Cheap phone service: MagicJack
Remember when long-distance calls were so expensive that you watched the clock while talking?
Nowadays, landline phone service — especially long-distance — has become a lot less expensive, with unlimited long-distance added to many calling packages.
But an even cheaper service is MagicJack at www.magicjack.com. It’s unlimited phone calling using your high-speed Internet connection. It includes the usual extras such as CallerID and voicemail, for $20 a year. That’s not a typo — a year. (Actually, $19.95)
I have it myself and use it at home as a business phone line. Here’s what you need to know:
–What is it? MagicJack is a small device. On one end is a USB connection that you plug into your computer. The other end is a standard phone jack that you plug your phone into with a common phone cord.
–How does it work? You dial a regular phone number on a regular phone and the person on the other end picks up with their regular phone. They won’t even know you’re using the service.
–How much does it really cost? Mine was $46 shipped. That’s essentially $20 for the device, $20 for the first year of service and $6 shipping.
–How’s the quality? The quality is quite good. I would describe it as not quite as good as a phone-company line but better than a cell phone. Quality is likely to depend on how good your Internet connection is.
–Is it easy to install? MagicJack basically installs itself once you plug it into your computer. However, I got an error message “TargetDir not specified.” I went to the MagicJack Web site and saw I had to download upgraded software for the Vista operating system, which I use. After that, everything went mostly fine.
I say “mostly fine” because I had a couple minor problems. For example, I couldn’t set up voicemail until I shut down MagicJack and restarted it. Then a few weeks later, the service stopped working, giving me a weird message about registering, which I had already done. Resetting my router fixed that problem.
–Am I tethered to my computer? No. Plug in a cordless phone base station to MagicJack and use the service anywhere in the house.
–Do I have to have my computer on? Yes. This is the primary drawback. You have phone service as long as your computer is on and your high-speed (Cable/DSL) Internet connection is working.
–Can I keep my phone number? No. This is another drawback, if you were considering using MagicJack as your primary phone number. But you can choose your area code for a new phone number.
–Can I use it away from home? Yes. As long as your computer is getting an Internet connection, wired or wireless, your MagicJack should work. That means you can use it with a laptop while traveling. Or give it to a family member overseas, who can call home for $20 a year.
In sum, I’d readily recommend getting MagicJack as a second phone line — for a talkative teenager, for example. However, I’d recommend trying it out before ditching your primary phone line.
FYI: I have no affiliation with MagicJack, other than being a paying customer.
Have you used MagicJack? What’s been your experience? Share your comments.
Interesting review. 2 major Cons to this device: 1: you willingly agree to all the ad garbage and tracking of your activity. 2: Not all usa area codes are available.They cant tell you when yours will even be implemented. Try calling for pizza with a long distance number! They wont deliver. On a positive note- the device itself is a gadget that once it catches on for the travelers who dont need a homebase phone, its well worth the money!
Most area codes are available, but the list isn’t easy to find. You must go to http://help.magicjack.com/SupportFaq/Browse.aspx and click on the ninth category out of thirteen: “Phone numbers” (fifth from the bottom). They say that other areas will be added within the next few months, so check back then if you might be interested.
They are a licensed CLEC in 49 or 50 states, which is one reason they will survive, even when the Telcos sue the other stand-alone VOIP providers out of business, as they’re doing with Vonage. In the next few years, Vonage will cost as much as a VOIP line from AT&T, Verizon or Comcast or they’ll fold. If any of the others like ViaTalk start to approach the size of Vonage, watch the Telco’s lawyers go after them too. So far, Vonage is 10 times the size of any of it’s other stand-alone VOIP competition, which is why Sprint and Verizon have beaten them in lawsuits adding up to about $200 million already.
With only 2 million customers, that means that Vonage will soon have to find a way to get an average of $100 more out of each existing customer. That’s on top of the $100 each that it costs to acquire new customers, which is what put SunRocket out of business already. That and a short-sighted business plan, that failed when their new signups tapered off. They were underfunded to start, and tried to solve that by charging $199 up front, but that fell apart like a ponzi scheme when the cost of providing service to many existing customers was no longer being funded by lots of incoming accounts.
The magicJack ads will appear in the softphone window that pops up when you dial a call, but it’s easy to drag it off the edge of the screen, so only 1/8 of an inch shows, or you can minimize it to the tray (not even on the task bar) as soon as it pops up — big deal.
Your PC only needs to be on if you want to make or receive calls on the magicJack. If you have incoming calls forwarded to your cell phone or another landline, the PC doesn’t even need to be on to receive calls and the popup won’t even appear on forwarded incoming calls. The forwarding is done at their switch, whether the PC is on or not. The same is true for voicemail - it works without keeping the PC on.
However, you won’t know you have voiceemail until you turn on the PC. I have phones and callerID devices that flash an LED when voicemail is waiting, but only when connected the an active line, meaning that the magicJack has to have a live connection to the internet through the PC.
Hi - just wanted to say good design and blog - cu
I just want to return this piece of junk. I’m giving you 3 hours to E-mail me or call me @ 732-961-3057 and give me a phone number that is yours not(561-215-1407) I’m reporting you to the BETTER BUSINESS . I’m mailing your garbage back on 3/10/08 and I’m going out of my way to get you shut down and prosacuited. OH ! the phoney number your listing is calling the phone company also.
I think I speak for everyone reading this blog when I say “What drugs are you on Bob Stearn ?”.
I haven’t bought my MagicJack yet, but all the reviews look pretty positive. You don’t even say WHY you think it’s junk.
Then you threaten to report someone who is merely REVIEWING the item, and is in no way affiliated with it to the Better Business. Whose better business you are reporting him to … well.. ok, maybe you just don’t know how to spell bureau, which wouldn’t surprise me in the least. I also have no idea how a phony number can call anything, let alone the phone company.
Gregory, you might have stipulated in your review that to use the MagicJack, the consumer must possess an IQ above 50.
Luckily, mine hovers around 165, so I don’t anticipate any issues when mine arrives. I’ll be back to post my review after it arrives.
I got my magicJack just yesterday, and it installed itself with only a minor glitch or two. I tested it both ways, out and in, and it works fine. Voice quality is not bad. My only drawback is that although I live in NC, I had to pick another state (I chose GA) for my number, since they don’t have any NC area codes yet. I contacted their customer service chat (which is really great, by the way-very responsive) and they assured me they would have NC area codes soon, and I can change my number then. I plan to use it as a business phone, primarily, so it won’t matter if I shut off my computer at night. My card has not been charged for it yet, so they are true to their promise of a “30 day free trial” so far, except for $2.95 for faster shipping, which got it to me the next business day - by snail mail, no less. I have contacted customer service chat one more time in regard to an error message I keep getting, and which re-appeared when I tried to “optimize.” Again, they responded right away. One other glitch I was able to handle myself, with their online self-help service, was that the device “hijacked” my computer sound, so that You-Tube videos had no sound. I was able to reset my computer sound system through the control panel, and learned from the magicJack onsite help page that you should not set magicJack as your default sound. Duh! I never did that, but turning my computer off overnight and then rebooting this morning is what (apparently) changed my sound setting. I’ll know better if that is what happened after repeating that process tonight and tomorrow morning.
HELP, I am having trouble using my magic jack - and
accessing my voice mail. And I cannot find a “help” site!
Mary, I’ve wasted 3 hours trying to get voicemail working. It di for awhile when I first set it up but hasn’t since. The only help available is from the majicjack.com website in their FAQs. They do have online/chat support but it is worthless for voicemail problem solving.
The regular phone functions of receivng and calling appear to be working fine though sometimes have to try to dial outgoing calls multiple times.
I can’t be sure, but the problems I’ve been experiencing point to an overloaded system, i.e., can’t put calls through on first attempt and voicemail must be sucking up too many resources.
So, bottom line for me, the voice mail was a deal breaker, so I’ve gotten an RMA already and it is going back. It is a nice concept but the execution is lacking. I foolishly didn’t do the 30-day trial. Hopefully I’ll get my money back after returning.
Good luck to you.
We just received our Magicjack for a computer not even a month old, and installation was relatively painless but far from “instant easy”. Registration kept informing me that i’d already registered a password/usename, which is impossible as i ordered over the phone with not a click or clack of the magicJack website. but got that resolved with an chat with tech support. My primary problem with this thing is that when ordering via phone/web, there should be a area code confirmation. We ordered with big hopes of saving monies only to find out our metro area isn’t covered in magicJack’s area code data base. Very poor sales/customer loyalty from the get-go if you ask me…sell it now, worry about them being able to use it later! And yes, i understand the return policy…poor sales tactics just the same.
I’m having a problem receiving calls. They are going directly to my voice mail.
How can I correct this problem????
McKinley
My majicjack died. I have had no problems up till today and enjoy the service. I cannot get help from website. can I get an email with instructions on how to replace. It kicks in and out and will not stay connected to usb port. tried without extention cable and on two separate machines. blue light flickers and usb sounds about every 5 seconds.
I’ve had mine since middle of March an am satisfied… Now an then I have to reboot my machine a coupla times to get the software working correctly…
I’m hopping one day I’ll be able to use it with the Linux platform for at present my magicjack is my only reason for having a windows installation…
Call me conservative or even cheap, but I have the magicjack cause of low cost and use Linux for same reason…
There are a lot of glitches. Seem to be parts incompatibility………
After one month, no problems with my Magicjack. It was easy to install and use. A good internet connection is important. I use the Packet 8 voip test. My quality of service is usually in the 90% or above range. Packet loss is 0% and jitter is minimal.Less than 1 ms. My download speed is 1.10 Mbps and upload at 255 kbps. Latency is less than 100 ms. The MOS is usually at 4.2. Magicjack works very well 95% of the time. Occasionally at night there is a little choppiness. I am keeping my Magicjack. It has already almost paid for itself in LD savings.
Hope someone can help me.
I have an DSL internet connection through a cable company but do not have a land line telephone. I use a cell phone.
Since I don’t have a land line connected to any telco will I be able to use majicjack?
Lawson Phaby
I paid the 2 year service and bought two MJ…..the first Magic jack is crap for me, so i check the second…same results on FOUR seperate comps… my connection is 54 mbs high speed… Customer service chat is bait & switch…they mill around and ask same questions…the voice quality is a -1 from 1-10 scale. the devices both jitter,stutter and lag with echo and cracking pops as one talks, not legible…No fixes work online on MJ site….they lie to me everytime i chat and dont help…. Im looking into a class action law suit… if you know one already going, contact me. STAY AWAY from MAGIC JACK.
I bough mine 2 month ago, a week ago it stopped working, when I connect it it takes me to the MJ website instead of opening the MJ touchtone keypad.
I was very happy with it until a week ago, I get a dial tone but the software does not starts, I tried the online chat thing but after 3 hours I am not kidding guys, they were totaly useless and unnable to help me, they told me I could not get a repleacement because I was over the 30 day period but, when I said I wanted to cancel my account they inmidiatly agreed to send me another replacement, I was happy until the next day when I say another email saying I was charged 46 dollars again, I mean I paid the initial 20 for the year contract and now I am being charged again.
Very funny uh?
MJ would be great if you could buy another device from wallmart or Circuit city instead of having to paid shipping and handling everytime you MJ dies on you, because it will eventually for all the stories I’ve read over the internet, it is the same history over and over again; people who are ‘happy’ until it dies and you get stucked with a piece of cheap plastic that could not be used for paper weight.
Good luck to all of you want to buy this this thing, if you do, make sure you do not I repeat DO NOT cancel your regular phone, MJ and its people will let you hanging, and they do not care.
Just had the jack for two days. Been trying to get area code for this area. They say coming soon, don’t return it yet. You’ll get two area codes for the price of one. Don’t know what to do. Still have 27 days to try it out. Voice is choppy, like cell phones sometimes display.
June 25, 2008- supposed to be last day of free trial offer.
I have order the majic jack and, I have not received it at all the payment was taken out of my account the same day that it was ordered I have yet to have received it at all. The payment was not to be taken at that time. I would like a refund and reimburse for you making me have insuffient funds on my account, becaue you did not take the payment as requested. And if I don’t receive my refund and reimbursement of my money This will be going to the BBB. I order this majic jack on May 30, 2008, and have not even seen anything saiding its in the mail. Please respond soon. ONE DAY!!!!!! I WILL GIVE!!!! People need to know what you are going to do about a product that does not work. And a contact number for some one to talk too. CONTACT ME BY EMAIL . Donald Houston,Tx July 4,2008 at 10:38am So Don’t get this junk, I have not received it at all and have problems already.I have not gotten it. They have my money, I and I have nothing. Donald.
Hey Donald, ordered mine on July 4th too, from San Antonio. Pretty slick infomercial! No customer service, can’t reach anyone on “Live chat 24/7″ just get tossed around website. The number for MagicJack obtained from directory assistance leads to a full mailbox. I’ve already been charged twice though only ordered one. HEY ATTORNEYS start Class action please! Contacting Bad Business Bureau/Rip Off report website. BBB folks is a waste of time!