Magic Jack, Anyone?

[tallcoolone 102]

It seems easier and cheaper just to use YM Messenger

Plus with webcam you can see the person you are talking too

Years ago DailPad was free and was about the same thing as this "magic jack"

I hear Google is coming out with a free PC to PC based phone service......

Edited March 28, 2009 by tallcoolone

[SuperDuper! 230]

It seems easier and cheaper just to use YM Messenger

Plus with webcam you can see the person you are talking too

Years ago DailPad was free and you could use this technology (magic jack) for free

I hear Google is coming out with a free PC to PC based phone service......

Agreed. I remain skeptical about MJ. For some, its the best thing since sliced bread. Others say stay clear of it. There are many choices out there. I want a professional looking phone log of all my calls to mahal, so I dont mind paying for it. Extended chats can go on skype or YM. THanks for mentioning the Goog one. I will keep an eye open for that.

[Alan and Noemi 0]

There really IS a difference. We used Yahoo Messenger with video extensively before Magic Jack came around and while decent, our Magic Jack is much better.

Its like this. VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) breaks up your audio and or video into small packets of data. The protocol sends the data to its destination where the packets are reassembled and played. With Yahoo and most free services, the packets get routed rather dynamically. i.e. as links come up and down, the packets take different paths... sometimes delaying the data packet.. causing pauses and dropouts in the data stream. A packet of data could conceivably make several hundred hops (stops and retransmissions) before getting the the destination.

Magic Jack works the same way, with one exception. They have several major Hubs (Servers) where there is a direct pipe between major destinations. When the Magic Jack logs on it registers its presence to the hub. When you call, it sends data to the hub which has a MUCH more direct link to a major hub nearer your destination. Therefore, the number of hops is minimized and communication is more robust. This is possible because they charge a small fee. Lets face it... $20/year for unlimited calling is a VERY small fee.

That being said, we sometimes use our magic jack for voice (great cause we can use our cordless phone) and Yahoo messenger for video, though Skype video seems more fluid. If the video hangs or is slow... no big deal. If the audio cuts out... THAT is annoying.

It WILL keep call logs and it has voicemail... which will send the messages to your email to be played on the computer. For those less than computer literate (like my parents) , the ability to use a regular phone, have a dial tone, and just dial a number is a big plus.

Just our $.02

Alan & Noemi

[raquel_1208 1]

There really IS a difference. We used Yahoo Messenger with video extensively before Magic Jack came around and while decent, our Magic Jack is much better.

Its like this. VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) breaks up your audio and or video into small packets of data. The protocol sends the data to its destination where the packets are reassembled and played. With Yahoo and most free services, the packets get routed rather dynamically. i.e. as links come up and down, the packets take different paths... sometimes delaying the data packet.. causing pauses and dropouts in the data stream. A packet of data could conceivably make several hundred hops (stops and retransmissions) before getting the the destination.

Magic Jack works the same way, with one exception. They have several major Hubs (Servers) where there is a direct pipe between major destinations. When the Magic Jack logs on it registers its presence to the hub. When you call, it sends data to the hub which has a MUCH more direct link to a major hub nearer your destination. Therefore, the number of hops is minimized and communication is more robust. This is possible because they charge a small fee. Lets face it... $20/year for unlimited calling is a VERY small fee.

That being said, we sometimes use our magic jack for voice (great cause we can use our cordless phone) and Yahoo messenger for video, though Skype video seems more fluid. If the video hangs or is slow... no big deal. If the audio cuts out... THAT is annoying.

It WILL keep call logs and it has voicemail... which will send the messages to your email to be played on the computer. For those less than computer literate (like my parents) , the ability to use a regular phone, have a dial tone, and just dial a number is a big plus.

Just our $.02

Alan & Noemi

Agree, and those people who are skeptics, you can compare the comments on this thread. The people who like it have been using it for so many months. I have been using it for a year. And the people who don't only lasted for the trial period. Why would I pay $25 a month for a verizon or at & t landline when I can use MJ for $20 a year and make personal and business calls.

[o0pink0o 3]

I have a question. Isn't your pc should be on to be able to use MJ? follow up question, Isn't you need to install software in able to make a call using MJ?

[raquel_1208 1]

I have a question. Isn't your pc should be on to be able to use MJ? follow up question, Isn't you need to install software in able to make a call using MJ?

Yes it should be on. But when its off, all incoming calls goes to your voice mail and will be sent to your email or you can retrieve it through your MJ phone when you turn your computer back on by dialing a 4-digit number. For first time users, when you plug MJ in the USB port it automatically installs the software and will have to go through the set-up process. We have one cellphone for emergency or mobile calls and MJ for a house phone. Everytime we go out, we have the option to forward calls to our cellphone.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It seems easier and cheaper just to use YM Messenger

Plus with webcam you can see the person you are talking too

[o0pink0o 3]

I have a question. Isn't your pc should be on to be able to use MJ? follow up question, Isn't you need to install software in able to make a call using MJ?

Yes it should be on. But when its off, all incoming calls goes to your voice mail and will be sent to your email or you can retrieve it through your MJ phone when you turn your computer back on by dialing a 4-digit number. For first time users, when you plug MJ in the USB port it automatically installs the software and will have to go through the set-up process. We have one cellphone for emergency or mobile calls and MJ for a house phone. Everytime we go out, we have the option to forward calls to our cellphone.

Thanks for the info. My parents don't know how to use pc that is why we are using Vonage instead of MJ. Yes, Vonage is much expensive than MJ but in our case and in my opinion, Vonage is more convenient to use as you don't need to turn on the comp to make or receive a call. Another reason why i prefer Vonage is because what if the computer got messed up and it won't turn on? then that means no call? . But oh well, it is not that i don't like MJ but for us , Vonage is more convenient for my parents to use.

[HappyDancer 7]

Bottom line is whichever works best will have to be the ultimate choice. So far, my MJ was never a pain in the a*s and I would keep using it. COns - you need a reliable broadband or DSL connection. Again, I am a very satisfied customer and so far I will not trade it for anything else.

[o0pink0o 3]

Bottom line is whichever works best will have to be the ultimate choice. So far, my MJ was never a pain in the a*s and I would keep using it. COns - you need a reliable broadband or DSL connection. Again, I am a very satisfied customer and so far I will not trade it for anything else.

I agree with you in that. I guess those people who prefers to see the person they are talking to prefers YM Messenger and for people who prefers to pay minimal amount and are satisfied with MJ's service uses MJ and for those people who has parents like me uses Vonage i love my parents though

[lovers0720 1]

Bottom line is whichever works best will have to be the ultimate choice. So far, my MJ was never a pain in the a*s and I would keep using it. COns - you need a reliable broadband or DSL connection. Again, I am a very satisfied customer and so far I will not trade it for anything else.

I agree with you in that. I guess those people who prefers to see the person they are talking to prefers YM Messenger and for people who prefers to pay minimal amount and are satisfied with MJ's service uses MJ and for those people who has parents like me uses Vonage i love my parents though

I have parents like you so may I know how much do you pay for Vonage? You parents are in PI, right?

[Marilyn. 340]

we pay 30 bucks a month for Vonage and that includes all the features, call waiting, voice messaging, call forwarding, call display etc...

[ChrisB0707 4]

I thought on Magic Jack (per advertisment).

From US

You can only call US and Canada

Does anyone have one in USA, that they call PI with?

Its not good for calling PI from the US. You can pay for it but its better to have a MJ in PI with a local number you can call from the US. ShaSha and I just got back from PI yesterday and took a MJ to her family. They just called ShaSha on her cell phone in the US and talked for an hour with no problems. We now have 3 different MJ at 3 of ShaSha's family homes in PI and they can also call each other at each home using the MJ numbers from the US and we can call all 3 of them anytime we want from the US. Its a great way to save lots of money on phone calls to and from PI.

[o0pink0o 3]

Bottom line is whichever works best will have to be the ultimate choice. So far, my MJ was never a pain in the a*s and I would keep using it. COns - you need a reliable broadband or DSL connection. Again, I am a very satisfied customer and so far I will not trade it for anything else.

I agree with you in that. I guess those people who prefers to see the person they are talking to prefers YM Messenger and for people who prefers to pay minimal amount and are satisfied with MJ's service uses MJ and for those people who has parents like me uses Vonage i love my parents though

I have parents like you so may I know how much do you pay for Vonage? You parents are in PI, right?

we pay 30 bucks a month for Vonage and that includes all the features, call waiting, voice messaging, call forwarding, call display etc...

Yes they are in PI. Marilyn is right, their monthly fee is $24.99 (including all their features) + taxes = $30 to $31 (monthly total)

[tallcoolone 102]

I thought on Magic Jack (per advertisment).

From US

You can only call US and Canada

Does anyone have one in USA, that they call PI with?

Its not good for calling PI from the US. You can pay for it but its better to have a MJ in PI with a local number you can call from the US. ShaSha and I just got back from PI yesterday and took a MJ to her family. They just called ShaSha on her cell phone in the US and talked for an hour with no problems. We now have 3 different MJ at 3 of ShaSha's family homes in PI and they can also call each other at each home using the MJ numbers from the US and we can call all 3 of them anytime we want from the US. Its a great way to save lots of money on phone calls to and from PI.

Sounds like a pretty good deal