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.
is it possible to see missed calls.
YES, It is possible to see missed calls.
That white section to the right of the phone dial pad is the call log. You will be able to see outgoing, incoming, and missed calls.
Thanks for reading!
Can this system support a fax machine?
Magic Jack does not officially support faxing. However, there have been reports of people using it for fax with success.
Magic Jack FAQ shows:
(Compatibility)
Can I send and receive faxes using magicJack?
Sometimes.
We do not officially support using faxing with magicJack.
Please try the following steps to use magicJack with your fax (contact your fax vendor for details):
1. turn off error correction on your fax machine or program
2. set the fax machine or program to use the slowest speed available
3. increase the speed, checking at each speed that faxes work
Thanks for the comment!
This would be ideal for my family, however, area they going to be adding more area codes so friends and neighbors aren’t being charged long distance fees? I know, the whole idea is for EVERYONE to have a Magic Jack and then it won’t be an issue. But everyone deosn’t have a Magic Jack.
Chuck, I would not recommend this over a land line for local calls.
For us, it works great as a cost effective 2nd line solution for outgoing/incoming calls to everyone, whether local or long distance.
As far as lowering your friends and family’s long-distance charges… We would keep the land-line for local calling and emergencies, however, when we need to make long distance calls, which we do quite often, that’s when magic jack really works great.
If you try it, you may want to pass it around to family and friends to try, and then everyone can save some money
THE COST OF INTERNATIONAL CALLS WILL BE .2 TO ANY COUNTRY?
Calls from US to Canada are included. With other rates as low as .02
Prcies to other countries will vary,
For actual pricing click here
My husband is deploying overseas will this work in Iraq on his laptop so that we may call each other in the privacy of his own space
lol?
Can you explain to me how magic jack works? Does it work with broadband?
can i use the magicjack on my laptop with wifi
@Tina: Yes this should work in Iraq on his laptop as long as your husband has access to some form of high speed internet. Military bases normally provide personal internet connectivity using common areas and locked-down kiosks. But if he is able to find a connection to use with his laptop, then it’s $40 well spent!
@Sherry: Magic Jack is Voice-Over-IP-Technology and it will require a high-speed, broadband internet connection such as DSL or Cable.
@ anthony: As long as your wireless connection is high-speed you should be fine.
Did you need an existing phone line in order to activate the magicjack
RENea, you do NOT need an existing phone line to activate. The device requires a high-speed internet connection and a PC and that is all. Once you complete the quick on-line setup to get your phone number you will be making calls in minutes.
Thanks for the post.
I am deploying to Iraq. If I have a Magic Jack account for my laptop, and another Magic Jack account for home, are the calls still free, or are they charged at the listed rate of approx .40 cents/minute?
Hi,
When I use the magic jack to make a call the ring tone fades in and out-I can’t hear the person on the other line but they can hear me what can I do to fix that!
Thanks
Donna
i tried the free trial, but my majic jack keeps cutting off during conversation. Ive had it for almost two weeks and have not been able to use it because of this. Ive tried customer service and still, I run into the same problem.
majic jack isn’t all that, especially when you can’t get it to work properly. Just another waste of time.
help! I am down loading software and the contract agreement says outgoing calls are free but incoming is free Magic Jack to Magic Jack, but doesn’t state how much the price of the incoming calls would be if it isn’t to a Magic Jack! Help Help Help!
@forrest, that .40 cents a minute should only occur if you are calling international numbers from your stateside magicjack number. If you plan on calling from your magicjack line to anywhere stateside(meaning your other magicjack number). It will be both free and unlimited.
@Donna Grosch and joe,
The cause for you trouble could be related to your PC, (either software or hardware), internet connection troubles, or possibly a defective magicjack device. We would recommend trying your magicjack out on a friends computer to see if you get the same trouble. Also, if you using a firewall, try disabling it while you’re using magicjack as a test.
@Gina
The cost from your magicjack to anywhere in US & Canada is included(regular telephone lines, cell phones, and magicjack lines). That means outgoing or incoming. If you are calling other countries other than US & Canada, you are going to have to purchase minutes. See above posts for international rate questions.
Can I switch the same magic jack back and forth between two different computers (one wireless laptop and one desktop) and keep the same number without any problems?
Was using Magic jack and it was fine in the beginning. Then the audio became increasingly worse like the other person was in Tahiti or something. There was a definite time delay. Then it changed to bad reception. I changed USB ports, changed phones, tried a USB port with a power source, and now the entire site has been down for the past 2 days. I was chatting to a tech and then was told the problem was on their end and it would be fixed in 24 hours. Still nothing!!!!!!
@ Mingo: That is exactly what we found so simple about the product. Once setup, you should be able to take it to any other PC or laptop and have your phone number come with you. One of our testers used this product from their Hotel’s complimentary wireless internet. Using the hotel phone as a handset!
@Leba London: Sorry to hear you’ve been having a bad experience. With any Voice over IP technologies there are going to be unplanned troubles. Even Skype, Vonage, and Packet8 have their bad days. Regardless, thank you for taking the time to post your experience with the service. The good news is: $40 for a year of contract free, unlimited service is still really cheap even with those outage times.
Thanks for the posts!
I can’t even connect… I continually get a message to connect to the internet and to register when I am already connected. When I try to gy frustratinet to a tech on the site, it automatically directs me to an upgrade magic fix. this is now 4 days. This is really frustrating. I also had purchased 5 years of this! It would be nice if there was someone to contact….
Leba London:
This seems to be a local computer problem. If you would like to contact one of our reps here. Check out http://www.copyrunstart.net/?page_id=30
I would like to know that If I call someone that does not have a majicjack will I be
charged for these calls? Also does my phone still ring and do I cancel my phone sservice before I install this ? Thank You
Hi,
When I use the magic jack to make a call the ring tone fades in and out-I can’t hear the person on the other line but they can hear me.. what can I do to fix that!
Also, m using Data Card connection in my laptop for internet which has a speed of 128 kbps… Is this , where the problem is?
Do i need to change my internet connection to broadband?
Thanks
Abhishek
@ Camille Garvey: If you call someone with or without magic jack it will be included in your $40 purchase. The only exception being international calls. The phone you connect to the MagicJack device will ring when you receive a call. You do NOT have to cancel your phone service to use this device – since it uses your PC’s high speed internet connection to make/receive calls.
@abhishek: It looks like you have pinpointed your network’s slow point. Especially, being a wireless service – you are going to have latency(slow response) issues. In order to have a pleasant experience we would recommend a broadband service such as DSL or Cable. If you know someone else with broadband, try it out first! Good luck!
Thanks for the comments!
Isn’t MagicJack something to replace your phone service? Sounds like you have
to have phone service for Internet and Internet to have MagicJack. What’s the point? Long Distance calls? Everyone has cell phones for that and they aren’t going to cancel them…Another Flim Flam job…
I purchased two magic jacks and paid an additional $3.95 for fast three day delivery…When after ten days my magic jacks did not arrive, I contacted magic jack…Magic jack was willing to send but would not return my $3.95…so I canceled…
@bill:
Long distance, number portability, and international calling – MagicJack will be for the same market that uses Vonage, Skype, or similar services. The service requires broadband access – some cases such as DSL may require landline phone service. However, if you’re already paying $40-60 a month for cable internet you could easily add a home phone for $40/year or less. The market for this device is definitely not cellphone owners with great reception at home and unlimited minutes.
@Ronald E. Davis,
Thanks for the posting your customer experience.
My area code is not available. Does that mean anyone in my town will incur long distance charges to call my Magic Jack number?
Pete
BEWARE- Fraud.Magic Jack Exposed – I bought the magic jack as part of a trail version for 30 days the 2 day they charged me $50.When I tried to reach them there is no VOICE SUPPORT so you can not talk to a person its automated chat help
which is of no use .Then I received the magic jack plugged it in set up made a call to my cell phone its was all good then after 5 hours my pc would not recoganize the usb drive and then again on the CHAT FOR 4 HOURS FROM 1 AM TO 4 AM. Nothing happend money is gone and a stupid jack at home .DONT BELIVE IN WHAT THEY SAY.
I purchased a Magic Jack last month. I have been having a problem that no one seems to be able to resolve: I can make phone calls, and can hear the other person fine. They, however have great deal of difficulty hearing me. I have gone through all of the “fixes” that their support staff have recommended, but to no avail. Unfortunately, the 30-day period begins as soon as you order the Magic Jack, so that time period has expired and I’m left with a device that still does not work as advertised.
If it weren’t for that, it would be a pretty good deal.
I have just heard of majic jack, and sounded really interinting to me, i have family spread all over the u.s england, jamaica, turks and caicos islands
but i wanted to know if i was to buy this product and send it to my sisters aunts and brothers, how much will it cost me to call these different places,
I live in the bahamas
where will i order the products say about 12
shay
Does your computer have to be on at all times to make and receive calls?
I just saw the info mercial on tv,and i decided to try it out,i pay outrageous price in home phone and cell phone, i will post on this site how i like it,i ordered it with 3 day shipping,and im running win xp on a lap top,so we will see how it works.
@ Pete, Exactly – if others local to your are going to try to call your number – it will be long distance for them.
@Vijay – sorry to hear you’re having so much trouble – thanks for the post
@Jim Miner – Oh no! More trouble. Your case is another in which we would recommend trying another PC or internet connection. Windows PCs are known for having quirks and with the thousands of people using these devices without problem everyday. There maybe a more local issue involved. Best of luck.
@shay: The cost for each device is $40 for the first year, and $20 a year after for service. For the first year you would pay about $480 dollars for 12 people to have unlimited calling. Keep in mind, some people pay $600 a year for cell phone usage – just for themselves!
@Johnathan – Yes it Does! It’s a uses the USB connection on your PC.
@jim – Looking forward to your review. Thanks!
This magic jack is NOT as advertised. You do NOT save any money, you actually spend more money. You still have to pay for a broadband internet connection with your cable company which is very expensive…..or you can use it with DSL which requires a phone line ………so you would still be required by the phone company to purchase local phone service as well as DSL service…so where’s the savings?????
Also, you would have to leave your computer on 24 hours a day and 7 days a week if you want to be sure to receive all your calls and messages. That would use alot of electricity…………I’ll just keep my local voice service and the cheapest DSL internet service with the phone company and I use a dial-around service for the few long distance calls that I make. That is the cheapest way to go……………
@ Brian :: Thanks for the post; We agree cheap long distance and international calling is not for everyone. It seems you found the best deal for your situation.
@Brian as a cage fighter I love Magic Jack. Every where I go I have the same number and as long as I can pick up a wireless signal I am still good too go. We have a free internet wireless service out here as most places do though. We use it all the time and it saves a lot of money. I also get caller ID as well as voice mail. So it really is cheaper. $40 a month vs $20 a year you decide.
I doesn’t work on my computer. It has windows vista, also it doesn’t work on windows 2000. It only works on windows xp.
Just a little tech help. I recently purchased a Majic Jack and was having problems getting it to download its program. It was crashing my computer every time it tried to download. I contact their online tech chat support was kinda getting nowhere fast. They help was great but everything they tried wasn’t working. I am running Windows XP Media Edition with Service Pack 1. That was the promblem a simple upgrade to Service Pack2 fix the problem and bingo off an running. I love it great phone reception, fast response when calling even long distance calls connection time is quicker than my land line. I hope this helps anybody who is lazy like me and hasn’t updated their Windows base computer to SP2.
I have a question which the rep couldnt answer – and to me it is a dealbreaker – if someone here can answer it it would be awesome. Thanks in adv.
Can I set up my majicjack such that it does delayed call forwarding – ie it rings the majicjack number for a few rings (say 6) after that it forwards the call to my cellphone.
The use would be when/if my computer shutdown. Also I would be able to receive calls in office on my cell instead of going to the voicemail. I understand I can manually set it to forward and unset it later in the evening, but doing that everytime you step out is clunky.
thanks!
I ordered the magic jack about 3 months ago. It does not work as advertised. It seems that it works for about 5-10% of people but the other 90% are stuck with a piece of junk.
I live in Canada and have to use a US number. I can usually hear the people on the line but they cannot hear me a lot of the time. I have tried this thing on 3 different computers, all with broadband high speed internet, and I always get this problem. Maybe it just doesn’t work properly for people in Canada.
I have tried all their support to fix this problem and nothing seems to work.
I purchased magic jack and suprisingly the service is great the audio quality is clear and excellent.
My my only problem is that ever since I installed magic jack on my computer my
audio stopped working.
Am I the only customer with this issue?
can you hook up the magic jack to the wireless modem?
You don’t have to have a phone line to have DSL. You can get what att. calls a dry loop line which is DSL only. In my case it is $25.00 a month for DSL only line. They charge you an extra $5 over what a normal DSL line cost but it still less because you don’t pay for the phoneline.
Hello I am in Afghanistan(Military Base) I was thinking of getting magicjack so my family can call me here. I have access to internet but not sure of the speed. What is the minimum required speed up/down) that magicjack requires.
I was also told that I have to set up magic jack in the USA for it to work. Is this a true statement?
If i set up magic jack as a local number for my home area(california), then in theory my family shouldnt be charged anything, Right?
Magic Jack works fine in Canada, the only problem I have is with the customer chat line. I was over billed and while chatting with customer service rep Junrex, I was intentionally disconnected. Not a good business policy. I did receive a credit for the over bill the next day. I have never received a confirmation email, an apology email, any email other than 911 verification. Poor customer care, but product is good so far.