-cheap?

Mark

[kf]

It will definately cut your costs in Mexico. With Magic Jack (MJ), anyone calling you will be calling a US #. And with MJ, you can call TO the US or Canada free (aside from your annual fee).

That said, I have a love/hate relationship with my MJ. Sometimes it works great, and other times it shuts itself down w/o warning. I haven't found it reliable enough. Having an external AC-powered USB hub is supposed to help with this.

A lot of people in Mexico just set up with Vonage from the US. Same advantages, but cost is $20/month approx. vs. $20/yr.

If you're outside the US, you can still get one even if your billing address is outside the U.S. But, they only ship to a U.S. address and only U.S. telephone numbers are available.

BTW, the customer service SUX so be sure to consider it a throw-away. Some work great, and others are just small bits of plastic you'd like to do a Mexican jumping dance on.

The major advantage I see to MJ is being able to put it in your pocket and call free to US or Canada from any computer anywhere in the world.

Originally Posted by sandangel

Thanks everyone for all your helpful info! The reason I need to find an affordable way to talk on the phone is because I am in Mexico most of the time and I need a cheap, reliable way to call to the US and Canada. Calling from Mexico with my landline or cell phone is terribly expensive.

So I am trying to determine if Magicjack or Skype would better suit my needs. It would be nice as well for people from the US and Canada to be able to call me when I'm in Mexico without emptying their wallet.

[lakshaybehl]

Actually there's a website that sells magicjack outside US.

Personally, I haven't found it very much effective... For me, most of the time the volume is way too low.

Although it never fails to function from here.. India.

-Lakshay

[sandangel]

I'm in the States right now and just found out a few minutes ago that Best Buy sells the MJ for $39. That is just up the street from me, so I will go there tomorrow and look into it.

Anyone have any tips on Skype?

[Jack Chua]

Haven't heard of it but skype is really helpful and effective in voice chats. I am kind of curious about that magic jack thing.

[koolphoto]

Yes. I have seen them being sold in Best Buy's. I got mine at my local Radio Shack. For the price of $39 and then $19.95 each additional year, I think it is worth it.

[Yogini]

Does anyone know if magicjack works with a sprint air card or is it too slow? My friend called me from Thailand to US using the magicjack and it worked about 1/2 the time, othertimes it was terrible reception and broke up constantly.

Debbie

[Vijay M]

I bought it @ the local radio shack and love it.Got a local # . I sent it to India and have been pretty pleased with the savings.

[koolphoto]

The only problem I did have was when I tried to run it on an older laptop with a Celeron processor running Vista. The computer couldn't handle Magic Jack.

[PowerWealth247]

I've been a MagicJack user for over three years now. Quite satisfied. I use my cell phone for most every call made and recieved locally and have no landline, but my use of the MagicJack may be rather unique. I grew up in central Ohio, here in the U.S. but now live several states away. MagicJack allows you a choice of area codes, so my MJ phone number has the central Ohio area code (614), this means that all calls I make on it to anywhere in North America are free ($12/yr on 5 year purchase) and my mother,brother and one of my sisters can call me from there home telephones as a local call even though we are hundreds of miles apart. Mom does not have a computer and does not quite understand why its a local call to me but she is certainly saving a great deal of money by using it. This, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the beauty of a MagicJack. No matter where I travel, those friends and family I have in the central Ohio area can call me locally so there's no long distance costs no matter who initiated the call.

[Jill Carpenter]

Originally Posted by davebo

I don't really get the appeal. IF you're not using a landline, why not just use a cellphone?

$20 is for the whole YEAR. I pay $70 a month for my cell, and if I go over in minutes it is extra.

My brother uses MJ. I have issues when he calls me sometimes on my cell.

I wanted to get one to use as a back up phone.

I use a high speed broadband card and thought I had all the necessary requirements to use it, but it didn't work. You have to have a certain upload speed and the 3g cards are not powerful enough.

I have used skype in the past without a hitch. Skype is also free if you do it by user name, and lets you talk via video as well.

There is a new 4g network being established right now that will work - but they are just starting it and it will be a while before it's available in enough places.

[MichaelHiles]

I've had Lingo, Vonage, MagicJack, and Skype.

Of those, Vonage and Skype are at the top. Then Lingo, then MagicJack.

[InternetMarketingIQ]

I believe VOIPO is the vendor HostGators owner has partnered with. Read good things about it but I do not use it. I use Skype PC to PC ... the free version. Call quality is acceptable. Obviously no telephone number assigned.

I read a lot about Magic Jack from users online and wasn't impressed. No much info on VOIPO from real users.

Chose to avoid VOIP for now... still bleeding cash to the cell phone provider.

[LegitIncomes]

I've used MagicJack for about 18 months now.

It has a habit of being able to hear the caller, but they can't hear you.
This happens about once a week. I have it on a fast connection, and a good computer, with a powered USB hub..so I'm not sure what the deal is.

Still, for $20/year it's a great deal.

[Raydal]

Originally Posted by Josh Kulp

I've used MagicJack for about 18 months now.

It has a habit of being able to hear the caller, but they can't hear you.
This happens about once a week. I have it on a fast connection, and a good computer, with a powered USB hub..so I'm not sure what the deal is.

Still, for $20/year it's a great deal.

I'm a satisfied customter for over 18 months now. Use it as a business line.
Also bought one for my sister so she can call the US for 'free'.

I think the instructions says NOT to use it on a USB hub, hence your
problems??

-Ray Edwards

[achivement84]

You can use Skype to make both local & international calls from € 0.017 per minute², You can choose a subscription to call a country that’s different from the one you live in. Also, you can make calls using your subscription from any other country for only € 9 / month.

[Reg McMicking]

I've used Magic Jack for 18 months now. Works great. I live in Canada and can't get a Canadian phone number so I use it for all my USA contacts. I of course can call out to anywhere for only $19.95 a year - no other fees.

[intromaster]

I have MagicJack too. Like someone else said, it works when it works and sucks when it sucks. I have Vonage, so that is my primary phone but I also use MagicJack when I'm on the road or when I dont want to give out my primary phone number

[LegitIncomes]

Originally Posted by Raydal

I'm a satisfied customter for over 18 months now. Use it as a business line.
Also bought one for my sister so she can call the US for 'free'.

I think the instructions says NOT to use it on a USB hub, hence your
problems??

-Ray Edwards

Hmm....well MagicJack support told me to use a POWERED USB hub with at least a certain amount of power (I forget the number), so that's what I used.

[jschop]

I had no idea about magicjack. I was about to have a phone line put in so I could stop using my cell so much, but this is a great alternative. Thanks!

[LegitIncomes]

Originally Posted by jschop

I had no idea about magicjack. I was about to have a phone line put in so I could stop using my cell so much, but this is a great alternative. Thanks!

For those interested in MagicJack, they are also sold at WalMart.
So you can go in, grab one, and not have to wait for it to arrive by mail.

[gpower2]

I've had Magic Jack for almost 2 years now. No problems, I love it.

[FaJeeb]

I use a USB phone and VOIP Buster. Wasn't very fond of Magic Jack.

[LegitIncomes]

VOIP Buster? I've never heard of that....

What USB phone do you use?

Originally Posted by misterwrecker

If you want to talk to people in the US you just need the magic jack and hook it up to your computer and you plug in your existing phone.

Now if you want to talk international for example. India. You would need to send the person that you want to talk to a magic jack. Then if you both have a magic jack you could talk "free." I put free in quotes because there is a $20 yearly fee.


-John

You could do the same thing for free using yahoo .. No cost at all...

Everyone keep in mind if you want a private number, Magic Jack cannot help you there...

I will stay with my time warner unlimited long distance ...

James

[aholmes]

I'd like to see MJ offer a caller ID function. I believe this is not yet availible.

[Jack Chua]

I've asked a friend about it and magic jack is very useful for him. He bought one that is for US and Canada and is planning to buy another for Asian countries. He says it is worth it for the price he paid.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by aholmes

I'd like to see MJ offer a caller ID function. I believe this is not yet availible.

I get caller ID on mine.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet

You could do the same thing for free using yahoo .. No cost at all...

Everyone keep in mind if you want a private number, Magic Jack cannot help you there...

I will stay with my time warner unlimited long distance ...

James

What do you mean by a "private number"? Do you mean unlisted?

[JMB Marketing Group]

Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher

Hmm I looked into that a while ago, but unfortunately they don't offer it in British Columbia yet. If they had, I would have tried it out. You can hardly go wrong at that price.

Hi Jonathan,

Actually, you do have access to it.

Here's a story that was aired in Vancouver, BC just a few months ago from a fellow who lives here in BC. Here's his story.

Enjoy!

CTV British Columbia- Does Magic Jack deliver on distance call plan? - CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television

JMB

Originally Posted by lisag

What do you mean by a "private number"? Do you mean unlisted?

Hi Lisa,
Yes .. personally I dislike spam calling as much as I dislike spam online..

James

[cragar]

For some reason or another that MJ support has not been able to help me with I do not recieve land line calls and have had no help in resolveing this issue. There support team is Script read by IM typers and they are useless.Had it for six months and still can only get cell phones to be able to call in.No Landlines.Take it for what it's worth!19.95 yr.

[aduer]

Sand, the problem with Magic Jack is that it takes resources away from your computer so it will slow it down. Magic Jack is great to take with you on the road. I prefer OOMA. It is a bit pricier (~$240 one time for hardware) but then there is no annual fee

Armando

[aholmes]

Originally Posted by lisag

I get caller ID on mine.

I think I'll cancel my Vonage and get one then.
Thanks

[GFox]

I've used been using magicjack for around 6 months now, and I'd give it around 4 out of 5 stars. I do not use it for business, only because the sound quality is not always consistently good. To make it work at it's best, you need to make sure that your computer has USB 2.0, otherwise it will be a nightmare in overall functionality. If you are running into unexplaind problems, you may need to buy an external powered USB hub (make sure it is powered - meaning you have to plug it into the electric wall outlet). That will usually fix it.

[sandangel]

Hey Everyone,

I am happy to report that I bought the MagicJack at Best Buy while I was in the US - back in Mexico now. So far it has worked GREAT!

In reference to what a previous poster said, I figured it would slow down a computer a fair amount so what I do is keep the MJ hooked up to my netbook, that way I work on my big laptop with no worries of having any lagging. I have caller ID as well.

The MJ is plugged directly into a 2.0 usb on my netbook, as the instructions suggest. I keep the netbook on and the MJ connected while I am home but disconnect it when I go to bed, as it does seem to make the netbook run on the warm side.

I am not familiar with Skype but most likely will go ahead and download it on my main laptop. Does anyone know if it takes a lot of resources to download Skype?

Sand

[Jaz]

I'm a ooma fan too. I've had it for a little while and I haven't had any problems. I am only limited to 5000 minutes a month, but I'm barely breaking 500.

I like the one time cost and I loved it when I went online to set it up and it never once asked me for a credit card.

[intromaster]

Aholmes,

I wouldnt do it. MagicJack is a good, useful tool if you are on the road or need to use a phone in a hurry but not a permanent telephone solution... i know, I have MagicJack and Vonage.

I use Vonage as my main/primary phone . I use magicjack when vonage interrupts my phone service for non-payment and eventually get around to paying them..

[candyeagle]

I've had Vonage for about 3 or 4 yrs. I was about 80% happy with it when I had Cable America. In January, I switched to Charter and my Vonage is almost non-useable now. I can hear people but they can't hear me often, on just about every call. The only reason I'm keeping Vonage is because I'm waiting for MJ (which I bought a few months ago on Ebay (saving tax, gas and time) to be able to transfer the phone # I've had for 25 yrs.

I've only used MJ a few times but I'm not sure if Charter isn't going to also affect people hearing me on MJ. Also, I haven't been able to get on conference calls with MJ. There may be a way to do it but that's when I just use my Cricket cell w/unlimited minutes. One thing I like about MJ, aside from the price and portability, is that I can talk hands free by plugging it into my Mac usb and using the built in speakers and mic.

When I'm able to transport my number over to MJ, I'll probably use Call Centric as a voip backup because it's much cheaper than Vonage.

[jaybaker]

MagicJack is a wonderful piece of equipment for those that are on the move constantly through out the country/world or whom would like to become location interdependent. I currently am debating on if I should get another one to use for personal use(as I have one as a business line). You also have an option after you purchase to pay for five years up front at a cost of approx $55 one time fee! I love IT!