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 Review by redshift 
UPDATED: 1.2 years ago
member for 4.7 years, 605 visits, last login: 2 days ago
 Beverly Hills,Los Angeles,CA
 $2 per month (12 month contract)
 about 3 days
 "Easy to setup and excellent Voice Quality"
 "Requires a PC to use"
 "Excellent value for money and makes an excellent second line"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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After all the postings about magicjack and the relatively inexpensive price I finally gave in and decided to get one. As I was travelling overseas at the time, I got a family member to purchase it and then send it to me, I thought that would be the perfect way to stress test it.
1. Set up
From ordering on the website to getting the thing overseas it only took about a week to get, which really surprised me. The package was very professional and it seems like they have plans to retail this thing as they even have a hole in the top to hang it on a retail shelve somewhere.
After opening the package I plugged it into my laptop (I was using my friend's internet connection, but I've also tested this thing in hotels while travelling) and the whole set up was the easiest voip set up I've ever done. It took literally minutes to finish; and I didn't even have to do any port forwarding (like I normally do with other VOIP providers) the whole thing was literally plug and play. There is a fairly limited choice of incoming numbers (DIDs) so I just picked a temporary one and set it up. It also includes e911 so you can set it up to use whatever address you want. If you are travelling you can disable the e911 feature so you don't accidentally dial it.
The device itself is a small usb unit that includes a USB extension cable in case you have to plug it in and you don't have enough room for it. It's smaller than it looks on the website, but the extension cable is quite handy. They recommend not to use this in a USB hub unless you have a powered hub. One annoying thing about the magicjack is that it constantly emits a blue LED light, which isn't good if you have it plugged in a computer where you are sleeping, as it glows pretty brightly. Other than that it's an excellent little unit.
2. Call Quality
I've only had about 2 weeks to test this little unit so my review may be a little skewed. However that being said after travelling with it and using it at home for a while I've got to say that voice quality was excellent. Keep in mind there was none of the usual "fiddling" around that you typically have to do with other VOIP services to ensure you get excellent voice quality, not even port forwarding (though you can apparently port forward 5070 according to the forums). They have had a few service outages, but not long and nothing that I've noticed. All of my incoming calls are via Grandcentral but those have been excellent as well; haven't had any issues even when travelling. This thing is especially useful in situations when bringing an ATA along to use the phone is impractical. With this device you can take it to an internet cafe, or just plug it into your laptop. You can use it with a headphone or with a regular telephone (has an option to switch via the softphone). The thing I like the most is that I can save my contact list so I don't have to go fishing around for numbers; especially when you're travelling.
Bottom line is that I was pleasantly surprised by voice quality considering how inexpensive this thing is.
3. Softphone
Unfortunately as part of their revenue model the creater (Dan Borislow) decided that he will use ads to help generate income. To that end 1/3 of the device has been reserved for these ads [edit - this is the speculation that I've heard in the forums, so I'm not sure if it's "confirmed" or not]. Normally the softphone is minimized and sitting idle, until you get an incoming call or make an outgoing call, then the softphone maximizes into view.
You have an option of making it "big" or "small" but either way it still takes up a significant portion of the screen, however I've read that others have simply tucked it out of view. The softphone itself is pretty standard, but shows you your call history in one of the panels, which I think is helpful.
4. Use/Long term
Finally I'd like to say that this is a very useful device for someone using this as a second line or for someone who wants to make long distance calls (to Canada/US at the moment). It's still in beta so inevitably there will be bugs (though reliability for me has been excellent). You can safely recommend this to a non-technical friend and they will have few issues. Tech support is so far via email/forum so they won't be able to call in to resolve issues, but hopefully they won't have many. The bottom line is price is excellent, but unfortunately there is little hope that this will ever be able to be used in conjunction with an ATA as that would defeat their ad based model. So if you don't mind using it via a computer of some kind it's excellent value for money.
I'm not sure if they will "Sunrocket" in the near future but some how I doubt it. Here is why I think so:
1. They are backed by private funding; so currently they don't have any venture capitalists to answer to, hopefully this means they can grow slowly rather than quickly and by burning money to get subscribers.
2. They are owned by a CLEC (Ymax corp) so hopefully they have sufficient financial backing.
3. Even if their ad based model doesn't work, they are still making income on incoming calls (terminations) and even if they raise their price slightly this would be an excellent bargain.
So bottom line is this is not a huge risk, and even if they fold as long as I get 1-2 months of service I figured I would have broken even.
Followup comments:  
Dan Borislow
@aol.com
| Ads--From the horses Mouth-the Founder Thank you for your kind comments.I am not sure where you heard we will put ads in the small box next to softphone,right now we use the box to keep our customers up to date of new features,self help and things like that.
Of course,since we enable a real phone,unlike skype and others,we find the great majority of our customers do not use the softphone,which can be hidden.
WE are trying our best in Beta to view all comments and reviews and take them very seriously. | |
| |
redshift
Premium
join:2004-03-23
Beverly Hills, CA
 ·magicjack.com
| Re: Ads--From the horses Mouth-the Founder Thanks Dan for taking the time to come out and read our humble reviews.
I think you would have an excellent market for this even outside the US as when I was travelling a lot of people asked me about this device and were interested in getting one. My friend who currently uses Vonage in Australia is also interested as he can then safely dump them to make stateside calls (he already has a POTS line there so the fact you have to use a computer for this isn't a big issue for him).
Hopefully you'll start shipping this unit out internationally ASAP. | |
| | |
Dan Borislow
@aol.com
| Re: Ads--From the horses Mouth-the Founder We are finding that half of the Jacks are working their way out of the country.This will probably change after we launch and get out of Beta.I think this is because the savings are super huge when you travel outside the US and call home.
We are getting certs and changes made for Canada,Europe,Mexico in that order.Mexico might be an issue.
So you hit it perfectly and that is the market we must get setup ASAP.
Keep those ideas coming.
Thanks Dan | |
| | Jones01876
join:2007-08-29
Tewksbury, MA
| Dan - I have a magicJack and was required to agree to the terms of service when installing. They clearly state that advertising is a mandatory part of the service and produced by "magicPage" software  - where is the disconnect here (pardon the pun)? The magicJack website also has the TOS at the following link. I've also pasted the text from clause 11 below:
»www.magicjack.com/site/tos.html
11. Advertisements
You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work and for the service to be free in the first year of the agreement (and subsequent licenses to be at minimal cost). Advertisements will be served through the magicPage Software. magicPage Software attempts to serve local advertisements and classifieds using a completely automated process that enables us to effectively target dynamically changing content. Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads. We do not provide any personal information to our advertisers or third parties. magicJack has a policy of restricting advertisers that it believes are inappropriate, but it does not guarantee the accuracy or integrity of any advertisers and does not endorse any of the advertisements that may appear in connection with use of the magicJack device. You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software may include certain communications, such as service announcements, administrative messages and newsletters, and you will not be able to opt out of receiving them. | |
| | |
Dan Borislow
@aol.com
| Re: Ads--From the horses Mouth-the Founder TOS usually include every possible scenario imaginable and many never materialize.You know the society we live in and CYA is the only smart way to go.
magicPage is not planned for quite a few months,where the softphone might very well be a widget in a Google like Personal page.
I had another company I formed and ran, which signed up 4 million customers and we recieved the JD Powers award the first year we were in retail.We will not do anything that our customers won't benefit from.The CEO of the company has a very similar background as myself.
Dan | |
| | | | Jones01876
join:2007-08-29
Tewksbury, MA
| Re: Ads--From the horses Mouth-the Founder OK, I hear you, that's fine. My reply was written because I was surprised that you answered the original post with "I am not sure where you heard we will put ads in the small box next to softphone" when you likely spent considerable dollars packaging the product and software, including the legal copy, before putting it in front of your customers. | |
| |
Getalife
@sbcglobal.net
| said by Dan Borislow :
I am not sure where you heard we will put ads in the small box next to softphone,right now we use the box to keep our customers up to date of new features,self help and things like that.
Dan,
Thanks for the info on the softphone display. I would note, though, that it has been promising new area codes "next week" since I got it several weeks ago. As the song in Annie reminds us, it seems "next week" is always a week away.
Will there be more area codes soon? And when will existing users be able to change to a new, local number? I was hesitant to activate my MJ because your FAQ says I'm stuck with the first assigned number until the end of the year.
I'm also disappointed at the support offered through your forums. They appear to have been hijacked by a vocal few who seem hell-bent on flaming newbs who don't comply with their vision of the way things should be run. It's hardly the kind of user-friendly service that your advertising promises.
Maybe some more active moderation would keep MagicJack's support forums from turning into "Lord of the Flies." | |
| | |
ralnik
@mchsi.com
| MagicJack Support Board Along the same line about your support board at MagicJack, it would be really good to see that your support staff pay some attention to the posts there. I have read quite a few posts from users looking for help and I don't see any response from MagicJack support staff.
I would definitely like to see MagicJack pay closer attention to customer support (that includes emails and live support)which is totally non-existent lately. The product itself is good but the product support is definitely lacking big time. | |
| 
SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
edit:
August 31st, @02:04AM
| It sure would be nice... ....if you could actually make the thing work for more than 50% of the time before you go "gold".
Just a thought. | |
| | | | |
SMCinAZ
Premium
join:2000-11-29
Glendale, AZ
clubs:
| Re: It sure would be nice... Well, really, they ought to get it working for more than half of the time.
Maybe deliver on half of their promised services, too, like area codes, enhanced forwarding and voicemail, etc.
Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
They have so many people snookered and sticking up for them that they don't need to do anything at this point or maybe ever, so they aren't.
Makes sense. | |
|
jn37
@verizon.net
| MagicJack Just back from a week in Buenos Aires and the MagicJack worked flawlessly from my hotel room via a wifi connection. I did not take the USB extension along that comes with the unit and since I only have two USB ports on my laptop the MagicJack blocked the second port from using my headset. That forced me to use a desk phone which I soon discovered did not work. Fortunately I had a wall phone in the bath and it worked just fine (some disassembly required!). I travel outside the US 6-8 times a year to all parts of the world and MagicJack will easily pay for itself in one trip. Plus right now it is "new" and it blows people away to get a call from you when they know you are out of the country. They think it is costing a fortune. | |
|
TJ
@rr.com | Dan, ATA - PLEASE? Have SPA-2002 Dan, It would be great if after one purchases the MJ that we could be able to use an ATA instead...
Just a suggestion...Rather use an ATA than keep PC running 24/7. not much savings there.
PLEASE ? ! ? | |
| |
Waitwatch
@nctv.com | Re: Dan, ATA - PLEASE? Have SPA-2002 Use an ATA with GrandCentral and Gizmo Project for incoming and MJ for outgoing. We use a two line phone set up this way while at home an cells can pick up when we're not. | |
| | MagicHack
join:2007-08-20
| said by "TJ" :
Dan, It would be great if after one purchases the MJ that we could be able to use an ATA instead...
Just a suggestion...Rather use an ATA than keep PC running 24/7. not much savings there.
PLEASE ? ! ?
While using an ATA with the MagicJack service is technically possible, doing so would violate section 8 of the Terms of Service, which state:
quote:
You agree not to access the magicJack services by any means other than through the Software and the magicJack device.
MagicJack intends to make money off of advertising. If you configure your ATA, you'd never see ads, and that revenue stream would dry up. Advertising is one way they are able to provide such an inexpensive service.
I understand what you are asking, and to be honest, I'd prefer to pay extra, not see the ads, and be allowed to use an ATA as well. | |
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