Magic Jack Phone Service

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Talking with a friend of mine, this service is free long distance phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada and works off your computer without the need of paying for service on the land line.
Any of you guys out there have that service?
You can view it here;
http://www.magicjack.com/5/index.asp

My question is, since I am on DSL, do I still need to keep the land line with basic service because of the Internet connections. My basic service is 25 dollars a month and a separate charge using a 1010811# for long distance that usually amounts to less than $10.
Magic Jack is $40 for the equipment and $19.95 per year thereafter.
Sounds like one hell of a deal but not sure.
A free trial is available from what I can see.

Any comments welcome.

Thanks and hope all had a good Easter weekend.

[Steven J. Wessler]

Hi Marcel,
No I have not used the Magic Jack, due to questions I never got answered.
If your getting calls via the computer, how does it work when your away?
Can you foreward the calls or are they stored?
But my concern was 2 fold. My local computer guy has always told me if I'm not using the computers, turn them off. (They Live Longer) Due to heat build-up.
and second, leaving the computer on leaves larger openings for hackers, as I was told.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

From what I read Steve, the computer has to be on to receive and make calls.
Still looking into it, just wanted others that might have tried it to help on questions like yours.
As far as leaving the computer on, When I bought the new one last July, my old one was going on 11 years old and ran 24/7, never shut down.
Bought the new one before it died and now I use it in my basement cellar for a spare and backup.
The computer guys told me not to expect the new one to last that long, it will not happen, but I still never shut it down.

This Magic Jack is interesting, but like you have questions with answers I can't find yet.

Thanks

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I got one for my girlfriend last year. It was clear on her end but not on the other end. I have heard mix reviews.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Thanks James.

[jhugenroth]

Tried it about a year ago. Never got it to work right.
It's now residing in some landfill.

[rarmacost]

Skype is another option here you go I used it when I had to travel a lot but thats been awhile, don't know if the level of customer service has changed.

[Jae Williams]

I have seen unbiased testing reports claim it sounds like the other end is in a barrel, and service drops for no apparent reason--even on land lines.

Fortunately, my cable service includes free long distance and all the other goodies a person could want--except for the Jack Daniels.

[Nick Gromicko]

We've been scratching our heads over here. We have a similar product but can't figure out how Magic Jack can survive on $19.95 a year and still run all those TV ads. Someone quickly spending through their VC money.

[Bobby Hamilton]

I have one that I use as a home phone. I've had issues with it. Calls not coming through, if the computer shuts down and reboots the MJ program on the computer may or may not open back up. I rarely answer my home phone anyway. Its just a cheap line I give those people that ask you to sign up at fairs/home & garden shows, etc. My business line/fax is through Vonage and haven't had any issues with them.

[James A. Levy]

If you Google Magic Jacks customer reviews, you will find out some really bad stuff. The call quality is bad, billing is worse, there are catches in the billing that make it more than $19.95, and their software that once you install it, you can't get rid of it. There are also those that say the software invades your privacy, but there wasn't much to substantiate that claim.

[Michael Larson]

I have had mixed results with magic jack. It works fine most of the time but I don't use it much.

I had hoped to port my home phone number to the magicjack but they have not followed through on their repeated promise to provide that service.

I have Comcast digital voice with my bundle that includes high speed internet and cable TV. It was OK for the first year at $99/month but it is now $155 and includes unlimited long distance.

I may dump my home phone service with comcast as it is getting used less and less.

Marcel, Your DSL provider may not offer you DSL only with out the their phone service.

It's called naked DSL and is not advertised but it may be available if you ask.

I wanted DSL but am just outside the range of their equipment It is limited by the physical cable length from their central office.

They tell it will be extended by adding more equipment but they will not commit to when that might happen.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

That's what I was telling my wife Mike, since we are on DSL I would have to keep the land line and use a 1010811 number for long distance anyways.
So I don't see the benifet right now.

Thanks