Anyone use MagicJack?
 

I'm thinking for $20 a year might be good for the home phone that I use maybe 4or5 times a month.

$30 a year now, but you get a free year when ya buy it. and buy a magicjack plus, you have to keep your computer on 24/7 with the older ones

dont order it online

I'm thinking about just dumping the home phone completely.

I bought one of the old ones and it was the absolute work piece of crap ever. The reception was horrible, had to keep your computer on, the program would bog down or conflict with other things I was doing and crash all the time.

We just picked one up. Land line is being cancelled in the next couple of days.

Everyone in the family has a cell and rarely use the land line anyhow.

This one just plugs directly into the router (or optionally you can plug it into a computer).

So far it seems alright.

I've had the old one for over a year, works great only complaint is that damn incoming call popup, as if the fucking phone ringing didnt make what was going on obvious enough. Sounds like you need a new computer.. zero bog here.

NO issues with mine.. I just use it to call home.. not to receive calls

That's us as well, I like my Vonage service but as much as we use it, thinking to go cheaper.

I have had it for a couple years. Love it. Best to have a router with QOS ability as that helps a lot. The magicjack plus is ideal since it doesn't have to use your computer. You just plug into the wall and your router.

I had vonage before that, and MJ is far better reception for me and the person on the other end of the call. They all told me the MJ reception was way clearer.

Yeah I use it, it's good.

MJ is ok but if you just want outgoing functionality Google phone has better quality connections and is free.

Really useful specially if you travel overseas to call the states.

:2 cents: :2 cents:

What a POS. Never worked right, annoying popups, etc etc etc.

Though you can't beat the yearly rate there are many reasons why it is so cheap IMO.

I, for one, will never use their shitty service again.

Google would be the last company I'd ever use for phone service. They have enough of my info already. Next they'll be monitoring my sleeping habits with Google Alarm Clock. :disgust

I love mine! no issues with reception either

Reviews say that while the actual VOIP service is good, there are some issues to consider.

Their customer service sucks. Better Business Bureau gives them an F grade.

During the setup process you have to be careful what you click to avoid accidentally being charged for additional stuff. Sneaky cross sales, in other words.

Many people object to their TOS, calling their software spyware.

When Boing reported on these concerns, MagicJack filed a baseless lawsuit to cost them money and intimidate them, according to the ruling. The court ruled that MagicJack knew the critism was true and they were not trying to win the lawsuit, just intimidate the media into not reporting on MagicJack's unethical behavior.

MagicJack was ordered to pay Boing $50,000 as a penalty for filing the bogus suit.

I tried it a few years and it fucking sucked. Maybe it has improved since then.

I wouldn't.

Even though your home phone is old analog technology, it is still the most reliable and best sounding system of phones ever. When I'm working I use Skype, as well as a hardware VOIP and Software VOIP, and of course my cellphone. For the most part everything works but there are always small annoying issues, and you may not have 911 service with VoIP or Magicjack and if you did, 911 might not be local to you. I would keep my home phone just for security sake.

$480/yr vs $30/yr + you can enter your address for 911.

I've been using a MagicJack at home now for 4 years ... and I've got my mother one, her boyfriend, my sister ... and they all LOVE IT!!

I use mine on a spare dedicated Pentium 4 box with 2GB of RAM ... have the computer set to prioritize BACKGROUND applications, set the virtual memory at 2536MB for both upper and lower limits, so Windows is not constantly trying to optimize the virtual memory, and TURNED OFF AUTOMATIC UPDATES!!! I also put the computer in the DMZ of my router.

I have not rebooted it since a power failure we had in the fall ... and my magicjack works awesome!

I've considered buying the new "MagicJack Plus" that plugs directly into the wall AC outlet and requires no computer, but to be honest, our hydro electricity is so cheap here, that having this computer on 24/7 is not a concern.

I use the MagicFeatures and SkyJack plugins, and have access to all my call logs by using the computer too, so I am really in no hurry to upgrade.

**FOR THE GUY WHO SAID HE HATES THE POPUP WINDOW** Check the page linked above - the MagicSilence plugin will solve the popup window when you receive a call.

By my own estimates, I save well over $1000 per year using MagicJack as opposed to a POTS phone line ... and yes I used to have vonage ... this costs the same for a year pretty much as what Vonage was costing me monthly, and to be honest, MagicJack's call quality is much better than Vonage. Every 20 or so calls with Vonage I would get an annoying echo, or noise on the line. Sure hanging up and calling back solved it 9 out of ten times, but it was an annoyance I do not have with MJ ...

I absolutely without any doubts highly recommend MagicJack! My entire family are happy customers! :thumbsup

Mark ... MagicJack has full 911 services for at least 3 years now - even in Canada!

It's good for personally use but I wouldn't use it for a business! If you don't answer it says magic jack customer is not available right now, not good for business!

^^^ that's only if you do not change your VM greeting Dave ...

Go into the VM admin, and "change TEMPORARY greeting" :winkwink:

The music on hold is actually a nice touch for business ..

I've used MJ for years, but kept it on a spare computer. When MJ+ became available a while back, I bought one. Picked up a Vtech phone at Target, plugged it in my router and it works perfect. Best bang for your buck in home phones.

I've never used it myself, but have several friends that have been using for years and they LOVE it!! From what I've heard, it's definitely worth it. I should do so myself actually. Thanks for bringing this up! :)

We have relatives in the PI and they have internet cafes so my wife talks to them on one all time. My business phone is MJ too. No problems unless I am talking to my doctors office but it doesn't matter which phone I use with them.

must be your Magic Touch :winkwink:

:1orglaugh

If you like spyware on your pc and paying for it, have fun.
Magicjack is total spyware, it's right there in their EULA that nobody reads.

I've been using the jack for two years now. You cant beat it. I used to use it as voicemail only cuz you could get emails sent to you when a message was left. I'm not the type to leave it running on the pc 247.

Now I'll use it to make calls when I know Im gonna be a long time and dont want to use my minutes on the cell. plus the cell can cut out (f-ing ATT).

The call quality is good - I have even faxed from it. and these days they got a jack that doesnt need a pc anymore - plugs into an ac socket and voila - phone service. OK that ones more expensive but if you want to have incoming calls 247 70 bucks your first year still blows away anyone else.

my 2 cents
M.Ghost

I don't :pimp

YOU ARE WRONG

I make a living removing spyware from computers every day, and MJ is not spyware ... It calls out to the MJ servers quite often .... but this is what ensures you have a dedicated connection to the server, so that you can receive calls in real time

MJ servers are:
ww4.magicjack.com
ww5.magicjack.com
ww6.magicjack.com
ww7.magicjack.com
ww8.magicjack.com

I dont know what you are trying to imply .. but MJ is not any type of Malware.

I have one but just use the forwarding. Setup a great vanity # when I initially registered. When I have used it to make calls voice quality was very clear and I had no issues. I would use it more but I live on my cell phones these days.

magic jack plus you dont need internet just plug it into a router