Zeb_Carter
.-- - ..-.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2006
- Posts
- 20,584
Okay, so I did it. I bought a Magic Jack. I have been using it for the past two months and now know all the in's and out's. You do need a broadband connection - either DSL or Cable.
Pro's:
The up front cost was $39.95.
The price included the first year phone bill, $19.95.
Subsequent phone bills (only once a year) are $19.95.
Voice mail alerts you via email.
911 is active.
You get free voice mail, free call waiting, free caller ID.
What you get:
Free local and long distance calls in the US and Canada.
Sound quality As good as the phone company.
The ability to use your current phones. (I'm currently using a base station with 3 remotes)
I have yet to have any problems with making or receiving calls. Sound quality has been good to great.
Con's:
It uses a USB port on you computer.
In order for the phone to work the computer has to be on and logged in.
When receiving or making a call the Magic Jack interface on the computer pop's up. This can be annoying if you're doing something, like playing a game, and some one in the house makes a call.
(There is supposed to be a way to make the Magic Jack interface into a service so it won't popup - I have the instructions but haven't taken the time to try it)[eventually I will get a thin client running xp and hook it up to that machine]
Every once in awhile the sound quality goes down the tubes. (remedy is to restart the magic jack software)
I have found not paying a monthly bill (anywhere from $24.95 to $95.00) very pleasurable. And when I move I can keep the same number or change it all by myself online. The first time there is no charge. The next time and thereafter there will be a $10.00 charge.
So who else uses this service?
Who has looked into it and thought not for me?
Pro's:
The up front cost was $39.95.
The price included the first year phone bill, $19.95.
Subsequent phone bills (only once a year) are $19.95.
Voice mail alerts you via email.
911 is active.
You get free voice mail, free call waiting, free caller ID.
What you get:
Free local and long distance calls in the US and Canada.
Sound quality As good as the phone company.
The ability to use your current phones. (I'm currently using a base station with 3 remotes)
I have yet to have any problems with making or receiving calls. Sound quality has been good to great.
Con's:
It uses a USB port on you computer.
In order for the phone to work the computer has to be on and logged in.
When receiving or making a call the Magic Jack interface on the computer pop's up. This can be annoying if you're doing something, like playing a game, and some one in the house makes a call.
(There is supposed to be a way to make the Magic Jack interface into a service so it won't popup - I have the instructions but haven't taken the time to try it)[eventually I will get a thin client running xp and hook it up to that machine]
Every once in awhile the sound quality goes down the tubes. (remedy is to restart the magic jack software)
I have found not paying a monthly bill (anywhere from $24.95 to $95.00) very pleasurable. And when I move I can keep the same number or change it all by myself online. The first time there is no charge. The next time and thereafter there will be a $10.00 charge.
So who else uses this service?
Who has looked into it and thought not for me?
$19.95 Land is the most wonderful place on Earth! You get a whole set of knives (including chef's and steak knives!) for only $40! You get items that clean, blend, cook and now, apparently, connect you to the universe...all for $19.95 and that's not all!
