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MagicJack
- Thread starter ss_md
- Start date
A coworker of mine has one. He says it's awesome.
I would get one, except for two things:
1) Number portability -- I've had the same phone number for a very long time; I don't relish the idea of finding everyone in the world I communicate with and giving them the new number.
2) The MagicJack device needs a Windows PC to run, and be always on. I would much prefer a device that plugs directly in to my router. Many people are using small cheap PCs for this purpose, but it still seems like overkill for what the MagicJack does.
Of course, these days people are mostly ditching their landlines, and so MagicJack might be a bit old-school.
I would get one, except for two things:
1) Number portability -- I've had the same phone number for a very long time; I don't relish the idea of finding everyone in the world I communicate with and giving them the new number.
2) The MagicJack device needs a Windows PC to run, and be always on. I would much prefer a device that plugs directly in to my router. Many people are using small cheap PCs for this purpose, but it still seems like overkill for what the MagicJack does.
Of course, these days people are mostly ditching their landlines, and so MagicJack might be a bit old-school.
I've been without a land line for 5 years now and haven't missed it at all.
Interesting. First I've seen of that. Looks cool.
In speaking with them they indicate number portability is scheduled to be available this month for a small fee.
I had been using Vonage for a couple of years but for whatever reason my security alarm monitoring company couldn't get a good connection through it. So I had to switch back to a standard land line...
As an FYI, fax over VoIP isn't all that reliable. It should be fine for occasional use, but you can't really rely on it if you need to use it substantially for business.
On Fastrunner's advice I researched and purchased an Ooma. So far, it's awesome. It addresses exactly my two concerns above: my number ported hassle-free (although it did take about two weeks to complete, which they warned me about in advance); and it's just a pretty little box that sits quietly on my shelf next to my cable modem and router. Setting it up and activating it was brainless -- to steal a phrase, it all "just worked". Call quality is as good or better than my previous Comcast digital voice or my old school Ma Bell line.
$200 for the box, and you're done. No more phone bills.
I been useing MagicJack for about 2-3 years love it just updated for 5 years for $60 fax works and don;t have any issue other then my Laptop keep crashing. i used almost all the Voip lingo Vonage etc etc Magic jack cheap and works
good luck
RK
good luck
RK
- Joined
- 19 March 2003
- Messages
- 3,442
Had issues with my first Magic jack. Went to wally world and use it in all countries to call the US. Pretty badass for a cost effective way to save. First phone bill in a 2 week span ran 1500+. After spending the 50+ dollars never looked back. I used Vonage and really never liked it. Skype was hit and miss being in a foreign country. I needed to make an emergency call and busted out my phone got online plugged in a socket and made a call from Korea to the US LOL.
=g=
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+1 what he sad I was in india doning the same thing lol
lololololol
Noob question. How does this work if you have a fax machine?
I'd love to be able to help, but I don't have a fax machine, and don't have any first hand knowledge on how it would work.
Here's Ooma's FAQ on faxing.
I have a great deal of experience with faxing and VoIP. Basically if you just do casual faxing, VoIP is typically OK. If you have someone sending you a fax, I'd just ask them to let you know to expect it. If you rely on faxing and it's business critical and/or if you have a fair volume of faxes, especially ones with many pages, VoIP is not the way to go. I can provide a technical explanation as to why this is if needed.
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I would agree with this. Faxing is fairly ancient, analog technology. If one's business relies on being able to send and receive faxes, you can't beat a dedicated analog line from Ma Bell. Get the cheapest service they offer for your dedicated fax line, and get a VoIP device for voice calls -- that's what the "V" stands for, after all.
Cool thanks for the feedback guys. I probably get a half a dozen faxes in the office a year, very rare but it happens on occasion. Since I will be relocating to Colorado and working from home, I was starting to plot and plan for my VOIP line. Ooma looks like a good deal. I like how it doesn't need to be plugged into a PC that has to stay on.
Ooma's already got this, and it works great.
I am currently thinking of purchasing an OMMA system but I have some questions. My current phone system has the home unit and two other cordless hand sets. Do I need to purchase the "Scout" system for each of the the other cordless handsets or will the main unit support the two cordless handsets? Anyone had a difficulty of keeping their phone numbers? Quality?
Sounds too good to be true.
Thanks in advance.
Doug
Sounds too good to be true.
Thanks in advance.
Doug
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Fastrunner, do you use the Ooma Premier service? And if so, is it worth it?
It seems like it has some nice features, but frankly nothing that I'm willing to pay a monthly bill for. The base Ooma service pretty much does everything I need (which 99% of which is "make and receive phone calls").
It seems like it has some nice features, but frankly nothing that I'm willing to pay a monthly bill for. The base Ooma service pretty much does everything I need (which 99% of which is "make and receive phone calls").
