AT&T Tech Support 360Get unlimited local and long-distance calling for 20 bucks a year
(Credit: MagicJack)Need a second phone line? How about a dedicated business line for your home-based enterprise? A cheap way to make calls while traveling the world? Look no further than the MagicJack, quite possibly the coolest gizmo of 2007.
All you do is plug the little guy into a USB port. It automatically installs its own software: a nifty little dialer/address-book app. (During the initial setup, you get to choose your own local number for inbound calls.) Now just plug any corded or cordless handset into the MagicJack's standard RJ-11 jack and presto, you've got a dial tone. And voice mail. And three-way calling, caller ID, etc. You can also use a headset if you're traveling and don't want to schlep that bulky old Princess phone.
The MagicJack costs $40, which includes a year's worth of unlimited local and long-distance calls. (Free international calls to other MagicJack users, too.) After that, you'll pay just $20 per year. I've tried this thing, and let me tell you: It rocks. It's way easier to use than Skype, way cheaper than Vonage, and way cool to boot.
A technology writer for more than 15 years, Rick Broida is a regular contributor to CNET and the author of more than a dozen books, including How to Do Everything with Your Palm Powered Handheld. He writes The Cheapskate for the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
I relied on your review, purchased two, and so far it has been a nightmare. Not only are the things working horribly, but 1) NOWHERE is there posted how you are supposed to return the things, 2) NOWHERE is there a phone number to call these people and 3) Every time I contacted them through their tech support chat, the person, who in all cases, including other's, is named Glenn, claimed that this was pre-sales, and that I had to use a non-working link to contact tech support (though in another person's experience, "Glenn" did provide some useless tech support - see http://www.webvoipdir.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2262 .
For your own credibility (if nothing else) you might want to do some blind follow-up research on this outfit, for so far my, and some other people's experiences, have been far less than what you represented. Any one of their own employees can post a glowing review of the service and no one would know the difference, but you really have to ask 1) Why NO stated return method? 2) WHY no phone number???
It is my sincere hope that these are simple growing pains and that all will be resolved, but even if the best is the case, I HATE being used as a test dummy.
Thanks!
IF you are lucky enough to have MagicJack install on your PC (and that is a big IF), you may not have any problems except for bad call quality, limited availability of area codes for phone number, and the fact that you'll probably spend time doing things like searching for ISP performance analysis software that you never knew you needed (because you didn't).
However, if you are like what seems to be a growing number of people who have tried to use MagicJack, your experience will be less than satisfactory.
There is a good chance that you'll run into software conflicts that keep the stupid thing from working - at all. Then you'll try to check the MagicJack web site for help. And you'll be disappointed. And then you'll chat with one of their support people who will apologize profusely for the fact that nothing works as advertised. And you'll be disappointed.
And then you'll start checking forums to find out what the problem is and you'll find out that there are all kinds of problems - including fun little issues like the fact that you can't uninstall the software without the help of a true computer geek. And you'll be disappointed.
Bottom line.... you guessed it.
Chat InformationPlease wait for a site operator to respond.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Nathen'
Nathen: Hello, how may I help you?
Murtaza: Hello, okay I am interested in purchasing the magic jack however my local area code is pending. If I choose another area code and 4 months later my area code becomes available could I switch to my local area code free of charge?
Nathen: If your area code is not listed when you select a number, please select any other number. You will be able to change to your local area code one time for free, once it becomes available. For available area codes go to: http://www.magicjacktv.com/1/areacodes.asp
Murtaza : I can take advantage of that one time free change whenever? It doesn't have to be within the 30 day trial period?
Nathen: Yes you can change at any time when it become available.
Murtaza: I have been reading reviews about the magic jack and have read many horror stories about installing it with a computer running windows vista. Is it completely compatible with windows vista now?
Nathen: Yes it completely compatible with windows vista.
Nathen: If you will face any problem you can contact us at any time.
Murtaza: Currently I am reading some reviews of the product on different forums and am seeing an increasing number of unsatisfied costumers. If I purchase one how do I go about returning it if I have problems that cannot be resolved?
Nathen: We will provide all the solution to you if you face any problem.
Murtaza: In case something cannot be resolved how would I go about returning one? I've read something about getting a RAM number, how long would that take?
Nathen: We will provide all the solution of any problem if you facing in future.
Murtaza Sajan: I have read many posts about people who were not able to reach a solution and are having trouble returning the product, so how would you go about returning the product???
Nathen: If you facing any problem in future we will provide you return form.
Murtaza: On average how long does it take to receive a refund?
Murtaza: Also whats on the form to request a refund?
Murtaza: Are you still there?
Besides, it was free for 30 days and I figured what do I have to lose?
Went online paid $2.95 shipping, received an email with a tracking number and received it just a few days later. Painless?.
I was so excited to try it and had bought a cheap $10 corded phone just to see if it works.
Bare in mind my connection is always at ?low signal? due to a shared connection with my neighbor, 1 house over. I also am using an ancient beat up laptop. In addition I am technology challenged to say the least.
It?s never been an issue with being online though, so when I first plugged it in, basically it installed itself but I couldn?t get past the registration process. I figured it might have something to do with everyone being on their sight at once since the free 30 days was ending soon. Not a big deal and I tried it again at an odd hour in the early AM. It took just a minute. I got my phone number, plugged in the phone, started making calls and testing out the voice quality and it was great.
I then decided I?d try it with an old cordless set I had. Again no problem, great voice quality even had people on speaker with no problem.
I read somewhere that a 2 piece phone set with separate base doesn?t work but mine does. No problem.
I then made a call to a cell phone number in CA (We?re in MA) and again no problem.
I also read your computer has to be on for it to work and this is not accurate or at least not for me.
I have tested this a few times because I initially thought your computer would have to be on and connected to work but am always surprised when it just is on and working all the time. Just like any landline?.
I have paid the overpriced phone companies for basic service, I have even used Vonage (and I loved Vonage) but the difference between $40 a year and $25 a month (for Vonage) is huge.
I?m keeping mine!
Did have some problems with Windows when setting it up on a new computer but it was Windows not MagicJack. The only complaint is that they have numbers for twenty states (none in Canada), so my number is for an adjacient state
So now I'm wondering why I allowed Qwest, my old phone company, to rip me off for all these years
Canned answers from tech chat
I will say this the 20% that it does work, it's OK voice quality is good.
I'm going to give it one more week, if not better it's RMA for me!
If your thinking of buying MJ, do a lot of research on the net before wasting your money!
Canned answers from tech chat
I will say this the 20% that it does work, it's OK voice quality is good.
I'm going to give it one more week, if not better it's RMA for me!
If your thinking of buying MJ, do a lot of research on the net before wasting your money!
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by watkinsd
April 7, 2008 6:46 AM PDT
- There are many negative comments about Magic Jack in this discussion. However, my use of Magic Jack has been nothing but positive. I have the unit working with an inexpensive cordless base station (purchased at Walmart). Using the phone from the base station and the phone from the satellite base is no problem. We're located in NC and I have called all over the country since receiving the Magic Jack device about a week ago. Will continue to test for another week. If all goes well -- bye, bye AT&T and Embarq.
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See all 50 Comments >>dave