You may have spied MagicJack on a recent night TVinfomercial , home shopping meshwork or even on the shelf of your local electronics or drug store . Its ads make seemingly wild claims of drastically decoct your phone bill , but it may do just that . MagicJack is a small , cheap USB phone adapter that allows you to bypass traditional phone services and make cry via Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP ) to even cell phone , landline telephone or other VoIP users .
The earliest MagicJack ask your computer to be on and touch base to the Internet at all time so as to make and receive calls . But the new interlingual rendition , the MagicJack Plus , can be connected directly to your router or modem and can be used without a computer as long as you have broadband Internet service .
land line offered by traditional telephone companies can cost hundreds of dollar a class , even for just basic domesticated service . ManyVoIPservices are considerably cheaper , often rolling in supernumerary overhaul like caller-out ID , call waiting and representative mail for the Mary Leontyne Price of a perk - free land line . MagicJack promises to be even cheaper than the other economical earphone choice , with very low one-year fees for inexhaustible calls to numbers all over the United States , some U.S. territories and Canada .
The gadget is also very portable , enabling you to make claim from home , from a hotel way and even from other countries – provide you have a computer with wideband Internet connectivity , or access to the router or modem .
you could use MagicJack to give yourself a second earphone line , ditch the land line altogether or , on trips , save on roam or external calling charges . Read on to find out out more about the gimmick and phone armed service .
What is MagicJack and what are its requirements?
MagicJack was invented by Dan Borislow and launched in late 2007 . Both the original MagicJack and the newer MagicJack Plus are analog telephone adapters ( ATAs ) , roughly the sizing of a matchbox , that permit you to make VoIP phone call over your Internet connection . The original has aUSBconnector and a stock RJ11 phone jack . The newer MagicJack Plus has both of those plus an Ethernet port , and it incorporate its own motherboard , removing the need for a perpetual computer connection .
To use the original MagicJack , plug the machine into your information processing system ’s USB port and it automatically installs computer software on your reckoner . Once frame-up and registration are complete , you punch a corded or cordless phone into the phone old salt and you should be quick to make and receive calls . you may even administer with the physical speech sound and expend the MagicJack sonant - phone ( software package phone ) to dial numbers via a virtual keypad on your sieve and talk directly via your computer ’s speaker and microphone or an attached headset . This variant requires that your computer stay on and awake invariably to make and receive calls . If you wrench off your computer or it proceed to sleep , you’re able to still get voicemail , and call forwarding will still solve .
To typeset up the new MagicJack Plus , you still involve to plug away it into a computing machine and go through several setup and enrollment steps . After that , you could either use it like the original – via your figurer – or plug the gimmick into your broadband modem or router via anEthernetport ( the cable is included ) . This arrangement will ask you to unite a telephone set and to stop up the machine into an AC great power adaptor ( also include ) . The main vantage over the master is that your computer does not want to be present , rent alone turn on all the time , for you to make and meet margin call . But as with original MagicJack , broadband is required .
MagicJack Plus is compatible with Windows XP , Windows Vista , Windows 7 , Windows 8 and Intel - based Apple Macintosh OS . The original silver MagicJack is support on all of the above except for Windows 8 . Linux and non - Intel Mac users are presently out of circumstances with both version .
What are MagicJack’s features?
As of free fall 2013 , your MagicJack Plus purchase come with six month of inspection and repair , which includes inexhaustible calls to issue in the U.S. , Puerto Rico , the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada . This holds true even if you are using the MagicJack abroad . you’re able to also call other MagicJack users for spare anywhere in the world . you may make international calls with the gadget , but it requires purchasing pre - paid minute .
you could purchase a class or five age extra service during apparatus or at any prison term later on . The service also includes voicemail , caller ID , call waiting , call forwarding , 411 directory assistance , league career and E911 serving ( the VoIP interpretation of traditional911 emergency service , which commit your address along with the call ) . MagicJack ’s voicemail can be accessed via the software on your computer or by telephone your telephone set routine . you may also set up an tocopherol - post savoir-faire to have your voicemail delivered to your inbox as audio attachments . The software also write contacts and call history log .
MagicJack provides you with a devoid number , and you could select the area code and prefix , if available , and it does n’t have to be dependent upon your location . Initially , client could n’t keep their own subsist act , but now if you choose to do so , you may port your survive number , or beak a Canadian or vanity number , for additional one-year fee .
The company also offer iOS and Android apps through iTunes and Google Play , for manipulation on your phone ortablet . The apps countenance you to expend your WiFi or information plan to make VoIP calls to the U.S. , Canada and to other MagicJack number anywhere , while avoiding using minutes or racking up roaming commission . If you do n’t have a paid MagicJack account , it will assign a random extroverted number to you every time you use it . you could also get calls , although the phoner will have to call a particular telephone number then enroll your MagicJack app bit .
How does MagicJack’s service work?
MagicJack provide VoIP service , which mean you bypass traditional wriggle - paircopperphone lines within your home . Rather than making analog calls like with traditional phone military service , you are using hardware and software to convert your call into a digital signal and send it over the net . But your claim still have to hit atelephoneservice net ’s lines at some point .
That ’s where the MagicJack business model come in handy . Its parent company , YMax Communications , founded by Dan Borislow and Don Burns , was created as a phone web and is officially acompetitive local exchange carrier(CLEC ) , holding CLEC certifications in all 50 U.S. states . Rather than take to pay other company to originate calls on their landline electronic connection , YMax / MagicJack only has to pay to terminate call on others ' connection , and can placard other company when their users direct anticipate to MagicJack substance abuser . As a CLEC , it also gets its phone act for free and can resell to other phone service providers . It is a earphone company as much as it is a supplier of a VoIP equipment .
VocalTec , cite as the artificer of VoIP , merged with YMax Communications and MagicJack in 2010 and MagicJack is now officially call MagicJack VocalTec Ltd. The company is headquartered in Israel with its main warehouse in West Palm Beach , Fla. The company holds a variety of VoIP and MagicJack related to patents .
But despite all advantages , MagicJack is not the only game in town . Next , find out how it compares to some other VoIP providers .
How does MagicJack compare to other similar services?
One major difference between MagicJack and most other VoIP machine and service , besides its petite size , is that it ’s exceedingly cheap . The original twist was around $ 40 , which included one year of service , and thereafter had an annual subscription fee of $ 20 . Yes , that is annual , not monthly . The MagicJack Plus lists for $ 70 , but tends to retail for around $ 50 , and includes six month of service . you could ante up $ 29.95 annually for twelvemonth - to - class renewals , or the eq of $ 19.95 per year for a five - year renewal ( yield upfront ) .
Most other VoIP services either have much more expensive upfront twist cost or charge higher fee , usually on a monthly rather than annual ground , although MagicJack does have one very close competitor price - Stephen Samuel Wise .
Its major competition includes Ooma , Vonage and netTALK . you’re able to grease one’s palms the Ooma Telo gadget for around $ 150 , which give you free outright call within the U.S. for no price other than government fees and taxes . If you want to make yell outside the U.S. , Ooma also offers plan option starting at $ 9.99 a calendar month or per - minute remuneration - as - you - go rates . Vonage provides equipment , charges $ 29.99 a month for an limitless domestic and external plan , and has various cheaper vocation programme including U.S. and Canada with limited minute for $ 11.99 a month .
The rival that is standardised in price is the netTALK Duo equipment , with a $ 50 edition and $ 65 WiFi adaptation , both of which you may plug into your estimator or router and come with one year of avail to the U.S. and Canada . extra years are $ 29.95 , and you could tote up enhanced visit plans for extra monthly or annual fee , as well as anSMStext program . netTALK also has a gratuitous app , but it does n’t include an incoming earphone numeral and limits you to 50 free mo per calendar month .
With all of the VoIP option , admit MagicJack , you may be command to bear regime fees and taxation , include monthly charges for E911 . And any additional service you take will likely incur monthly or annual charges , so take charge to search your choice exhaustively .
VoIPservice is also available through cable or phone companies that offer Internet service , and can often be passably cheap with a package deal . To liken all the options to each other or to traditional phone serve , you have to consider your calling surface area and phone number want , and you have to factor in the monetary value of the required broadband Internet service .
There are other communicating alternatives such as Skype , which reserve you to video recording or voice schmooze with other Skype users , but also has plans that grant you to call peregrine and landline speech sound from software on your computer , lozenge or mobile for various monthly or per - minute rate . There ’s also Google Voice , which gives you a number and have you have call forward to any or all of your telephone , and will send you transcribe vocalism mail , but the service depends upon you already having some sort of survive sound service . Various instant electronic messaging syllabus and social networking site also allow vox and video chat . But they ’re arguably not the same as having a plate phone tune .
What are MagicJack’s limitations?
The original MagicJack take you to pull up stakes your computer on all the time to make and receive call , and did n’t grant you to expend your existing earphone number . This was all desexualise with the newer MagicJack Plus , but there are still some famous limit . look upon your need and need , they could range from modest annoyances to deal breakers .
As with all cyberspace - based service , if theInternetor power go out , you will not be able to make or receive calls . Twisted - twain pig earpiece logical argument expect power to phones , but the newer coaxial cable and fiber optic telephone line by which many of us are puzzle cyberspace divine service these day do not . There are some VoIP avail that provide optional shelling backups that last a few hour , but MagicJack is not among them .
Regarding E911 service , when you call 911 with MagicJack , your savoir-faire ca n’t be automatically detected . You have to register your home address with MagicJack in order of magnitude for parking brake service to properly locate you , and it wo n’t solve if you are using the gimmick in other locations . Also , it will only work in cities where thePublic Safety Answering Point(PSAP ) has a system that can obtain the address selective information . You will also need to ensure the address is updated if you move .
There also might be issues with get phone numeral in somearea codes . If yours is n’t available , you may pluck a phone number with a different area codification , and switch if and when yours becomes useable , although this likely comes at a monetary monetary value .
Other more small issues admit the following :
Also , if you are using your MagicJack connected to your computer , it could be felled by any number of data processor consequence , which might be something to reckon when choose the eccentric of equipment or service you pick .
Controversies and Legal Issues
The fellowship has n’t been argument liberal . Dan Borislow , founder of MagicJack , insult netTALK ’s tone and the viability of the fellowship in a 2010 interview , and then process them for patent of invention infringement in 2012 , although the case was dismissed .
The ship’s company also process internet site Boing Boing for aspersion over an April 2008 article that brought up some aspect of MagicJack ’s remainder - user agreement that it retrieve exceptionable . These issues included the fact that MagicJack reserves the right to psychoanalyse the numbers you call foradvertisingpurposes and the condition that any sound call against MagicJack had to be handled by binding arbitration , as well as the user agreement not being clear presented on its Web web site or at purchase or installation time . The article also took event with the lack of an uninstaller and some aspect of the troupe Web site . The suit was dismissed in 2010 and MagicJack was regulate to yield around $ 50,000 to Boing Boing in effectual fees . Thesoftwarecan be more easily uninstalled now , and some variety have been made to the Web site . The term of service still let in their right field to analyse the earpiece numbers you call and your registration entropy to place relevant ads .
MagicJack itself was charged by the Florida Attorney General over accusations that it charged customer debit circuit card during a 30 - day free trial period , had limitations it was n’t give away decently and that there were issues with its treatment of client complaints . The society square off the contravention by paying a mulct without admitting to any wrongful conduct and correct the complaints . It also made some change to its commercial enterprise practices . As of fall 2013 , the MagicJack FAQ narrow down that credit cards will not be charged during the trial menses , although a hold may be station , and you will be shoot down if you buy more than two MagicJacks or purchase spare twelvemonth of divine service . If you apply a debit , depository financial institution or turn back carte , you will be charged immediately , but you will receive a refund if you return your MagicJack before the 30 - day test period ends .
What do people think of it and where can I get one?
Most review tend to jibe that MagicJack works and is one of the cheapest abode VoIP choice . Early MagicJack suffered from the 24 - hr computer link essential and the inability to port wine numbers , but these concerns are moot with MagicJack Plus . Some reviews of the original MagicJack stated that the quality was n’t quite as unspoiled as land line , but was as dear as or good than cellular . There can still be twisting or delay due to thing like interference from package or computer issue , other devices divvy up yourbandwidthor a washy Internet link , but the newer MagicJack Plus supposedly results in better call quality , even on equivalence with landline service .
One ingeminate ill is customer service , especially the fact that it ’s electronic computer - base only , with no possibility of calling a support line . MagicJack ’s client livelihood is all via their online certification and a live entanglement chat characteristic . You reportedly have to step through a few level in the knowledge infrastructure to get to the World Wide Web confabulation , but at that point in time you are at least dish out with a tangible person . This is seemingly fine for simple problem , but some come up chitchat a hard means to resolve more technically involved issues .
There are also complaint about the paucity of documentation include with the gadget and all the up - selling during setup . You have to be sure to choose out of all the extra you do n’t want in guild to avoid additional fee .
There are also lots of undecomposed reviews , and even the reviews with some negatives or reservation tend to grant that the twist act upon fairly well , and inexpensively , once you work out any kinks .
MagicJack is uncommitted through the company ’s WWW website as well as a broad variety of retailers . If you order from the manufacturing business ’s situation , the 30 - sidereal day free trial apply start from the engagement you place the club . If you purchase it elsewhere , you have to lodge to the retail merchant ’s return policy .
According to the company , they have sold more than 11 million of the devices since the launching of the product . Perhaps amazingly , the mathematical product attracts a prominent number of retirees . It ’s also democratic with the great unwashed overseas who want to call the U.S. or Canada inexpensively . And , of course , it invoke to lots of masses look to scale down costs in tougheconomictimes .
With so many hoi polloi dump their landlines for cell speech sound or VoIP , MagicJack is one of several viable selection for experience gimcrack in - family phone armed service . And even if you have another phone service , MagicJack could provide a ready to hand additional melodic line , recollective - distance saving or a way to uphold precious wandering min . It ’s definitely deserving serious circumstance when taking a trip-up afield – to locations with broadband , of course .
Lots More Information
VoIP is n’t so much the undulation of the future as the wafture of the present . Lots of people are jump over to it , and even telephone company are talking about abandoning their wrick - twosome atomic number 29 networks in favor of coax and fiber and such . One day , the alternative might not be between VoIP and traditional landlines but rather between tang of VoIP .
I ’m only a whole step or two aside from this variety of phone replacement . I ’ve been on VoIP through my cable company for a while , and often severely deliberate ditching it in party favor of my cell phone . But complacency , a package deal and fear of being without at least some sorting of in - menage 911 dialing has made me keep household phone service .
MagicJack sound like an intriguing cable television earphone substitution , though . Ignoring additional fees , its annual armorial bearing is around what I pay per month . Plus , since my Mobile River is always by my side , I really only use the base phone to find telecommerce calls . And my cable earpiece will go out when the power drop dead , anyway . Perhaps one of these daylight I ’ll buckle under to the 30 - Clarence Day trial and give it a try .
