Magic Jack Review – $40 for device and unlimited VoIP Incoming and Outgoing calls first year
Magicjack Review -
If you haven't heard of magicJack yet, you should have. It's a USB device that is about the size of Zippo lighter(1 side has a standard RJ-11 phone jack). It costs $40 for the device and first year of service, after that is costs $20 a year.
In short, installs very quickly and works as advertised.
Features:
- Free Phone Service for first year, $20 a year after that - That's incoming and outgoing calls
- Free Voicemail (Dial your number and press *, then 1234)
- International calling as low as $.02/minute (Calls to US and Canada are included)
Expect your first setup of this device to take 10 minutes. When you first hook up the USB device, it automatically installs software/drivers, next it downloads the latest software upgrades for you.
Once complete it'll open up it's webpage so you can put in your e-mail, name and address information(which you could more than likely just make up, however it does use your address for 911 calls). During this process you also pick out what phone number area code you would like. They don't have every state available, but most are.
Once finished, your software picks up your phone number from your account automatically again(this setup is really that easy). And once that is complete you are ready to make calls.
Want to take it to another computer, it is even easier! Install should be 5 minutes tops.
Just plug it in and it installs the software, updates itself and that's it. It brings up the interface with your number you select. Amazing product. (www.magicjack.com)
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the International Rates? - These can be found on MagicJack.com, or click here.
How many phone numbers come with magicjack? - It is one number per device. If you want two phone numbers you're going to need to magicjack devices. Supposedly, you can change your Magicjack phone number once, for free using the magicjack website - but we personally have not tried and do not plan to.
How much does it Cost? Where to buy? How much per minute? - All of these questions can be answer by going to the corporate site www.magicjack.com
Does this work with fax machines? - Short answer is no, it's not an officially supported function. Longer answer is maybe, best way to find out is try and see.
Does this work in <insert country name here>? - Yes, as long as you have broadband internet and a PC. You will have to pick a US number though.
Will the caller or callee be charged long distance rates? Will I be charged for local calls? - If you're both using magicjack both of your calls are free/unlimited to talk between each other. If only you are using the magicjack only your calls incoming and outgoing are free, local/long distance. If people try to call you from a long distance number, their normal long distance charges will apply to them.
My area code is not available, what gives? - Magicjack does not have all area codes available, this is just the way it is.
Why is magicjack support terrible, all I can do is send e-mails or use chat? - Magicjack is a very simple application by design, chances are if you are having trouble - it's either your internet connection, your pc, and very lastly magicjack. There support system is more than adequate for the cost of their product.
Does my computer have to be on to use this product? - Yes, it connects via USB and therfore requires your PC to be on with an broadband internet connection available.
I need to have internet to use this product? - This product is based on Voice over IP technology, meaning it's sending phone calls over the Internet, yes it requires a broadband connection.
Does this product work with a Mac? - Yes, details are available at www.magicjack.com
Can I only call people that have magicjack? No, you can call anone with a telephone, in fact you can also make calls internationally for per minute fees. US and Canada calls are free - incoming and outgoing.
Are international calls free? Only US and Canada calls are free, if you're hoping to make calls from your US Magicjack number to Korea, for example, you're going to have to pay an international free per minute, these are normally about $.02 and up.
What about skype? - Yes, skype is a similar service. And it's prices have come down considerably in the last year. At the current time, Skype is now charging about $37/year making it slightly cheaper than magicjack. However, magicjack's hardware makes using a regular telephone a breeze. Skype is more of an software app only, expect to be using a headset and microphone sitting next to the computer.
WARNING TO CANADIAN CUSTOMERS:
-A Canadian number will cost you an additional $62, they forget to mention that.
-If you stick with an US number, it will be costly for friends and family to call you.
Hello, I just purchased Magic Jack and after using it here for a few days here is the only issue I still have:
My phone doesn’t ring when I have an incoming call. Magic Jack sees the incoming call, but no ring.
Here’s what I have done based on the online chat tech support:
1) Made sure my headset controls were set to telephone.
2) Made sure the Tigerjet device volume was set correctly and nothing was muted.
3) Plugged the Magic Jack into the back of my tower case and, when that didn’t work, plugged it into a AC powered USB hub.
I have tried this on an XP system and a Vista system and no luck with either. My only other option is exchanging my Magic Jack. Exchanging my phone is not an option. If that doesn’t work I am returning it. Anyone have any ideas?
Please reply to redslk3202001@yahoo.com
Thanks, Gene
Can I keep my local phone service # and use MJ just for long distance
I have had a magic jack for 8 months. I have encountered tunnel sounds as I talked, it echoed back to me everything I said. Sometimes, It goes “DEAD” if I talk more than 45 minutes. Lately, the voice cuts off on my end of the phone and the person I am talking to can not hear me. They have to hang up the phone. I hear “hello” are you there”? CLICK What can I say? I can’t afford to pay for phone service.
I am deploying to Iraq, and I am wondering if it would work out there????????
i recently bought the majic jack and hooked it up…..but now i’m having a problem that i didn’t have during my first few days….whenever my friends abroad call my number, they say it just goes straight to voicemail without ringing….i never hear the phone ring, nor do i see the “incoming call” window appear with caller ID…
any US phone number calling me works fine, the phone rings and i can see the “incoming call” window with caller ID…it’s the international phone numbers that are the problem…therefore, i’m always the one that has to call out and i’m the one who’s always paying for the international pre-paid plan…nobody overseas can call my mj phone #…
does anyone know what the problem is? of course the majic jack tech supports says that someone will get back to me via e-mail but it’s now been a good 5 days since i called…
i’ve done upgrades, etc., everything they have told me but i keep having the same problem with incoming international calls…
thanks !!!
i know you can have a number aboad even though the service is always based in the us. So cool! just have to convince your international friends to get a magicjack.
My husband just left for Iraq. If i get him MJ does he need to have some kind of phone or can he just call over his PC? Can I call him and not be charged on my phone as long as I set it up here first?
Thanks
ill be living in the caribbean.
if i buy the magic jack and take it with me.
will i be able to receive free incoming calls from the united states?
or do i need to buy it in the caribbeans?
thank you.
Just bought Magic Jack. Was sceptical as it had that “too good to be true” offer and cheap infomercial marketing. My brother bought it and raved about it, so I had to try it. I have a technical background and quite frankly am AMAZED at this product. Using their VOIP actually sounds clearer than my AT&T telephone line. Super easy to set up. I see several poor reviews, and the only thing I can think is that you should probably have pretty fast Internet service (DSL or cable) to have a good experience. All I can say is that this little product will probably be a category killer (I am glad I don’t own AT&T or Vonage). Once they change the product name and marketing campaign-look out. I actually just cancelled AT&T today. I guess the Internet does change everything.
Magic Jack has to be the single worst investment I have ever made. It does not perform as advertised; there is no clarity in either reception or transmission. I have spent hours and hours on the computer with tech support and everyone tells me it is fixed and yet when I use the product, the voice quality on either end is as if you are talking under water. I know in life you get what you pay for and magic jack was a quick fix for me since I didn’t want to put a land line into a residence I would use for only 3 months. How stupid and gullible could I have been to have believed the advertising??? I guess pretty stupid and very gullible. Don’t make the same mistake I have, save your money and your time (which is as valuable as cash; DO NOT PURCHASE MAGIC JACK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Tech help is polite, knowledgeable and kind, but ultimately powerless to make it better. I have tried every fix under the sun and NOTHING works. Calls don’t come in, people can’t hear me or if they can hear me, they are unable to understand me. I do not understand them. It is as if I am talking through a voice changing device, where the voice is so well disguised that the speech is unintelligible to anyone on the other end. Try making calls to businesses like that………..get a land line or increase the minutes on your cell.
My cousin is a school administrator in Kuwait. He was going to purchase a satelite phone to keep in contact with his family stateside. I bought a magicjack and set it up at my area code. He now recieves phone calls like they are right next door. He and his family love it.
This is after I have had one for about a year and a half. Granted you have to pay for DSL (I use my internet all the time) but what you get with MJ cost me $60.00 a month with my phone company. The only problem that I have is that my electricity goes out on occasion but that was easily fixed with a battery back up which by the way saves your computer anyway. I don’t talk to too many people, so this money that I have spent is well worth it. I also like that it sends you an email that you can listen to your voicemail through the email.
My only complaint is that I would like my phone to ring more than 4 times before Vmail picks it up. I have looked to see if you can change the amount of rings and have not had too much success finding the answer. I am getting older and harder to run for the phone when it rings.
I don’t get regular TV so I have not seen the infomercials about MJ, but I am impressed with the service. I just paid for another 5 years at the same cost as what I would pay in 1 month of landline service.
As for problems with it working right, I have never had problems on my computers that I have hooked MJ to. I have several computers for different things that I do and have hooked it to all of them and had no problems hooking up and making phone calls. If you keep your computer with an up to date anti virus and adware program and not mess changing certain programs on your computer, then you should be fine with MJ. Even if it didn’t work out, come on people $40.00 is cheap to lose considering what the phone company gets per month for the same service. And even I on a fixed income can afford to lose 40 bucks. I used to smoke and that was the cost of a carton. For what you get, MJ is very affordable, convenient and nice to make calls with anywhere you may travel. Hope this comment helps some people. Thanks for your time.
My magicjack worked for a full year, with very few problems. I was pleased with it until a few days ago. I renewed my service a little under 1 month ago, and yesterday when I started it, it said that my outbound calling has been suspended due to excessive usage. I thought magicjack offered you with unlimited calling? I had mine for a year and never had this problem, and now after having renewed the service not even a month ago, it won’t let me make or receive any calls. I tried the online support and talked to a few different ‘live help’ people. None of them could help me fix it. All they gave me was a bogus number that is not active. So I finally found a number to call for billing questions, and when I reached a live person, I was told to keep calling the same number, which is not active and does nothing to solve my issue. Does anyone know how I can reestablish my outbound calling? Also, why is there a time limit on long distance calls? I never understood that. They advertise it as being completely unlimited. It really is not. After 1:59:01 on a call, it hangs it up.
Hi ,I want to know how to pay my majic jack annual payment online.When I got mine one of my friend help me to order it through internet and now I don’t know a lot of details about my majic jack like the E_MAIL or the other stuff which had been registered at this time but all I have now my majic jack number and I want to pay the bill for 2010 Could U please help me do that.
when i am not home, should i keep the computer on, in order not to miss a message to my voice mail?
how do u pay for it
I am so frustrated with this product!!! I can make and receive calls, but sometimes I can hear the person on the other line, but they can not hear me. I don’t know what is causing this. I can’t see a pattern. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was ready to say goodbye to my phone company, but I can’t do this until I find a solution to this problem.
I have the same problem as LNH. I cannot use my magic jack anymore because it says that my outbound calling has been suspended for excessive usage. i only had it for less than a month. I called the number they gave me, (214)884-5124, and the guy said that i have to pay 1cent per minute for every usage. I really thought that this is unlimited calling.
Please do not spend any money on this product. It’s the responsibility of a company to provide the features and benefits as they advertise and to support the product when they make it available to the general market. It doesn’t matter if it’s $40 or $400. The item does not perform and their support is abysmal. You have to drop your other service so when the product doesn’t perform you are out the purchase price, the endless attempts (20 to 40 minutes) at a time to fix and you have to then shop for and arrange replacement service. Not a good investment. They have probably sold many more than they can support and are clearly not investing in additional servers or support services.
When using magic jack and you are downloading it will reduce the quality. canada number is only $10.00/year more total $30.00/year. what the hell do you people want for 20/30 bucks a year. i had mine for 1 year and had no problems what so ever.
stop your whining and suck it up. no need to keep computer on to have voice mail working.
Bought my first MagicJack…I have broadband and the latest computer. I could make calls and hear them fine but they could not hear me except gargled and not understandable. I don’t really care about the $40 so I figured maybe I had a bad one and went out and bought another….same problem. Tried to troubleshoot and got nowhere. Tried different computers – different phones…the same thing. It seems for some reason this thing works fine for some and terrible for others. It is definately a shot in the dark whether you will get it to work or not but for me it is unusable and going in the trash….both of them.
How do i pay it on the internet?
Just signed up and I have one possible problem. So far (early stages), calls from Canada seem to give them a busy signal (when we aren’t on the line). Can anyone let me know if they are having this problem, or know how to fix this?
Thanks
I have a little 10.1″ Acer computer that I plug my MagicJack into. I have a Uniden cordless phone that I plug into the other end of the MagicJack. I keep my little computer running until bedtime then I shut the computer off until I wake up in the morning. I’ve had MJ for almost two years now with no problems. Clear sound. Unlimited calling time anywhere I call in the US. (my experience)
What is also very nice is that you can take your home phone with you on trips wherever there is available internet.
NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. Easy and cheap.
I have found that it DOES matter what computer you are using as far as quality sound goes.
I have a very inexpensive computer cooling fan that is also plugged into my computer. It all works together nicely.
What can I say…It has saved me an extraordinary amount of cash and I am very happy.
I have a magic jack that I bought for about for just about 1 month now. I am surprised to find it suspended due to excessive calling. It says that I have reestablish it. I tried several options as per indicated in the prompts given, however, none of them doesn’t work. I need it to be up and running. Please help me.
If you have any suggestions, please email me at maicodane@yahoo.com
Big lie in the ad. Deceptive trade practice. The truth is in the “terms of service” Unlimited incoming but out going says LIMITED. If they deem you an over user you are terminated without notice or refund. Too bad, so sad. Not putting in the ad but hiding in the TOS is not good business. OK, you stuck me for $40 but I will tell the truth about you…
results are EXTREMELY different based on your equipment and your web service – that is the majority of the difference in results and in praise or condemnation – I also believe their manufacturing process is faulty and that is why there are so many issues with the little lighter sized unit itself
i havent bought magic jack yet but i have so many ppl in my list of friends that live far away that i have to have one ND IF IT DOESNT WORK FOR ME CAN I RETURN IT.
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with ‘Charlin’
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK4190120843684X
Charlin: Hello, how may I help you?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Good afternoon Charlin, I would like to speak to your manager or supervsor. pls
Charlin: Sure, Michelle. But first let me ask you what is your specific concern please?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: My name is Michelle, phone # is …….., my outgoing calls has been suspended because I called 50 #s, I’ve been calling the # 214-884-5124, # given by a supervisor to reestablish my outgoing calls but i’ve been trying to call the # for a week now and I keep getting disconnected after 1 ring.
Charlin: okay
Charlin: One moment please…
Charlin: I am transferring you to one of our top 10% agents as rated by our customers. Please hold while I transfer you.
Please wait while I transfer the chat to the best suited site operator.
You are now chatting with ‘Junrex’
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK4190120843684X
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: hi junrex
Junrex: Hello Michelle . My name is Junrex. To better assist you, let me put you on hold while I read your previous chat/s. Thank you.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: ok
Junrex: Thank you for patiently waiting.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: ok
Junrex: Is this your Phone No: (818) ………….?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: yes
Junrex: This phone number has violated our Terms of Service. Please refer to Section 6, Proper Use at http://www.magicJack.com/TOS
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: But I have just renewed your service for 5 years
Junrex: Unfortunately, the issue is not all about the renewal but you have violated our terms of service section number 6.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Does this mean I wont be able to make anymore calls? Why didn’t you give me a warning like, “you’ve been making a lot of outgoing calls your service might get disconnected” Where in you were able to do it when my service was about to expire before. In short: no warning whatsover, I did 5 calls and my service gets discoonnected even if I have 5 years contract with you?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: I am sorry thats 50 calls
Junrex: Yes, we have given a warning already if you have just read our terms of service during registration period.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Also these 50 calls some of them I weren’t even connected
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: What I mean is while doing it
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: while making the calls
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: You should have given me a warnig or a message
Junrex: Our term of service is enough to give an information on how to use the magicJack properly. Unfortunately, as of now, There is nothing you can do to reverse the action
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: I renewed my service for 5 years can refund the fraction that wasnt used?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: And also why do I see a note on my Magic Jack stating that my service maybe reestablish
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: then when I chat with you guy you told me to call 214-884-5124, but the # is not even working. You coud have told me from the start that there is nothing you can do to reverse the action. If there is no malicious intent there.
Junrex: There is possibility that your magicJack can be used again. Please do wait for more updates about your magicJack.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: You could have been honest from the start right?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Really?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Why did the other supervisor told me that my incoming calls will be suspended shortly?
Junrex: Yes, we’re been honest but mostly customers are not really aware of this scenario since they don’t have time to read our terms of service. As of now, the only thing I can say it to wait for the updates. I can’t provide specific time but sooner , there could be an information on how to use the magicJack again.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: How will I be informed?
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Do I need to go on chat every now and then
Junrex: Check your softphone/dialpad day by day since we also give an update through the softphone.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: So this means that youre not going to cancel my incoming calls?
Junrex: You can still receive incoming calls Michelle
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: Ok thanks, I hope you guys can fix this ASAP. I am one of your customers who didnt read the terms and conditions but I don’t think that its fair to terminate my service where in I’ve renewed it for 5 years. Right? I am sure if this also happened to you youll feel disappointed as well.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: I have been a loyal Magic Jack customer, I have referred you to my relations in US as well as in the Philippines.
Michelle P. Dela Cruz: relatives***, please fix this ASAP. tnx
Junrex: We will do Michelle. Please do wait for our updates only.
If you use the phone too much, they disable the outgoing calling, to keep them from being charged with FRAUD, you are still able to recieve calls, just not call out, unless you pay another $20.00 for a year of service. I have had Magic Jack for 2 years and a few months, I now have a 12 and 13 year old, well guess what? They talk. And after paying for a year in Feb 22 of 2010 on my Discover card, today July, 23 2010, my account has been flagged for excessive use. Please deposit another $20.00 for continued service, sounds like a BIG scam to me folks, but I’ll leave it to each of you to decide for yourself.
MTL Iowa
I just had my majicJack service terminated due to excessive usage. VERY FRUSTRATING! I have a home based business, so the majicJack was a great money saver for me. It’s up to majicJack’s sole discretion to determine if the account is being misused, but I’m not sure why making a bunch of outbound calls would be misuse – I’m not using any kind of predictive dialer. I used it to call people from my contact management program and I leave a lot of VM messages. I listed the majicJack number on my business cards as a primary contact number because it allows me to make and recieve calls from anywhere using my laptop. It is really going to hurt to lose that number.
In a chat session with the customer service rep, I was told that I’m basicially screwed. “Sam” told me, “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do for it as these this kind of process is system generated. Once our Terms of Service are violated your magicJack will automatically be suspended. There is nothing you can do to reverse the action either.”
I kept asking if there was a way I could reestablish service and purchase an upgraded service package that would allow more outbound calls (the majicJack user interface made calling from my ACT contact manager program really easy too, so I used it a lot and didn’t want to go back to a lan line if I could avoid it.) The short answer is NO, although “Sam” never actually came out and said that, he just kept telling me to review the terms of service.
MajicJack seemed like such a great service, which makes this a terible letdown. All I can say is that they should really revise they way they market it. If they can terminate the service arbitrarily due to “excessive usage”, which is up to their sole discretion to define and determine, then it’s really not “Unlimited” calls. It was stupid of me to list the majicJack number as my business number, I will admit, but if I had known they would/could do this, I certainly wouldn’t have done it.
Maybe the sounds you were hearing were actully in you head. Did it sound like
DINGGGG DONGGGGG?
i have the same problem as LNH..!dey say my outbound calling has been suspended due to excessive calling..!it like just happened today! so what shud i do?shud i wait? i dont even know whom to talk to..help req.!
reply on my yahoo ID of poss..sam5_chaingang@yahoo.com
Magic Jack conducts fraudulent and deceptive business practices. Their customer service is non-existant, but the rude and ignorant people that call themselve customer service simply blame the customer for the company’s mistakes.
You will be very sorry you gave these people your money. I bought a five year subscription and after twelve months got a message that said “you must renew today or you’ll be disconnected”. I was disconnected within 60 minutes and before I could even find how to contact them. I learned that Magic Jack does not have any customer service. If you spend a lot of time… and keep clicking on the right links they will eventually give you an email chat with a non-English speaking person who insists the problem is your computer! It took my wife and I over 3 1/2 hours in 3 different “customer chat” sessions to resolve that we were disconnected after 12 months when we paid for 60. But I still don’t have a phone. They disabled it and said I’d have to pay $9.95 for the delivery of a new device! They would not admit they made the mistake and kept telling me charging me again was their “protocal”.
Magic Jack conducts fraudulent and deceptive business practices. They do not have any customer service. The rude and ignorant people that call themselve customer service simply blame the customer for the company’s mistakes but they can’t and won’t correct anything.”