Worth Reading?
+3 [3 votes]
We first saw magicJack all the way back in October, where we managed to kick off an argument about truth in advertising in the comments; now PC Magazine have got one of the adaptors in for review, to see whether YMax’s claims are true. To recap, the magicJack device is a matchbox-sized gizmo with a USB plug on one end (to go into your computer) and a standard RJ-11 phone jack on the other, into which you plug a standard landline phone. The big selling point is unlimited national calls for $20 a year.
PC Magazine seem surprisingly impressed: rating magicJack 4.5 out of 5, they praise it for the great sound quality, broad selection of options such as voicemail and call-waiting, e911 compatibility and - for a $10 fee - the ability to port your existing landline number over to the magicJack service.
I’d be very interested to know if magicJack are considering bringing the service to the UK; considering how heated the previous comments got, I’m sure someone will tell me soon!
[via jkontherun]
We will bring to UK,as soon as we having a chance to breathe.We are going pretty brisk right now in the States.
Dan
I have one using here in CA USA. Sound quality is not that great, lots of static/drop outs. It’s not quite there yet, hopefully will improve over time.
Over the last few months I’ve been closely following the blogs and growing media coverage on the magicJack, the coolest product to hit the marketplace in a very long time.
For those who do not know or do not have a full understanding of the magic behind the magicJack my product overview is below.
magicJack is a USB phone jack that allows users to make FREE local and long distance phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada. Users can bring their magicJack anywhere in the World and make FREE calls to the US and Canada, as well.
It’s easy to use. After plugging the magicJack into the USB port of your computer, the software that resides in the magicJack self-loads, a brief & standard registration process follows (during which time you get to choose a telephone number for your magicJack from a large inventory of area codes/numbers in most every major metro area in the US) and when done you simply plug any standard corded, cordless or portable phone (headset or Bluetooth also works) into the magicJack, pick-up the phone and dial-tone has been delivered! You’re free to make FREE phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada! So, much better than other IP telephony options since it can be used with ANY regular phone and you get your own telephone number for LIFE!
Initially, I was not sure how the call quality would measure up since its extremely inexpensive — man, was I wrong! A mere $40 buys you the magicJack plus the 1st year of local and long distance calls and then its only $20 per YEAR for additional years!! You can not be beat that price for all the FREE local and long distance calls you can ever make in a year!! I started making calls immediately and I was AMAZED at the clarity and quality of the phone calls! Everyone I called agreed with me that the call quality was just as you’d expect from any landline.
The magicJack proves you do not have to sacrifice phone call quality for cost!
But, let me take you back in time a bit since I did some research before I bought my magicJack. Being a techno-savvy guy, I always research a product, its roots and its history before I give it a shot. After hearing about the product on a few techblog sites,I happened to catch the companies TV commercial recently. So, I began my own research.
Overall, the magicJack has been hugely embraced by bloggers and the major press alike. When visiting the company’s website http://www.magicjack.com I was quickly impressed by the Tier 1 media coverage the product has received. Excellent reviews by NY Times, Boston Globe, LA Times, LAPTOP magazine, CNBC and video clips of consumer reporters raving about the magicJack on CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News. PC Magazine just awarded magicJack with its Editors Choice distinction! Then I read about the founder of the company and inventor of the product, Dan Borislow. He has over 20 years experience in building successful long distance telephone companies. His previous company struck a deal with AOL and carried AOL long distance customers on their long distance network. He came up with his latest invention and has spent his own money on R&D of the magicJack — and, then constructed a nationwide telephone network that is one of the largest and newest telephone networks in the industry and is certified as a CLEC in 50 US states! The magicJack is backed by its own telephone network and is operated by executives who have extensive experience in the telecommunications and internet business. This is a HUGE differentiator between magicJack and any other company, including Skype, Vonage and others, in the space who are not telephone experts and are not certified in (even) a single state in the US!
From what I have seen, the company just expanded its online TechSupport platform to a 24/7 online technical customer support. I can bet that part of the reason for the company’s decision to rollout an online tech support system is due to the following:
1) The super ease-of-use does not require a lot of support;
and,
2) magicJack customers are already online;
3) The low product price point is a huge benefit to consumer but does not allow for a large & very expensive live phone CS center.
Also, from all accounts, Dan Borislow is an inventor that wants to stay in touch with the people who use his product. In fact, the magicJack website has a link to send Dan an email and it indicated that he replies to every one!!
I’m a very happy magicJack customer and I can’t wait to watch this company soar, as it saves millions of people around the world thousands of dollars per year!!
I have now been using the MagicJack for at least 2 weeks. I currently have no real complaints about it. The sound quality is great and for the most part, those who I am speaking to can hear me clearly as well.
I have had 2 occurances where the individuals I am speaking to say that I am kind of faint. However, both occurances happened at my job and I know the reason behind that.
I have read in other areas regarding adware and spyware, but I have not (1) detected any such thing(s) on my computer and the only advertisements I have seen are the ones that appear on the MagicJack Phone console. If these are the only ads, then I have no issue with it.
More later.
I installed Magicjack and have been having problems from day one. The support staff using IM is mediocre. First I my speakers lost audio, still have no incoming calls or ring, when I call the other person can barely hear me, and it shuts off alot. You have to restart computer. There is compatibility problems that they acknowledge. Some programs have to be uninstalled. They recommended that I shut off the anti-virus and firewall as it disrupts Magicjack. I bought a AC powered USB hub, that support recommended. I still have no incoming calls, people can barely hear me speak, and it shuts down. So in all of this, there is alot to work on. Idea wise, it sounds good, but beware that some of us are wondering if it’s worth it at any price.
I bought a MagicJack from J&R Music World via Amazon in mid May this year. I have 3 computers, but have only used the MJ on 2 of them.
When I attempted to use it on my Dell tower in my home office, it wouldn’t fit the USB port due to it being located at a 45 degree angle downward on the front panel under the flip down door, so I attempted to use the 8″ USB extension that came with the MJ. I installed the MJ and and attempted to let it do it’s download thing. I kept getting an error message to: “Plug in your MagicJack into your USB port”. I kept continuing to get this message, so I went to their website to see if there were any solutions to my problem. I located and found a supposed fix for the problem according to their information by downloading a patch.
I continued to get the same error message, so I re-checked to be sure that the computer’s Windows, Flash, Shockwave and Java files were all up to date which they were. Next I plugged my USB scanner into the MJ USB extension cable, and what do you know, I got an error message: “Cannot locate USB scanner” when I clicked on the software’s Scan button.
I next went back to the MJ website to attempt to obtain a replacement for my defective USB extension cable. After being led in circles for several minutes, I finally found the Super Secret Link to their Live Tech Support Chat hidden deep in the bowels of their website. This is when my MagicJack experience went from ‘Extremely satisfied’ to “If I only knew then what I know now”.
Their Tech Support person prompted me to do what I’ve already done several times prior to contacting them. When I brought that to their attention for the second or third time, I finally suggested they simply send me a replacement for the defective cable. They then told me that they don’t supply the cables and to contact the seller, so I called J&R customer service stating my problem. They told me that they have no parts for the MJ, and to contact MJ for a replacement as it has a 1-year warranty. I have no issue with J&R as I do a lot of business with them and have always been treated very well by their customer service department. I understand that being I purchased it over 90 days ago they couldn’t help me, suggesting I contact MagicJack directly for a replacement of either the cable or MJ. Being that I’ve already registered a phone number, I really don’t want to go through the hassle with having to do it all over again.
I buy over $3-million a year in equipment for my company, and find that virtually every manufacturer and/or vendor honor their warranty with no problems what-so-ever. I know that if I were a start-up company, I’d address these minor issues to keep customer satisfaction peaked, so that everyone’s comments are ALL positive as word of mouth is the world’s best advertising.
It could have been worse, as I was about to suggest ordering 135 MagicJacks for our field reps. I guess everything happens for the best, as I really wouldn’t want to be in the position of having to explain my decision in ordering 135 products with virtually no support to my CEO who I report directly to. Not exactly a brilliant career move.
MagicJack . . . ” You we’re so close, but so far away”
Hi,
I bought my magicjack from electronic path in Québec (Laval), I want to know how I have to use it.
I bought a magicjack about 3 months ago. By and large it has been fine but about once every couple of weeks it fails to make calls and trouble shooting takes at least half an hour each time. Some people I call say the voice is distorted or quiet but most say it is fine. There are obviously some flaws that need to be ironed out but I will persevere for a while.