magicJack, a new VoIP service provider, allows cheap phone calls from a computer using a USB device that connects on one end to your PC and your home analog phone on the other. It has an interesting pricing model that is reminiscent of SunRocket's $299/year one-time fee - though much cheaper. The MagicJack sells for between $29.95-$39.95, and then there's an annual license fee of $19.95 for unlimited calls in the U.S., Canada and portions of Europe. Compare that with Vonage's $24.99/month for unlimited U.S. domestic calling.According to MagicJack, it's a simple 45-60 second setup.
1. Plug any phone cord into the magicJack
2. Plug magicjack into a USB port on your computer.
3. Wait 60 seconds for completion screen to appear, then dial your phone and talk for free.
It features Follow-Me, free calls to the U.S. when you take the magicJack to any country. Call Forwarding, CallerID, Call Waiting, and Voicemail will be available April 2007. Don't expect e911 emergency services though.
On a related note, I have a similar product in my VoIP labs called myJabber. It too is a USB-based VoIP device, though myJabber is more similar to the Vonage V-Phone I reviewed since they both uses a softphone for calls rather than an actual analog phone like magicJack does. Essentially, magicJack is an analog telephony adaptor (ATA).
Technorati
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Digg
twitter
Dear Tom Keating:
The magicJack product allows a user to access free inbound and outbound U.S. calling, but your review has one inaccuracy.
Th outbound calling feature, associated with the magicJack, will come with full access to E911 and 911 service where available and subject only to the same limitations that effect other VoIP aplications like power failure and lack of broadband connection. Full E911 and 911 terms and conditions will be available at launch.
Watch for our official launch in April.
Donald Burns,
Chief Executive Officer
This review needs to be updated. Magicjack has been released for at least a couple of months now. While searching for the reviews I came across this website and another one with a short pointed review http://www.recipedelights.com/voip.htm#magicjack
I bought MagicJack a month ago.
Though it is a great piece with awesome voice quality and easy of installation, I would rate it 1 / 10 when it comes to reliability.
I sent it to India where they have broadbacd connection. And yet I am never ever able to make calls on the MagicJack. It works only 50% of the times. So it really defeats the purpose. I did rather pay a few $$$ more and get Skype, Vonage so atleast get 100% reliability.
I do believe that its got a great potential but right now its in a very immature stage. But it surely has the ability to give Skype, Vonage a hard time. But thats 6-12 months later CETAINLY not now.
Has anybody else sent/used this phone oversees/India and can tell if it works and receives calls?
For a detailed review on using the device overseas and it's limitations take a look at my review on techezy.com
I put a magicJack on my PC about ten days ago and am guessing that people giving this thing positive reviews work for the company that manufactures it. Either that or these people are the type who enjoy spam and popup advertisements. For anyone reading this, I don't want to waste your time, so here's the scam behind magicJack and why you should avoid it like the plague: ADS POP UP ON YOUR SCREEN EVERY TIME YOU MAKE OR RECEIVE A PHONE CALL, INTERRUPTING WHATEVER PROGRAM YOU ARE WORKING IN.
Even though you use your regular phone keypad, every time you use magicJack, a telephone keypad pops up on your screen. Why does an unnecessary telephone keypad pop up on your screen, when you are using your regular telephone keypad? So these jerks can force you to look at the advertising that's on the popup keypad. You can almost rest assured that this little magicJack device is also tracking your every move on the Internet so it can target these annoying popup advertisements. The reason I believe this is because my PC slowed down considerably after I connected magicJack, so much so that there is a noticeable lag whenever I type something in MS Word or Outlook. When I turn off magicJack, my PC works fine.
I ordered it on Sunday night.. got it by Wednesday mail. Plug it in my Gateway laptop with Vista.. Installed the build-in software, registered it in 12 minutes and made my first call in 15 minutes after plugging it in. I would rate it pretty simple to get it up and running.. THE quality on the calls? ITS better than Yahoo! or skype... but no match to Vonage. Its okay as a cheap alternate 2nd phone.. But as your primary phone.. don't even try it! The sonda quality is okay..whether you are running a program or not. It will skip.. and hopefully they can work on it!! from 0-10.. 10 being the highest would rate it 6.5 will prolly keep it... even if I use it sparingly.. HAD high hopes that it would be like Vonage.. its not good enough to replace it!!!!
Well it is 40 dollars for a unit and a years worth of service. It is excellent! It is not meant to have cheap Indian outsourcing firms to use this. THUS IT SAYS YOU CAN ONLY USE WITH THE USA and CANADA. Though you can kinda of fool it, you cheap outsourcing scumbags have no clue what you speak of. They made it this way to prevent corporate scumbags that illegally outsource and scam to have the SIP prevented from quality. Stupid people that bought 20-200 and try to set them up on a cisco catalyst are going to get the cheap quality they deserve when running outside the US and Canada. Because they wanted to not listen to what they bought and scam as usual
Well, my husband ordered this piece of crap which worked for about a week and we were only supposed to be charged 39.99 but, they charged us $170.00 and no contact info came with it no return or anything DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY PEOPLE!!!!!
Tina, here's a phone number for MajicJack: 561-317-2834. I'm sure you'll get a voice mail, but it's the only number available for these jerks. If you can't get hold of anyone, just call your credit card company and dispute the charge.
This Magicjack gadget sounds like a typical corporate ripoff to me. I had a similar problem to this when I subscribed to Vongo internet movies by STARZ. There is no customer service access, when I tried to stop the service by mail, I got double-billed. The only alternative left is to cancel my credit card completely; which requires paying off all outstanding balances.
Kind of a big hassle, for a supposedly "inexpensive service". First you pay the $40 forthe gadget then the $20 for the service; then if you contact them they double up each time --NO THANKS !!!
Dear Tina,
There is a Return procedure on the web site www.magicjack.com. If you only ordered one (1) magicjack, plus regular shipping and no additional years of service, then you certainly should not have been billed $170.
Please email me with your order number from your original order confirmation email and/or shipping email. I will get rightback to you on what you were billed and a RMA is you want to return the jack.
Don Burns
Chairman of the Board
don.burns@magicjack.com
people, please do not get magicjack, not worth it.
Stop Jerking me around, MagicJack-Off!!!
I refer to this company as jackoffs because they charged my debit card 25 days into
my 30 day trial period - bouncing two checks! It's a no-no to give out debit card
#'s on the internet; but a $1.2 million dollar heart attack & 2 month coma wiped
out my credit as well as my health. Hence VOIP. Anyway, back to the point. Not only
did they break their contract with me; they're dragging their heels in giving me a
refund number; probably hoping they can say that I went over their 30 days trial
period by not returning their product in a timely fashion. I had to go through the
hassle of disputing this directly with my bank. PAIN IN THE AARRGGGGHH!
I was going to cancel in due course anyway - most everyone I called received a wicked echo or couldn't hear me unless I was shouting! YES - I tried all of their "magic fixes" from their website to improve the call quality; To no avail...
When I first installed this crapware - I found THIRTEEN different applications
associated with it in my firewall... I disabled nineof them - but FOUR of these
"services" HAD to be enabled for this POS to work - THREE TOO MANY FOR MY TASTE!
And they were all named with obfuscating names like "in00000" & such...
In addition, MagicJackOff would not give me the local area code that I live in - How much you wanna bet they make money off all the local folks that have to call me long distance?! Sheer speculation, I know, but still... Do NOT trust MAGICJACKOFF!!! - Hasta la fuego, Magic Jack-Offs! - POS's!
Ordered during "free" trial promotion. Card was not supposed to be charged until after 30 days. Got charged PRIOR TO RECEIVING the device. Received device, it did not work. Spent over 6 HOURS with tech support, no one could fix the problem! Tried the same remedies 5 different times, to no avail. When I asked to send it back, they refused to give my money back, even though it was never installed and was on Day 1 of the trial period! Every tech REFUSED to take my return. I filled out a complaint with the Attorney General and have hired an Attorney to get my money back!
MagicJack is a SCAM!
I have had a great experience with Magicjack. Quality great and setup was easy.
Just got my MagicJack yesterday and installed it right away. I just follow the instructions and did the magic fix also and then called my brother in Texas. I got connected instantly and was talking to my brother without any problems. At night, I decided to call my niece who is in Dubai but before i can do that I have to bur the pre paid thing which cost me $10.00 for 43 minutes. It's more expensive than the phone card but I was just testing the magicjack. I am very satisfied with the results since i was connected and was able to talk to my niece for the whole duration of the money put in. Because of that I decided to order three more so that I could send it my niece and to other relatives of mine in other parts of the world. Very important is that you should have a High speed internet connection.
So I really don't know why there are a lot of you guys having problem using the device not unless your not what you are!!!!
If anyone has the phone # for MagicJack could you please e-mail it to me, so I can cancel it. It is only free if you call someone eles with a magicjack. They don't tell you that until you are connected. Thank you in advance. Jacquie
I'm with Jack and Vic.
Received the device about a week ago. Works fine, and quality of call is much better than cellphones, or at least as good. We use at a summer place on wireless broadband. Eliminates a more expensive cellphone solution there.
We have used Vonage since 2003, and Vonage is slightly better quality, but magicJack has the price advantage.
Checked my online Visa account and no billing has occurred for even the shipping cost.
As currently working, magicJack is a keeper.
Amazing how many users are willing to accept adware programs, especially when they have to PAY for those programs. Read their terms of service policy, section 11, Advertisements. Their magicPage software that must run on your host is adware. Oh joy, you get to pay for spam.
I ordered three magic Jacks. One for each of my two daughters and one for me. None of them work on with our vista operating systems. I have tried to contact the company but to no avail. The "live person" contact does not respond. They charged $200.00 to my credit card right away. There is no return address, or anything. WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM.
Dear Jacquie, magicJack provides free calls to anybody in the US and Canada. The person you are calling does not need to have a magicJack. jack-to-jack calls are also free globally between jack users. If you want an RMA, simply go online and ask chat for one to mail jacks back.
Dear AdwarePhobic:
magicJack does not spam. The only potential custom content that the company may serve is at some future date in the media window on the softphone that appears when you use your jack. Content would be served from our servers and not from any software on your computer. There is no adware, by any definition, loaded or stored on your computer -- ever.
If you do buy a couple of Magicjacks, buyer beware about their shipping rip-off.
They do not honor the receipt they show you at the time of purchase.
You receipt will say one thing, but the actual bill on your Credit Card will be higher.
This is documented fraud exercised by this company, but since its "only" $6.95 per order, no one seems to care.
Since they have no Customer Support phone or EMail address, you cannot contact them about this type of problem.
Your only recourse is to go through your Credit Card company and demand a refund....not exactly a painless thing to do.
Like I have seen elsewhere...wait for a legitimate company to run with this idea.
Remember; to use this, you must already be paying for the Internet.
No one should be thinking this wasn't a foreseeable device, just like Email is to Postal Mail.
A few years back, everyone was shocked at the notion of sending "Mail" without paying for a stamp.
There will be better thought-out products soon (like one's that don't need a computer) that work the same way.
Well I've been using the Magic Jack for about 15 to 20 days or so now and I must say I love it! I have had no problems installing I must say very little problem with quality. It was echoing a bit when I first got it but now nothing. I can't tell I'm not using my AT&T land line truely. I am not a real international or really even much long distance user so I can't say much in that arena. I would "ALMOST" cut my line completely and use cell phone but it's nice to have a house phone from time to time so I'm safe to use the magic jack 100% as my only line. I did have to buy new phones because I have the older "non-sattelite" system so i paid $80 and bought a nice 3 phone dect panasonic 3 phone set and LOVE THEM!!! I also have 2 cell phones in the house for reliability and emergency if the Magic Jack is down at all (Which it has never been to date). I believe a couple great points made was to have a great computer and an excellent high-speed internet service. I have both of these and almost zero problems. I'm sure as with any new service it will only get better. I also seen on their website a new version just for Vista users so i updated but didn't notice any changes really. I don't like the forced popups and the spyware aspects. I did a live chat and the rep told me they are working on fixing a way to keep forced pop-ups from happening so we'll see on that. In the meantime, is there some hackers out there who can think of a way to keep the program "invisible" while keeping your service active? Thanks!
Just like everything else, you are going to
have happy and unhappy campers.
I live in a very rural area in Oregon. Our
only choices for phone service here are a
local company (which nobody wants to deal
with)or VOIP. We used to use the local phone
co. and their DSL. Almost every time we had
the slightest rain..... no phone or internet.
FINALLY we eliminated them completely and
went cellular phones and hooked up with a
local 'POINT to POINT' wireless/radio isp
which is 384k as opposed to our old dsl
which was (supposedly) 256k. We tried
Vonage.... SUCKED BIG TIME! We tried Lingo..
which worked fine but cost $25 per month.
Saw Magicjack commercial and figured...
'What the heck... let's give it a try'.
Ordered it, got delivered within a week,
hooked it up, software loaded, worked fine!
The ONLY problem we have is when we check
our voicemail. If we call it with our
normal phone it is somewhat garbled. Other
than that my BIG COMPLAINT is the same as
some others have stated... that pop up
dialer. This comment is getting too long
so see my next comment...
Dave
...continued
SO..... as for the pop up box, do a google
for ''block magicjack'' and you might be
surprised what you might find out there...
I tell everyone i know about Magicjack and
think it's GREAT! As a matter of fact our
trial period went so well that we just
ordered another Magicjack adapter for our
daughters room. You can't make EVERYONE happy
and not all of these voip devices will
perform the same on EVERY computer but i
strongly suspect that MOST problems people
have been having with Magicjack could likely
be traced back to their ISP or EQUIPMENT.
Like unstable internet speed or what-not.
To sum it up... Do i like Magicjack?
YES! Would i recommend it? YES! Will it
work on YOUR computer and internet? Only
way to answer that is.... WHO KNOWS?
You will have to try it yourself to
find out.
Thanks for the comment space!!!!
Dave
Dave: i did a google for "block magicjack" and "block magic jack" as you suggested and found nothing about the pop-up soft dialer problem anywhere. The best I've been able to do is have it big on my screen but drag it ot the far right (or left) where you can't see anything but a sliver on the edge of your screen and that seems to work most of the time but every once in a while, it still ends up popping up front and center on my screen. That is what I'm working on right now. Surely the company is seeing these complaints and working on a solution. I suggested to them if we have the program minimized, just make a bubble pop-up like outlook does in hte bottom right when you get a new email and after a few seconds have it fade out. That is not nearly as annoying as the current situation.
FOR THE RECORD though, I LOVE the magic jack. It is now my full time phone (minus cell phones).
Please let me know if you see anything else to solve this little problem.
magicJack is a piece of junk. I received my first magicJack on 05/24/08 and was never able to place or receive a phone call after chatting with tech support about four or five times in one day the Tech support rep had me return the original magicJack to them. Well, I received my replacement magicJack today 06/04/08 and immediately installed it was unable to again place or receive calls experiencing the exact same issue as before. When I'd place a local test call out the person on the other end would only hear me intermittently and I would not be able to hear them at all.
Another thing is magicJack does not support Windows XP Service Pack 3. Besure you keep Service Pack 2. Still there is no guarantee that the magicJack will work for you.
In my opinion try magicJack at your own risk.
I checked out YMAX Communications with the Better Business Bureau and their rating with the BBB is an F.
See below:
Company Report
Company Report Details
Ymax Communications Corporation And MagicJack
223 Sunset Avenue
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Contact:
Phone:
Company Rating: F
Rating Explanation:
The rating the Better Business Bureau assigns a business is determined by our composite score of such factors as its type of business, length of time in business, compliance ...
» Full Rating Explanation
Company Profile
DBA: Ymax Communications Corporation And MagicJack
# Other DBAs: Ymax Communications Corporation And MagicJack
Address: 223 Sunset Avenue
# Palm Beach, FL 33480 Other Addresses: 223 Sunset Avenue
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Primary Phone: Other Phone Numbers:
Primary Fax: Other Fax Numbers:
Primary Contact:
# Other Contacts:
Website: Other Websites:
Company ID: 92008267
Business Start Date:
BBB Created Record on: 4/10/2008
Nature of Business:
This Company nature of Business is General Merchandise Retail By Telephone
» Back to Top
Bureau Membership
Join Date:
This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.
» Back to Top
Licensing and Bonding Information
This company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. The Bureau encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
» Back to Top
BBB Comments and Analysis
We have no further comment about this company’s business practices or analysis of its offer that may assist you in your consideration of this company.
» Back to Top
Complaint Closing Statistics
Complaints:
The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. of Cmpl Type of Response
0 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
0 Making a partial refund
0 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
0 Refusing to make an adjustment
0 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
16 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
16Total
» Back to Top
Complaint Experience
Our complaint history for this company shows that the business has not responded to customer complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau.
» Back to Top
Government Actions
We know of no government action taken against this company.
» Back to Top
Advertising Review
No question about the truth of this company's advertising has come to our attention.
» Back to Top
Other Considerations
We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.
Sorry to hear of those having problems making magicJack work. A couple of things I believe could be the problem:
1) be sure your system requirements meet what is required of magicJack to make their system work.
2) virus protection programs running can make trouble.
Having said that, my system is running XP on an Intel 400 Mhz chip laptop. My broadband connection is wireless at 22 Mbs. Was using AVG virus protection and all was working OK. The system would stay up for a week without being rebooted or having any problems making or receiving phone calls. Call quality was usually quite good, and always better than some cell phone calls.
AVG came along with a required upgrade to 8.0 in order to continue to get updates past June 30, 2008. The upgrade was made. Problems began immediately, with the computer shutting down three times in 24 hours. AVG was removed. The computer has run flawlessly for 24 hours, no shut downs, and magicJack is working too. No problems.
I should add I don't use this computer for anything else. It is in a summer home environment and I use a different laptop for reqular use and take it back and forth.
In addition, I was billed $46.90, on the 31 day. Just as had been promised at the trial's beginning.
magicJack has provided us with a very inexpensive phone solution. Because of magicJack, we dropped our cellphone that was used in the summer home.
Anybody suing let me know!!!! This is a scam!!! One year/19.95 is not true!!! I fell for that. They charged me another $43.90 three weeks later. I am filing complaints with the FTC, FCC and anyone else I can find. I am also going to find a lawyer for false advertising.
Hi All,
In regards to "block magicjack", I've been using magicJack for a few months and love it too. It's a great bargain and alternative to AT&T.
Though I love the service, the pop-up window got a little annoying.
Being a programmer, I built a tiny utility that keeps the pop-up window hidden when I don't want to see it, and also show it when I do want to see it.
It's freeware and available on Download.com:
http://www.download.com/MagicBlock/3000-2349_4-10838528.html?cdlPid=10843178
Hope this helps other folks who've ran into this minor annoyance too.
All the best,
Jeff
Does anyone know if you can use the magicjack on different computers at different times? I tried to use for the first time on one computer and it loaded normally but couldn't make calls it so I tried it another one and that computer wouldn't recognize at all and it does have the correct operating system so that's not the prob. Now the blue light doesn't light at all. Please help. Can't seem to get help on their site.
To Emily (whose post hasn't been entered yet);
I have used my magicJack on two different laptops. One has Vista Home Premium, and the other has XP. Vista was used first, then the XP system second. I have yet to try and use the Vista system again.
MagicJack worked well on both systems.
Each MagicJack has its own unique phone number so that it cannot be loaded on more than one computer at least that is what I was told by tech support.
MagicJack claims (I believe) that anywhere you plug your device into a broadband USB connection of a compatible to magicJack's specifications regarding operating system, etc. computer, then your magicJack device will operate just as if it was at the assigned phone number location/calling capability. Thus, I would expect my device to work on a broadband connection in Australia, from a computer there, and make calls as if I were stateside USA. But, I must stress ... that is the expectation .... until I saw it work, there might be some glitches.
As I understand the magicJack device, all of it's software operation is in the device itself. The computer requirements and operating system specifications met, then magicJack shouldn't care what computer it is on.
I believe I can say my magicJack works that way.
the customer support at magic jack is a joke after three and one half hours of running in circle and asking for a supervisor i finally gave up and I am returning the unit.
If you are connected with Amor, Kiefer, Jan or Therese(supervisor) don't waste your time unless you like going in circles
I have used Magijack for several months. I use it for all my long distance calls. On a couple calls the quality of the connection was poor - - - the simple fix - - - hang up and redial , that always clears the problem.
As for the dialer that is in the middle of the screen - - - once again simple fix - - - minimize it.
I have not had any pop-ups since installing the jack.
I have it installed on three different pc's,the slower of the three does not like it if I try to run other programs while making calls it will develope an echo. The echo's do go away slowly.
As I type this I am installing Xp on an old pc that its only function will be Magicjack.
I don't know what all the bitching is about on here. We use MagicJack around the world with no problem at all except from India. We can put up with an ad or two now and then for the amount of money we save, which is thousands. You all sound like a bunch of bitchie little girls.
Actually, magicJack works with Microsoft Windows XP SP3 for lots of people.
Where I am now, local phone service connection is a monopoly/utility, and there's a multitude of nickel-and-dime added taxes (for all sorts of noble intents, I'm sure) added to every victim's bill. The added taxes actually cost more than the local service.
I will be leaving for Sydney, Au in a few months. I read your comments & was wondering if the magicjack worked in Au? Thanks
For India Skype is the only Solution, starting 2003 thru 2005 I never had problems on VOIP calls, but starting 2005 the ISPs have probably put some firewall, that blocks the VOIP ports. But after I sent a Skype wifi phone to India...I never had any issues yet
I live outside us and had problems to buy my magicjack but finally i found the website www.voip-ms.com that sells mj ouside us/canada so i bougth mine there and it works great:)
Mutch better than skype and cheeper.
I have mixed feeling about the magicjack of late. Seems like we've had nothing but issues from the get go. Constant echo's when talking as well as a bit of static that sounds a bit like wind. Right now it's not even working, tells me Broken Storage when it tries to start up. So I go to their website to get technical support only to find out there isn't any support today for whatever reason. I honestly don't know what to think about this company at the moment and it's a good thing there isn't an emergency seeing as how I have absolutely no phone. My husband and I have tried all the fixes, updates, unplugging the magicJack then plugging it back in and still no phone. Also have the time our voicemail doesn't work. I don't know if they are updating or having issues this weekend, but I in good conscience cannot/will not suggest this service to any one I know.
Well ... it is $20 a year so I don't expect the world but that being said ... I LOVE my magicjack. I get a little static at times. I get a few echoes at times but honestly it's probably more to do with you internet connection, providers, and even your networking equipment. They will tell you it absolutely requires 128 KB both UP and DOWN speeds. If you don't have well above that, expect problems. You can check for free at speedtest.net if you like. Just click on the gold (recommended server) triangle. I wasn't getting that about a month ago and having issues with my MJ and got onto my ISP but they looked at it and told me I needed to update my 3 year old router. I bought a D-Link Ethernet Broadband Router EBR-2310 from Amazon and it fixed everything. My internet,downloads, MJ, everything works better. Maybe check these things out first before attacking the company anyways.
~Jonathan
The so-called ads in magicjack are actually web based information from the magicjack company. I agree it is kind of annoying how the magicjack window "pops up" whenever it is in use; however, it is extremely cost effective, does not actually contain any ad ware or other nefarious ware and provides reliable service 95% of the time. Again, magicjack DOES NOT serve ads.
We purchased MJ for my daughter who now lives in Seoul. Before purchasing the MJ, I called and chated with two of their reps who assured me the MJ would work. Well, it has been 3 weeks since my daughter left and has been totally unable to connect. She received a ticket # after chating with one of the reps. She was told some engineer in the company was really going to check the problem and get to her. What a joke. She has yet to hear from them. I chated with them several times and I am now told that the Seoul government blocks VoIP. Well, they should have known this before they sold us the unit. I was very specific where my daughter was going!
Jonathon, how do I "activate" the magicjack? I cannot get a dialtone on the extension phone next to my pc.
Please help!
miriam
Boy, I can’t believe how people either love this thing or hate it.
I’ve had mine for 5 months now as my only landline plus my cell phone. It has worked flawlessly. The device came 3 days after I ordered it and my credit card was not charged for 30 days and I have not had any other charges. I’ve had Skype for 3 years, but will drop it when my subscription runs out in December. I have used it on 2 different computers with 2 separate ISP’s. I even paid for a total of five years as I hope they keep growing. I checked out the 911 service with it and the 911 operator received my name and address. My 2 daughters and 4 friends have MJ, also with no problems.
My main reason for buying the MJ was to use with my dish Network TV receiver as they charge $5.00 per month to download the program info from the satellite, but MJ works with the satellite receiver for all the updates. So, I pay about $15.00 per year for unlimited calling on MJ and save $60 dollars a year on my TV bill. What’s not to like about that? Works for me.
I cannot comment about customer service as I have never used it, but for all that you get for $19.95 a year, I would not expect much from customer service.
If you need help with your MJ, email me at cbcab99@gmail.com with your phone number and I will try to help. I do not work for them so do not send me your hate mail about the MJ company. As I said, it works for me.
Whoooow! I can’t wait to see where this goes!!!!!!! LOL
Luckily, this thread is not very active.
What pisses people off about MAGICJACK is the commercial states "you get CRYSTAL CLEAR RECEPTION"
Yes sometimes you have a clear reception and sometimes you don't,people don't like being lied to.
Most mature people know and expect that a new company like MAGICJACK and for only %20.00 a year you are going to have some growing problems. Most people can put up with using it for a 2nd phone line or to call long distance.
But for others going through a economic- crisis MAGICJACK couldn't of come at better time.
i LIKE THE SUPPORT I HAVE HAD EXCEPT NO ONE Can SOLVE MY PROBLEM FROM MAGIC JACK TO GET MY SOFT PHONE TO BE CALL READY. THE ONLY THING IS I NEED UDP 5060-70 I SIGNED UP FOR A 5 YR DEAL. WHICH I WILL HAVE TO CANCEL IF MG IS NOT USEFULL FOR ME.
HELP PLEASE
BRIAN
Yes the product does not work 100% of the time. I'd be lucky if it worked 50% of the time. There was not enough QC performed on this type of technology with theis device. I have had the following symptoms. a) Could not be heard by the other party. b) other party sounded like they were under water. c) Phone would shut down in the middle of a call. The device clearly has a long way to go before you consider this thing your permanent or primary phne number.
Yes even customer support sucks. You get to have live chat with a charasmatic voice with no real degree in telephony engineering. They only suggest you try another one of whatever doesn/t work with your phone. Although there are enough operators to handle your problems, the quality of the support simply is not there
Been using magicJack for a couple months now.
Plugged it in, went patiently thru the install routine and made my first call without any issues. Only thing was...
Incoming calls went directly to voicemail.
Eventually got around to chatting with MJ tech. support. Having tech. support experience myself for the better part of 21 years, MJ Tech support was disappointing to me. Each of my chats had to be escalated to senior techs. with no resolution to the problem.
They wanted to change my number saying that would fix it.
What they didn't say, was that you would forfeit your one free
chance to change your number (whenever you want for whatever reason). Otherwise, it's $10 per change! Imagine that. The product doesn't work as it should, and they want to penalize you for it.
I told them not to change my number and that I would try it on a different computer to see if the same problem occurs.
Well, weeks later, before I got around to doing that, I had a little scare while using my laptop. It unexpectedly rang!!!!
With magicJack plugged in & the volume all the way up!!
It just gave one ring. I called my MJ no. from my cellphone
and my laptop rang again. I guess MJ eventually fixed the problem. Lucky me!
To assist persons where magicJack has not and may not perform as it should, I will say this:
Technology is technology. Not Magic! Don't expect it always work as it should. Think about it. Each person's computer is a different mix of hardware and program components. Do you think a manufacturer/vendor is blindly guaranteeing 100% trouble-free operation? Not with all those millions of hardware/software combination variables.
Yes. Standards are supposed to nullify the effects of those variables. However, the reality is that hardware components degrade in function, programs/software become infected with viruses etc. These things change the operational integrity of "technology".
Assuming manufacturing consistency with magicJack, chances are that
the majority of problems described in the many comments are due to issues relating to the "technologies" that magicJack has to be plugged into. i.e. your computer.
In my experience as a tech. support technician, for the vast majority of occasions when something didn't work on a computer, successful remedy only occurred after re-installing or re-freshing the Windows
operating system. Yes, it does get messed up over time.
The moral of this long post ..........?
If man made it, it ain't it perfect. Expect the worst and hope for the best!!! Every product will be bad for some, and good for others.
It always humors me how a person's unique negative experience (because he/she did not read an advisory label) makes a product "a POS!!" for everyone else!
Most of your problems is do not use magicjack on a underpowered usb port. It works for me great, we sent one to Malaysia to wifes sister and we now talk back and forth free since magicjack has no idea in hell where it is. They picked a phone number in the same state we are. We have not problems Man. Yipe living in Malaysia with a Alabama phone number. What is this world coming to???
i bought the magicjack a few days ago and it worked fine, the i rearange my wiring. and the blue light comes on and i can use my my phone. but it want show on screen. i don' even know my number. i have xp system32 windows. so please tell me whats going on.
Sorry, but I don't know where you are coming from or where you get your information. NOT true that the only calls that are free are the ones that are made thru Magicjack and received thru a magicjack. I make call all the time to all my friends, businesses and 800 numbers (none of which are using magicjack) and the calls ARE FREE!!! Magicjack does NOT have a billing process to charge you every month. If you are making international calls to anywhere outside of the US and Canada then YES...you have to deposit money into some sort of program of Magicjack beforehand to make the calls and you will be charged their special rates for the call.
You need to get your facts straight before telling untruths.
My comments will be short and sweet. I have purchased three magicjacks and the problems I've experienced are minor at best. Many less than Microsoft OS problems. My grandchildren have one as their only means of phone service and it works great.
My only complaint is the service department. When I purchased my MJ, I wanted to port my house number, the one I've had for 25 years, to my MJ and I was told by end of 2008, I could wait 6 months OK. Now it is sometime in 2009, customer service is a joke on these questions. One call to the FCC and their answer doesn't hold water. Great product, worthless customer service.
It’s nice to see some common sense users of this product for a change. The only issue with this device is IGNORANCE. After reading hundreds of “I love it”, “I hate it” posts, I’ve come to a few conclusions.
1: Never buy ANY free 30day trial on ANYTHING!!! Get MJ from QVC, Circuit City, Amazon etc... Then you have a hassle free return. ALL 30 DAY FREE TRIAL AND GIVE US YOU’RE CREDIT CARD NUMBER Company’s will set on your money and give you the runaround, duh. Your and every other sucker’s money is letting them make interest off it. They ALL will bite you in the azz with the fine print. DON'T DO IT!
2: For the people that think the thing that comes out after you press the button on the front of the computer is an automated cup holder, you’re too stupid to use this product. Hell, your probably have trouble operating a light switch or flushing the toilet. If you are a 1 on the (1 - 10) Tech Savvy Scale, save us the drudge of reading your negative post and don't even think about getting this product. It's way, way, way over your head. Go play with the light switch or something. MJ is a startup company running on a shoestring. It’s $40 dollars! It’s $40 dollars! It’s $40 dollars! It’s $40 dollars! It’s $40 dollars! What do you expect them to do, send a tech to your house? Come on people get real. If you can’t make it work then return it to Circuit City or QVC etc… Oh, you did the 30day free trial thing? DUH… you deserve the hassle. Just don’t bore us with your post.
3: Paranoid people get up in the morning; check the weather etc… on Internet. Hello! Your ISP tracked what you did and the Weather web cookie and all the other cookies did they’re thing. Picked up your Cell phone and made a call, Hello! Your phone service tracked and logged your call, they also knew you were home because of the built in tracking system. Got in your car and stopped at intersection, got your picture taken by traffic cam. Somebody knows where you were at the time of day. Stopped to get gas, restaurant, shopping swiped your credit card, God only knows how many people got this information on what you bought. Went to work and your employer tracked every keystroke, oh and don’t forget to smile for the candid camera. I looked your name up in the White pages and Goggled Earth your address, WOW! You got a really nice house dude. Maybe I’ll pay you a visit and spy on you. You think MJ gives a rip about the above information? They just want to know local information so they can push you the latest add special from the local pizza place. Unless you live in a cave, get a life because this is your life, you’re just too ignorant to recognize it and all the bitching in the world is not going to change it. Install this on an old PC, stick in the closet, plug in a wireless phone and forget about it. Now it’s out of site and out of mind. Just like all the above listed things we ignore every day.
4: It’s amazing! Carp computer + slow line + Magic Jack = Magic Jacks fault. You got to love it.
This is a COMPUTER \ INTERNET device. If you have a slow piece of crap computer loaded with God knows what (because you don’t patch, virus protect and properly maintain your PC.) your going to have PROBLEMS! If your Internet speed is slooooooow, guess what? It’s NOT GOING TO WORK WELL! So the folks that post, “I can’t hear”, “it’s full of static”, “it echoes”, “it sucks”, don’t buy it” and on and on and on. It’s your fault, not Magic Jack. If it wasn’t YOUR fault, we’d ALL be experiencing the same problems you are. So if you’re not willing to deal with it YOUR problem, or simply ask people that have it working a few questions to help resolve your problem, then stop posting your ignorance.
5: This DOSE NOT and SHOULD NOT replace you’re your phone system. Analyze what it can and cannot do for you. If it makes business sense then get it. If not, DON’T slam this product because it doesn’t meet your needs. This device saves me and millions of people like me lots of money.
6: Read 1 – 5.
“READ THIS,” try using this product for several weeks and if you still don’t find yourself wanting to pull your hair out because of dropped calls and screeching sounds in your ear, or because your computer processing speed slows to a crawl whenever this thing is attached, or because popup advertisements appear every time you make/receive a call, then come back and lecture the rest of us about exactly who is ignorant. Also, the reason consumers’ every move on the Internet is tracked for marketing purposes by unscrupulous companies is because of people like “READ THIS,” who not only don’t mind, but defend the practice of allowing companies to invade privacy via the use of spyware. People who defend the unethical practice of using spyware to secretly gather marketing information about consumers have to pretty untrustworthy themselves and any recommendations they make should be completely ignored. Seriously, how can you trust anything that someone says if he thinks it’s okay for companies to make money off of you by selling information gathered from spyware that they install on your computer without your knowledge or permission? Personally, I think that practice is pretty sleazy and would even call it "burglary." At any rate, if you like having your privacy invaded with spyware, get a kick from popup screens that tell you about great deals for Viagra, enjoy it when you lose reception on your mobile phone, or don’t mind rude customer service representatives, then you will probably love magicJack.
You can check out the http://www.magicjackreview.info for more details about the Product and Read more review from customers. The site also contains a video where you can see how to install the magic jack.
lolll...the folks who decide to hate MagicJack are in all likelihood just technically inept. That being said, MagicJack still has a little way to go in making it work for even the technically inept.
I have written and write a lot of software - the plain and simple fact is you have to make your software work even if the individual using it believes that computers and toasters are technologically equivalent.
MagicJack hasn't quite gotten there yet - but they are moving closer. The primary issue that they have, and it is the same issue that all software developers face, is that they have no way of predicting what hardware and software the end-user already has installed - intentionally or unintentionally, and correctly or incorrectly.
There are still many users who run three firewalls and four virus programs at the same time, as well as many users who run none of the above and so their computer is slow because somebody in Nigeria is using their system for a spambot.
Then there are other users who have their system locked down so tight with hardware and software that all they really have is a $2,000 calculator. And yet other users who install software or hardware, and then their idea of uninstalling it is deleting the directory in "Program Files". Those are just some of the problems that are almost impossible for software developers - to include MagicJack - to detect and fix (or at least complain about).
But in most relatively clean and functional systems, MajicJack works like a charm. It has on five of my systems...
P.S. Don't set the USB hub that MagicJack rides to allow Windows to power it down to save energy in "Device Manager" And if you have a router with a built-in firewall, set up a virtual server or a game rule or inbound filter or whatever your device calls it to forward UDP ports 5060 thru 5070 to the IP address of the computer you have your MagicJack on - and tell any software firewall on that box to allow the traffic.
P.P.S. If that "P.S." solves anybody's problems, tell MajicJack they should send me a couple more, free...I can't justify buying them, but it would be sweet to have enough to haul 'em with me when I travel...lolllll....
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Rizza'
Rizza: Hello, how may I help you?
Mike: Hi
Mike: What do incoming calls cost people who call me ?
Rizza: It's free Mike.
Rizza: Incoming calls are free.
Mike: really all incoming calls dont cost the caller anything?
Rizza: Yes if you have same area code and prefix number.
Mike: Thats not what I asked
Rizza: If it's a local call for people who are not using magicJack, the call is free.
Mike: that would only work for a majic jack customer
Rizza: If your caller is a magicJack user all the calls are free,
Mike: what about long distance do they pay anymore than if I had Verizon or fairpoint ?
Rizza: Are you a magicJack user?
Mike: I want to if people who call me now wont have to pay more than before
Rizza: May I have your magicJack phone number please?
Mike: Sounds like a Scam
Mike: This is what I will report
Mike: incoming non majik jack customers get fleeced dont they
Rizza: We use Tech Chat to better assist you. By using Tech Chat, we can send you instant upgrade links and run several diagnostic tests, that cannot be done over the telephone. We are also able to see where you are located, what OS and Internet browser you are using. Lastly we can see that your Internet connection is working too.This will provide the best Customer care experience and keep you most satified.
Rizza: Thank you for your patience. I will transfer you to a higher level of support. Please hold while I transfer you.
Please wait while I transfer the chat to the best suited site operator.
You are now chatting with 'Jamie'
Jamie: Hello Mike.
Mike: Hi
Jamie: How are you?
Mike: fine
Jamie: Good to hear that.
Jamie: Let me assist you.
Jamie: May I have your magicjack number please?
Mike: Hi , Please keep typing to avoid the answer this is all being recorded
Jamie: Let me explain it Mike.
Mike: I asked if long didstance incoming callers who are not MajikJack customers who call me would have to pay more than if I had verizon or Fairpoint
Mike: simple question need a simple answer
Jamie: It will depend on the carrier of the caller Mike.
Mike: Ok so it could cost more depending on the carrier?
Chat session has ended.
Hey Everyone, I've been using Magic Jack for over a year now, and its been a decent alternative to AT&T and Vonage.
My one complaint with Magic Jack are the incessant pop up advertisements!!! Someone on another forum directed me to Download.com where there's a tool called MagicBlock that suppresses the pop ups. It's free and works perfectly.
Frank
ATTENTION : FOR SALE in INDIA Magicjack is the BEST and I am proof. If u have hi speed internet and are not running 10 different programs on your computer then BUY it now!! Let these whiners keep crying who want to put this GREAT company down! Rs 3500 per unit only!! tel 22045054 (Bombay, india)
So let say if you have verizon and have unlimited calling after 9pm they will not get charged until 6am. I really think the callers that is not magicjack user will not get charged. For what i think the minutes of the user will get decrease but not charged.
Where did you record this stupid conversation from? There is no extra charge for the caller calling MagicJack.
I have been using magicjack for the past year and about the function itself is wonderful. THe only complaint I have is their customer service. I have over 3 months trying to extend the service in one of my account and change the number in an other account and the unly answer I van get is that my account is under review and that I will receive an email if the information. So far I have no service in one and the other one I can not use until I change the number.
Does anyone have a suggestion for me abut this matter?
hi
i am in canada and i bought two to my parents and in laws. Both managed to set it up (my mom-in-law needed help on the install) and since the past two months we are speaking quite frequently as they can call our wireless (cellular) phones too. earlier, we had to syncronize our yahoo voice chats and that made it difficult to keep in regular contact.
quality wise, the clarity is awesome and there is no lag at all, further i can call my dad anytime on magic jack as he keeps his connection on all the time.
so all in all, its been a sound investment
hope this feedback helps
Please document your loss. Frankly I don't believe you. I've been using it for 9 months. Never a dropped call, with quality better than Time Warner Cable phone.
Are you a competitor setup?
It sounds like this guy (Mike) making a so-called complaint is either not very well-constructed intellectually or is (for unknown reasons), trying to make it appear that callers outside of Magic Jack service will have to pay additional fees if they call a Magic Jack user. While I am not affiliated with Magic Jack, I am a Magic Jack user and that is not how the telecommunications infrastructure works in the United States. If an external caller calls a Magic Jack phone and are charged additionally to call a Magic Jack phone, that would be the basis for a complaint with your state Public Utility or you may want to find another phone provider. It certainly is unethical but it is not the fault of nor has anything to do with the phone system being called. For whatever reasons he had, his comments are misleading and imply some basic untruths about how things work...
This is mighty interesting. You show that the BBB rated YMax Communications with an "F". I just checked the BBB site and they have given YMax Communicaions, perhaps unbelievably, an "A" with no complaints against the company. I find this unimaginable that they don't show even one, but this is what is currently displayed at the BBB site.
majic jack magiccrap i have it for a few month it work alright now i been busy with the tec for 4 day trying to get the sound to be better than breaking up voices noone hears me clearly many changes tyo my computer and firewall and still have crap no one to call to say 4 days to fix the problem and still have it and i got the 5 year plan but i leave it on and call people and they say this phone of majic jack sucks we cannot hear you your breaking up so what can i say i try and still giving the majic jack the time to slove the problem maybe when 5 years is up it will be fixed and area code soon maybe this goes on and on good luck all
i bought magic jack and it worked great for the first year then suddenly everytime i wanna open it """ broken storage""" comes up i really really really really really nedd help cause there are ppl that need me to call the really bad plus i got a flight in two weeks so what do i do?????????? plz!!!!!!!!!!help me!!!!!! and do not advice me to call them cuz i already did!!!!!!
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Maggie'
Maggie: Hello, how may I help you?
Evan: hi, i just want to ask some general questions
Maggie: Yes, please go ahead.
Evan: Anyone calling to my magic jack from the U.S. or Canada will not be charged extra per call correct?
Evan: thy will have they same basic rates charged by their carriers?
Maggie: Yes, they will be charged as per their carrier's call rates.
Evan: Ok, and calls from my magic jack are free anywhere in the U.S. and Canada regardless whether the receiving end is a Magic Jack, normal Landline or Cell phone?
Maggie: Yes, all calls within US and Canada to any number will be absolutely free.
Maggie: Call any person on their magicJack number in any country and the call is free. Call back to the US from another country with your magicJack and it's free.
Evan: Thank you very much, you have been very helpful.
Maggie: You're most welcome
Maggie: Is there anything else I may help you with today?
Evan: that's all, thank you
Maggie: Thank you for stopping by to chat, I hope I did a good job at addressing your concerns. Please take a second to answer a one question survey about the service I provided. Please click the "close" button on the top right of this screen and the survey will appear. Thanks again!
Maggie: Bye, take care:)
Seems like very helpful support to me...as long as you ask the right questions...
Bought MagicJack for $39.88 at Wal-Mart today, paid cash. Hooked up and registered and was up and running within 10 minutes making calls with very clear sound.
Original plan was to use as extra line for fax machine. Decided to hook it up for wife to test as replacement for home phone (we mostly use cells anyway)....easy to switch computers and phones, still working great.
I suspect people with problems are due to firewall/antivirus/system/internet connection issues. I have clean computers with no bloatware, high performance internet connection (dsl), tested on two windows Vista computers and its worked fantastically on both.
For $20/year does the pop up dialer with ads and other info is a small annoyance and well worth the savings. They have to make money somehow.