A GREAT INVENTION

[buf]

Gotta share this with you--if you don't already know about it:
http://www.magicjack.com/4/index.asp This is a very small piece of hardware, once configured correctly, will allow you to call anywhere in the US and Canada, I think--any time of the day or night. FOR FREE!!!
I had read about it in a computer magazine and forgot about it until just a few days ago. Paid $45 including shipping for it. Each year hereafter, the annual charge is only $20. I have just called several friends/family for FREE. Take it with you when you go away and it will work on ANY XP, or later, that is running a broadband connection and has a USB. A good find, I think and has a 30 day free trial.

[jseidel]

Do you know, can one receive calls or is it strictly an outgoing service?
J.

[buf]

Good question but I don't have an answer except to say that you are "issued" a phone number with your correct area code. I think I remember reading something about extra features. I would not be surprised if I can't receive a phone call. Those with Caller ID will see your number when you call that person so I am led to believe the answer is yes. But free for your caller, I have to doubt it. BUT if that person also has this tiny piece of hardware with the built in software, yes you can be called for free

[frebo]

it says it has call waiting so you must can receive

[jseidel]

Watch, the politicians will kill this as soon as they can. The way this device works, from my reading, there would be no federal, state and local phone tax collected. The tax collecting agencies will either move in to change that or find a way to make the device illegal.
J.

[buf]

You may be right J but those who need and want to use this in the meantime won't be sitting around waiting for that to happen; including me and I can use my cell if I had to. But then it is also an expense but far more convenient.
I'll be keeping this little "jewel" for use in "those times".

[Welshjim]

buf--FWIW look up MagicJack on Google. Some good votes, some negative. http://www.laptopmag.com/review/voip/magicjack.aspx (see the comments on the right margin)
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/0...eula-says.html
And, while perhaps not a major problem, you should be aware of this http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...ight=MagicJack

[buf]

Thanks Jim for alerting me of George's(http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...ight=MagicJack) problems with his MagicJack. Thankfully, I have none of his issues except the icon on the taskbar and that does not concern me. It is there only because MagicJack is plugged in and running. Remove MJ and everything goes away; including, of course, the Systray, icon. I chose not to have it run all the time when it is just as simple to plug it in, let it install it's own software, when I want to use it to make a long distance call. MSCONFIG only shows a cdloader2 for the MJ. There again, remove MJ and everything, including it's software, goes away. Don't know that any resources are used by leaving MJ run all the time, it is just my way of using it. I have absolutely no complaints about this hardware(for now anyway).
Just called my MJ issued phone number and the phone I have connected to MJ rang and I answered it. I will post this forum link into a reply to George so he can read what is asked and said here.

[Geopla]

Hi guys,

Just a quick follow-up to this thread to answer some of the questions which were asked:

The MagicJack can (and does) receive calls, it has call waiting, it has voice-mail, caller ID, and many other free features. I have used it for quite a while now with absolutely no problems.

In my particular case, I always leave it plugged in because I continually place/receive calls on it.

As far as my original problem with the tray icon, the answer provided by SpywareDr resolved the issue. And by the way . . . TrayIt! is a nifty little program.

Thanks again,

George

[buf]

I have just discovered something. I listen to music while surfing and if magicJack is plugged in(running), it knocks out the speakers. May be a work around but I haven't tried anything yet.

[Welshjim]

buf--I do not have MagicJack, but if I plug my earphones into the PC's earphone phone, that shuts off the sound to my conventional speakers. Same thing if I use USB earphones.

[buf]

Jim, your comparison is something to think about but I don't see the connection with using the magicJack. Maybe something more than the scenario you have. It doesn't really bother me that it happens with listening to streaming music and wanting to use MJ at the same time. We often must give up something in order to gain something else and I was only reporting my story in case someone has that to happen to them and would maybe be concerned. I "tracked" the problem down and was just reporting it----we can one or the other but not both simultaneously. A thumb drive plugged in to see something I have stored on it does not knock off the streaming sound so guess the common ground is speech involvement.
BTW, I knew that one cannot use earphones and the speakers at same time.

[Welshjim]

buf--MagicJack which is a USB device, must include an earphone component so you can hear what the person with whom you are in contact is saying.

[buf]

There is much i have yet to learn about this MJ. I vaguely recall some language about the us of earphones. You may be onto something.

[buf]

I have meant to come back here and give an update on the lack of speakers response when magicJack was in use on the computer. One of the two PCs I use this on has a sound card I installed some time ago; after disabling the onboard sound. It is that computer that my speakers keep playing the streaming music when mJ is in use. On the PC I am now using, the opposite is true because I don't have an installed sound card. Just thought I'd let you know. magicJack is one great invention and I was on it last night for 2 hours--non-stop-while on 1 long distance call. Can't wait to see the next AT&T phone billing. Just hope there aren't any long distance calls!!!