Magic Jack – a review

Posted by Dawniemom on October 27, 2009

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When AT&T announced that they were doing away with their Call Vantage program, which enabled us unlimited (US) long distance, I was disappointed.  It had been a perfect set-up for us.  We needed to have high speed internet in order to use the service, but since we always HAD high speed, that was no big deal.  We needed the unlimited because both of our families are in different states, and we speak to them quite frequently.

I’d planned on keeping it after we moved to West Virginia, but that was about the time that they’d made their announcement.

I then set upon a search for a replacement telephone service.  Money is extremely tight right now, so I NEEDED it to be at least around the same amount as what we’d been paying for AT&T (roughly $35/mo).  On top of that, we needed unlimited long distance.

Then, I happened across a message on Twitter Moms asking for people to do a review of the Magic Jack.

I’d heard of the Magic Jack and had already come to the conclusion that we’d have to at least try one out, so I jumped on that message VERY quickly!

Days later, it arrived.  I was SO excited.  It literally took me 30 seconds to connect it to the USB port on my computer.  Because I don’t have my “auto run” on my computer on, I had to just click on it and make it run.

Within 10 minutes, I was signed up, had my brand new phone number and was ready to make a phone call.  TRY THAT with an ordinary phone service!

I paid $1 for the insurance.  Yes – $1.  If the cat decides to eat the Magic Jack, all I have to do is return the pieces to them and they’ll replace it.

If I’d wanted to, I could pay $3 to pick a specific last 4 digits for our new phone number, or $10 to pick the whole 7 digits.  I suppose I could have chosen something like 1-304-Dawniemom or something fun, but #1, I’m cheap, #2, I didn’t know if I was going to even keep it!

There are NO activation or service fees & taxes.  You know that extra $10 or so that gets tacked on to the usual phone bill? No more!

magicJack costs $39.95 plus shipping and handling.

One year of free local and long distance calling to the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, along with all the other great magicJack features are included with your initial purchase.

You can purchase an additional year of service for $19.95.

This thing is SO cool!

For just $40, you get the following:

• FREE local and long distance service for a YEAR!
• FREE phone number
• FREE call waiting (more on this below)
• FREE Voice Mail
• FREE Caller ID

When I’m on the phone, and I get another phone call coming in, a window pops up on my computer screen.  It shows me the number that’s calling, and gives me the option to accept or reject the call.

If I accept it, it automatically puts your 1st call on hold – AND PLAYS MUSIC FOR THEM – while you talk to the 2nd call.  Once you’re done with the 2nd call, you just “click “end” and you’re back to the 1st call. No messing around with “flash” buttons or hanging up in order to get your other call back.  It’s SO cool!

I also get an email when I have received a voice mail – it allows me to play the voice mail right there.  Seriously, I still can’t believe it’s this full of features for just $39.95.

A few notes:

The Magic Jack has to be plugged directly into your computer’s USB port. It cannot go into an extension or a hub.

The Magic Jack software must be running in order for you to make & receive calls.

As a result, your computer must remain on in order for you to make and receive calls.

If you have a slower internet connection such as we do (the cheap DSL), you may experience laggy phone calls and/or internet service while using both at the same time.

For the cost of ONE month of my previous telephone service, I’m getting an entire YEAR.  That’s a savings of almost $400.  Now I’m gonna be able to afford to upgrade to a better internet! Weeeee!

Seriously, though – I can’t see why anyone WOULD NOT want a MagicJack!