Has anyone used a Magic Jack?

**ASJ** · 07-10-2009 09:54 PM

I don't have a home phone anymore (only a cell phone) and have seen these Magic Jack's advertised. The cost is super cheap, but I'd assume that you get what you pay for.

I am looking into them in order to save money on outbound calls. I have no need to use it for inbound calls.

Has anyone used them? Any experience? What are your thoughts?

In the case you have no idea what I'm talking about, here is their website: magicJack

**pboychuk** · 07-10-2009 10:11 PM

I have been wondering, unfortunately I keep leaving my headset at my parents house.. But, I figured there was a voip service, that would be free.. Maybe I am wrong, but I would like to be able to hookup my headset to my computer, for those calls when I have to sit on hold for 30 minutes waiting for a rep. to answer

**ASJ** · 07-12-2009 09:44 PM

No one has any experience with these?

**PsiPro** · 07-13-2009 11:06 AM

Magic Jack Reviews, Complaints and Compliments

Add the $20/year to the cost of electricity to run your computer 24/7 and your got a more expensive phone with crappier then average service.

**knifely** · 07-13-2009 11:45 AM

skype has phones too, and you can get an "online number" that can be dialed from any phone. I think it was like $60 a year or something like that. im not exactly sure, check out skype.com

**chuff1026** · 07-13-2009 12:19 PM

i use the magic jack and its awesome
its actually clearly than vonage

**hazele** · 07-13-2009 01:16 PM

I don't use it, but my mother does and she loves it. Shes called me from it multiple times and it is extremely clear. I was actually debating about getting it for my home office.

**noob** · 07-13-2009 09:22 PM

Magic Jack is a piece of shit (no offense). If you want quality, go with Ooma. It's the same type of thing you're looking for, a bit more expensive, but all the major tech guys and large company owners use it at home. Much better by a landslide if you're willing to pay a bit of a higher price.

**skecka37** · 07-17-2009 01:22 PM

I bought a magic jack about two weeks ago and it has been great so far. I have been able to recieve calls, make calls and to send and recieve faxes off of it. I was worried before I bought it because I use my home as an extension of my office, so if it caused me to miss calls or faxes it would be a problem. However it has worked out great and there really is nothing negative I can say about it.

**bemaskell** · 07-17-2009 01:45 PM

Majicjack is a great economical phone service. I have one but only use it when travelling which eliminates paying phones charges at hotels, etc. Other family members have it as their home phone and we communicate using it all the time. When your computer is off, majicjack takes a message which is retrieved either through the phone or your email. If purchasing for Canada the only telephone numbers available are US, unless it has changed. As there are no long distance charges this does not create a problem. If you are looking for 3-way calling however, there is a problem as it is not available. Remember, that the quality of service is based on your internet connection.

**mwormald** · 07-17-2009 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by PsiPro

Magic Jack Reviews, Complaints and Compliments

Add the $20/year to the cost of electricity to run your computer 24/7 and your got a more expensive phone with crappier then average service.

Maybe I'm a horrible person but I leave my computer running 24 hrs a day anyways... That being said if you read what was posted you would know it was for outbound only... I'm guessing he would only use the computer for calls 8-12 hours a day...

M

**PsiPro** · 07-17-2009 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by mwormald

Maybe I'm a horrible person but I leave my computer running 24 hrs a day anyways... That being said if you read what was posted you would know it was for outbound only... I'm guessing he would only use the computer for calls 8-12 hours a day...

M

He is more then welcome to boot his computer to use it every time.

I wasn't making a comment for environmental concerns just out of the idea of price considerations.

My personal computer takes 250-300W of power with a 2 core 2ghz + 2 17" LCD.. but for arguments sake lets say this computer he is using only uses 150W of power normalized (compensating for the boot-up process).

Also taking my local power cost of $0.15/kWh it would cost $0.000375/minute of use.

Its not really a lot. Leave his 150w computer on 24/7 and you used $16.43/month. If you have a more substantial computer you can run it up there (mine is around $27/month for 24/7 access)

So he is more then welcome to boot up his computer to use it anytime he needs to, but I know just end up leaving it on, and it would be cost prohibitive in the end.

They advertise magic jack as a cheap alternative to home phone service. A quick survey of AT&T shows an unlimited long distance plan for $33, couple this with the fact that the call quality is consistently better, it works when the powers out, and it can call 911... (not to mention if you talk less then 300minutes you can go with the pay-as-you-go plan). I just don't see it being worth while in general.