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MagicJack To Be The New Skype?

By David Ponce on 03/16/07 • 85 Comments

magicjack

By David Ponce

Well, hell, maybe not; once you’ve got Skype’s momentum, it’s hard to come into the scene and kick some ass. Still, MagicJack is a promising new VoIP service that rests its strategy on a USB dongle with a regular, analog phone jack on one end, and… well, a USB connector on the other. It’s supposed to be simple: plug the dongle in the computer and your regular phone in the jack. Wait 60 seconds (or minutes in a spyware infested PC) for the software to auto-install, and you’re ready to make phone calls with your house phone. If it works properly, it’s something we can see the elderly and the otherwise PC-challenged crowd getting into.

Pricing is rumored to be between $29 and $39, which includes the dongle and one year subscription to the service, with the plan costing $19 a year afterwards. This would give you unlimited calling in Canada and the US, though extra charges apply for other destinations.

Of course, $30 doesn’t beat free any day of the year, and with the immense installed base Skype already has, it’s going to be tough “killing” it. But we sure do wish them the best of luck.

Official launch is set for April ’07.

[ MagicJack Website ] VIA [ EverythingUSB ]


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  • m72

    I mean $20 dollars a year.

  • m72

    MAGICJACK is good for a back-up phone,to save on your cell phone minutes or for calling someone far far away. The best thing about MAGICJACK in this tough economy is–ANYONE can afford to have this phone and for aot of people this IS the only phone that they have.

  • gailr

    I bought a MagicJack several months ago-it caused my computer to crash, cost my phone service and lost contact, refused to stay on the computer and took me a long time to get resolved. I finally received a grudging consent to send me a replacement at no cost if I returned the old jack. I got the email 11/10/08 that the replacement was being shipped, got a return lable for the old jack and an email stating I had two weeks to return the old jack before being charged. I noticed 39.95 has been taken from my account and when I tried to contact someone to help me with this, I was told I had better return the jack if I wanted my money back, there was no one to complain to and they could take whatever they wanted. This is not a company I will deal with again. Not only do they sell defective proucts, they go way out to be sure they don't lose any of the money they have gotten.

  • joewht

    11-27-09 MJ offered a SPECIAL ” extend 5 years for $59.95 ” which my current expiration was May 2009. after entering the 5 year Code.. it only gave me 4 years…
    I talked with 2 techs who would only try to feed me different lines trying to convince me it was Cheap enough, or it states 5 years, but it only extends 4 years.. bla bla bla..
    — FRAUD…. I Love my MJ, but their Tech support are Dishonest…
    so I've emailed dan.borislow@magicjack.com; dan@magicjack.com who made MJ.. I hope he can fix it.. or is willing to fix it..

  • david

    I have had my mj for a couple of days now. It seems to work fine. I have had one drop call and one call that i could not hear. Redial # and had no problem. Hey its 20.00 dollars a year I drop my long distance and saved more than that. i will keep my local land line for a couple more months to make sure everything is okay. But in ant event will continue to use magicjack. For thoes of you who want live service to talk to do you think that a company who sells a product for 20.00 can pay someone 10.00 and hour to talk to you be real.

  • Jbrazao

    My comment is about not been able to get any area code or phone numbers so that i can use my two magicjacks . I have given you two E:mail addresses and so far no response there for here are my two E:mails one is{jbrazao08@gmail.com with password sparky005} and the other [jbrazao@sympatico.ca password gxar54gx hoping that i can get over trying to get into the system and enjoy my free calling . Thank you.

  • gislander

    MagicJack just block my account with out any reason and it is asking me to register. But when I typed in my email address and password it says “email address is not on file, password is invalid or magicjack serial number is not associated with login. How can I fix this? The site says 24 hour a day live chat but nobody is thereto chat.

  • joewht

    I found their online / phone Foreign/ india Tech support is just a scam to push EVERYONE off.. email BOTH dan.borislow@magicjack.com & dan@magicjack.com He created MJ and is making Millions.. his org addy was ” Dan@magicjack.com” and it kept getting complaint emails so he made ” dan.borislow@magicjack.com” he refers both emails to his own Tech man or such.. but it's the ONLY way I got my 3 different issues solved within 1 or 2 days at the latest… Avoid the normal route.. email his people..

  • joewht

    I found their online / phone Foreign/ india Tech support is just a scam to push EVERYONE off.. email BOTH dan.borislow@magicjack.com & dan@magicjack.com He created MJ and is making Millions.. his org addy was ” Dan@magicjack.com” and it kept getting complaint emails so he made ” dan.borislow@magicjack.com” he refers both emails to his own Tech man or such.. but it's the ONLY way I got my 3 different issues solved within 1 or 2 days at the latest… Avoid the normal route.. email his people..

  • jussi

    ok i have a fiance in thailand i want to be possible for her to call me and me call her for free using magic jack so let me see if i get this right i buy a mj and than send it to her is that right

  • jussi

    ok i have a fiance in thailand i want to be possible for her to call me and me call her for free using magic jack so let me see if i get this right i buy a mj and than send it to her is that right

  • johnmsec

    We've had our MJ for a year and it's been great. We'd probably experienced 2 or 3 dropped or interrupted calls the past year of using it on an almost daily basis. We bought int'l minutes to call my in-laws in Panama. But last October, I bought another MJ and gave it to my in-laws in Panama, so our calls are completely free. They call us almost every day and the quality has been very good and only experienced a couple of dropped calls during December. But for the price and savings we get who cares!! I just hit speed dial and we're back on!
    Our systems aren't new. I have a laptop with pentium III using XP pro-SP3, through our wireless router on cable modem, While my in-laws have a generic PC with XP pro SP3 on a wireless router using DSL.
    We use this as a back up for our cell phones. We normally leave the laptop on during the day and shut it off before going to sleep. For our family, it's work and saved us $$$. Thanks MJ!

  • Howard

    Majicjack does not meet up to my expectation although I have a broadband connection and the required speeds I still have a speech delay

  • Wayne

    HAD IT NEARLY 3MOS AND CANNOT GET ENOUGH USE OUT OF IT TO WARRANT 20.00 A YR. i MAINLY WANTED IT FOR A FAX LINE AND IT ONLY WORKS ONE OUT OF 25 TRIES.
    SUPPORT HAS NOT BEEN MUCH HELP.

  • gonde

    hi johnmsec, I want to know How in Panama they set -up the MJ , they use a US adress? please tellme …. I want to do the same, but for Chile,, gracias.

  • johnmsec

    Gonde,

    Yes. you have someone maybe a friend or family you can trust to buy and connect here in the U.S. FIRST. When they connect it here, It will ask what city/ state / zip code you are connecting from. Then it will give you option to pick which phone number to use. Then use it to test and make sure it saved on its memory. They gave it to you in Chile, and you connect it to a USB port on any PC with a USB port and internet connection ( you MUST have DSL or cable modem to work). Then connect a regular telephone to the MagicJack port. Now you should be able to call any US or Canada phone for free. My family still use it in Panama and works OK, very few times it may drop a call like a cell phone. But for $20 a year its worth it I think.

    Saludos!

    John.

  • Sherrell Ray

    Thats not correct because i have a MJ and i believe its a great investment and i have a Mac

  • Kristy

    I live in Honduras and I use Magic Jack, and it rocks, the best 40$ i spent in my life, has a clear voice and its really fast and easy to use, I'm sad cause

  • sandyjohn5221948

    I've had my MJ for over a year. In the beginning, I was ready to trash it! My computer is 5years old, but I never thought it was the computer's fault. My audio was terrible. I upgraded my ISP to “blazing fast,” and it didn't make one bit of difference. I bought a powered plug in USB hub, and everything got much better. Then, I started having problems with a beeping sound, like someone was pushing phone buttons. When my year was up….I went to Radio Shack and purchased a new MJ and one year of service. I decided I had saved enough money from my phone bill over the past year to get a new computer. I got an HP with 2 dual processors and 8 gigs of memory. I can't remember what my processing speed is, but I think that is where the problem is with most people. I have a laptop that is less than a year old, and hooking the MJ up to it did not help with my problems. Processing speed means everything!!! My new computer cost me $679.00. My phone is absolutely perfect now. No audio problems, no beeping, no dropped calls. I have a slight delay on my end which causes some “talk over” problems, but that mostly involves my friend that never shuts up long enough for me to get a word in edge wise. I love my MJ and I plan on keeping this service forever. I take mine back and forth from my home to my lake house. People need to realize the need to reset the MJ once a month. Unplug the modem and router (if used) for a few minutes, and MJ will serve you well. I'm 61 years old and my husband is 65. If we can figure this thing out, others should have no problems. If anyone figures out the fix for the delay, let me know. That is my only concern!

  • Anonymous

    you can use MJ anywhere but i think it has to be reg to da address

  • tamisecret

    You know when you have incomming calls and they come up onn your TV set and tell you whse calling? Can that still work with MJ I hope so cuz thats a plus id hate to not have. Tami

  • pcphonesoft

    MAGICJACK TIPS: HOW TO PLACE SKYPE CALLS WITH YOUR CORDLESS PHONE

    Users of the magicJack can now enjoy the added benefits of Skype including video calling, conference calling and free Skype to Skype user calls worldwide.

    A new Skype dual mode calling software plugin “SkyjackPlugin” for magicJack users has been released. The plugin allows magicJack and Skype calls to be placed concurrently from the same regular or cordless phone.

    To place Skype calls just dial * before the number you want to call. Speed dial numbers are available for dialing other Skype users. Regular magicJack calls are placed as normal. For incoming calls, just answer the phone when it rings.

    “SkyjackPlugin” can be downloaded at http://www.pcphonesoft.com

  • JoeAnne11

    I would not spend my money on something like this honestly. With 50 euros I talk one year on my phone in my country, for as long as I want. You might think I'm cheap but I'm not..I just learned how to save as much as possible by following an easy saver program a few months ago.

  • placidstorm

    Magic Jack will never replace skype or any other Linux Supported VOIP. One reason why, You Can't Develop Linux Based Support. Guess what magic jack we don't need you on Linux we have many VOIP solutions so guess what get to work or lose profit we aren't going to develop the software for you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Asmat-Jilani/1495380572 Asmat Jilani

    hi

  • waseemhamayun

    its very good i love it

  • waseemhamayun

    its very good i love it

  • cindy1958

    I bought another mj when my year was up now i had to bye another pc mj wont work threw it i did everything check with norton still nothing …buti had alot of feedback threw it and a poping sound .still cant fix the mj so am i out of the mj or what i call walgreens they said they only give giftcard if i dont have the paper i bought it from . if i get another one it may do the same thing so its dam if u dont dam if u do situation here ..

  • http://www.headsetzone.com wireless headsets

    its surely a sperb device.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NIMSPEAZAEJDOPMQIUN6QL7JWA Cal

    not damn likely -I bought MJ and have not been able to use it -do NOT waste your time or money

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5TUIH2PL2WMXXWBE2G3DKGI5N4 Dave Fung

    I magic jack is not working at all, login my account can see ” Extend Your License – Your license is scheduled for auto-renewal on FEBRUARY 12, 2012
    ” It means no problem on my license renewal.
    But it on working, no one you can contact.

  • Emanuel Blagaila

    how do you work a house phone line into linux, more specifically in opensuse?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ORC3JUPKDA2ZWXKTYQIDJRI3DQ John

    Not quite…….. Please do not believe that.  At least with skype I can call to the USA and can make phone call to where magicjack does not.  I do like magicjack but it has very limited access especially when I bought this to phone home and 1/2 of my numbers I can not dial or access because it will not go through

  • Larry Wilson

    the higherdept or concerned dept at magic jack should pulltheir devices out of their jackasses and deal w the real world i have got two but when under review from their mistakes on billing you are blacballed like underworld style!1 doDO NOT COUNT ON CONTINUOYS SERVICE !!!it IS UN FIXABLE WHEN MISTAKES OCCUR !!THEY WILL NOT DEAL W ANYONE IN FACE OF PROBLEMS !!6months under review i could build a submarine in less time,,,thank you!

  • Larry Wilson

    DO NOT COUNT ON IT IT CAN TURN SOUR IN A MOMENT!!I HAD A SWEET !$MONTHS THEN BOOM UNDER”REVIEWCAND ^MONTHS SO FAR BLACKBALLED MAFIA STYLE!!EVEN BOUGHT A NEW ONE TRYED IT NO WAY BABY YOU ARE “UNDER REVIEW!!!!”

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