Magic jack?

[surfbug]

I saw the magic jack from the sunday newspaper. Pc magizine, Best buy and radio shack They rewiewed and all of them like it. My girlfriend goes to college in Sac. I live near SF. Can I use it to her free? What is the catch?

[photolady]

You don't get much. My brother got this and it didn't work for him. And it's not free Bob. It costs $39.99 as first cost then it's $19.99 per year. But as I said, it didn't work for my brother. The phone has dead spots, and cuts out all the time. I wouldn't buy one.

[surfbug]

Thanks

[photolady]

You're welcome!!

[MadAmosMalone]

If you need more information Have a look here http://www.dslreports.com/forum/magicjack

[Welshjim]

FWIW--VDr thread from about six months ago.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...ight=MagicJack

[Skippy202]

I have been using "Magic Jack" for about 9 Months now and the ONLY phone line I use in the house. I did find you MUST have at the very least Internet speed of 2,100 Kbps for it to work well. I ran a line from my "Magic Jack" to the phone jack in the wall and can now use my phone any place in my home where there is a jack. Yes you get very few dropped calls when the Internet messes up, but you do get what you pay for. My friend next door uses one too and it has been for about 7 months and very happy with it. HIGH SPEED Internet is a MUST to have this work well! I am now using ATT DSL ONLY with 3,000 Kbps and a wireless router. One down fall is the area code may not be where you live, but they are updating this as fast as they can. Hope this helps any out there thinking of using it. I'm very happy and NOT going to a LAND LINE AGAIN......

[buf]

An interesting report you have Skippy. I had not thought about experimenting in such a way. Gotta try it one day.
I am also using ATT DSL and have had no big issues with my use of MJack. I haven't had any dropped calls but I have, on occasion, had a clicking on the line. Nothing I can't deal with especially with "free" long distance calling. Once spent 2 hours with a friend on the other side of the country. NO long distance charges on my next month's billing from ATT. I was happy with that. IF you have someone you call long distance and that person is in your area calling code, he/she can call you back without either of you incurring long distance charges. I had a voice call recording once from a SIL without a charge to either of us. Lots of pluses, I think, in spending $20 per year for such a service----and it is portable; take it with you where ever you go. Same thing!! Oh, and I have been using the MJ for about 3 months.
Heck, don't take my word for it----or the word of others. Try it free for 30 days. Read the print in the offering ad.
Nope, I don't work for MJ.

EDIT: Forgot to also report: Users of MJ are at the mercy of the internet; if the internet has problems in staying "up", so will users of MJ.

[JLS]

Skippy202, can you explain how to do the quote line below that you had posted:

"I ran a line from my "Magic Jack" to the phone jack in the wall and can now use my phone any place in my home where there is a jack."

[Skippy202]

I ran a jumper from the "Magic Jack" and to the jack in the wall plug. You can run a splitter from the "Magic Jack to another phone near the computer, and the other end to the wall jack. Then if you have other wall jacks in the house you can plug a phone in them. BUT REMEMBR i DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER PHONE SERVICE. IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER PHONE SERVICE THIS WILL NOT WORK.

[JLS]

Thanks, Skippy. I will see how it goes.

[JMYERS620]

Thank you buf. I have contacted MJ using the online help chat. They had me try a few differnt things but to no avail. At least I can still use it with a cordless using the softpad. I can't complain too much. I get to talk to everyone at home anytime I want for $20 a year. I love my MJ.

[JLS]

For all the magic jack users out there, when you sign up and create an account and phone number, can you type in a name like John Smith so that would be the name that would pop up on others caller id displays when calling them instead of having someone see your real name if you prefer them not to see it?

[JMYERS620]

JLS: I purchased 2 MJ and both do not show any name on caller ID, only the number. Since I am in a Middle East country where VoIP is technically illegal, I did not conduct the set-up, my wife did, stateside. She stated that all you do is choose the number you wish to use. You will go through a set up process for the MJ when you recieve it and register it on-line with your name but it does not place a name to the number (at least not to ours). I hope this helps you.

[JLS]

JMeyers620, thanks for the feedback. I am glad that it only lists the phone number and not the name. I am going to buy a magic jack and will let you know how I made out.