CrunchGear

Great product, but the commercial is more annoying than John Madden pointing out how to properly win a football game by “scoring more points than the other team”

Whoda thunk?

How do you CONTACT these people I can find NO way to send them a message? This thing is more expensive than vonage. It costs at LEAST $19 a month to operate a computer 24-7 add in inevitable maintenance for a 24-7 machines and your already over the $31 price tag of vonage. Thats not free. This would only be useful if the other end was an ETHERNET jack instead of a stupid USB jack requiring a computer :-(

You bring up a good point, I had never thought about the cost of power resources for over a months period. The Vontage product also requires power to be applied along with the cost of the router. There is no free lunch.

For myself I do a lot of international travel and find the product appealing because it then becomes really convenient for me to contact home and my friends.

Thanks for the insight
Tom

It’s for people who already have a high speed internet connection you dumbass!!!

They were talking about the cost of operating a PC 24/7 to maintain MagicJack’s connectivity.

Most people have a computer they leave on all the time anyway (a media server, etc). No big deal.

Magicjack works great for us. We made our local number a California number so my wife’s parents can call us for free.

Easy to complain about imagined power problems. Read the FAQ’s and you will see you can power down the CDROM, Monitor AND hard drive and the system will still run after bootup. And if you are as clever as humble ol’ me, you would run this on a mini-itx mobo with a flashcard hard drive, and you would shut up about the expense. I’m not imagining that. I’m DOING that right now.

Yeah, you’re really clever. You take a motherboard and build a computer specifically for your phone. If you were really clever, you’d realize that most people don’t have the technical expertise to build something like that just for phone service. Most of them wouldn’t even know what a mini-itx mobo is moron.

I love this magicjack dongle! I don’t leave it running all night (I sleep nights), I unplug it and turn off my computer. For $19.95 a *year* I can’t beat it! The reception is better then Vonage.

I just got MJ and in only 120 seconds i made calls all around the US. Excellente…It is more than what the commercial says. Great!

Hi and thanks. I did not want to hook up to another phone - I just want a set of headphones and then use the keyboard on the screen. What is out tyhere - I have been to and from the store? Thank You.

wrong e-mail address for azbasqics@verizon.net - the e-mail is azbasics@verizon.net - the comment about a headset that works for the magicjack…thank you

Dan Borislow, the founder of YMAX Communications Corporation, founded a new company named Magic Jack, which manufactures and sells an apparatus to transmit voice over the internet. By eliminating the expense of local and long distance phone charges - and saving the average customer around $1000 a year - magicJack is positioned to be the fastest growing telecom company in the world; Borislow likes to call it “Telecom Revolution Part II.”

MagicJack is a convenient USB dongle with phone jack attached to it. By connecting your regular phone to the MagicJack phone port, you can now make free calls anywhere within the US for free. If traveling in Canada, Mexico, UK, China, Italy and Israel then you can call home (USA) for free.

MagicJack is a VoIP service which doesn’t have phone charges but rather an upfront cost for the USB dongle. No pricing yet, but it does provide not only free calling using your regular phone, but includes call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting and free phone number upon purchase. Dan Borislow is the founder of this company and it’ll be interesting to see his price point for the MagicJack USB dongle and how that meshes with customer value perception.

The MagicJack phone jack received Product of the Year in 2007. After the purchase of the MagicJack USB dongle (about $40) you pay a one time fee of $19.95 per year for unlimited calling. Not $19.95 per month BUT $19.95 per year. This will reduce your phone bill to just $20 a year!

Requires: Windows XP or above; high speed internet connection

We are working hard everyday to maintain and improve excellent customer support. I understand and appreciate the user experience. The last company I built was a recipient of the JD Power Award for Customer Satisfaction.

The first line of magicJack Customer Support is our proprietary and very cool tool called magicFix. One click on magicFix on either our Home Page or under our “Customer Support” tab will diagnose and repair ALMOST all installation and usage issues. We are finding that simple fixes, such as software conflicts, are resolved with magicFix.

Also, AFTER you have tried magicFix and still have an issue, we have provided you a Troubleshooting Guide — go to SEARCH and ask a question of the knowledgebase.

In summary, we want you to be have a perfect customer experience and start using your magicJack today.

INFORMATION FOUND at Better Business Bureau: Company Report Details

Magic Jack LP
PO box 6846
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Contact: Peter Russo CFO
Primary Phone: (561) 722-0433

Magic Jack LP
5700 Georgie Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Other Phone Numbers: (561) 722-0433

Website: http://www.magicjack.com

Company ID: 92006280

BBB Created Record on: 1/9/2008

Bureau Membership: This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau.

Company Rating: C- Acceptable rating. We know of no reason not to do business with this company. If the level of this rating relates to anything specific that we know might be of concern to consumers, it is stated in this report. Read our full report to determine if you have questions or concerns

Licensing and Bonding Information: This company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. The Bureau encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

BBB Comments and Analysis: We have no further comment about this company’s business practices or analysis of its offer that may assist you in your consideration of this company.

Complaint Closing Statistics: The following displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. Type of Response
2 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
0 Making a partial refund
3 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
0 Refusing to make an adjustment
0 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
0 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
5 Total

Complaint Experience: Our complaint history for this company shows the company gave proper consideration to complaints presented by the Bureau.

Government Actions: We know of no government action taken against this company.

Advertising Review: No question about the truth of this company’s advertising has come to our attention.

Other Considerations: We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.

I may have, by mistake, sent in two orders. I only want the one (#41590) which will be delivered to the Vero Beach Address. I DO NOT want the unit that has the Great Falls, Virginia address. Sorry to bother you and please confirm. Ned Tolmach

live chat is awful i ordered the magickack with a 5 year plan and they charged me for 2 units and 2- 5 year plan
I am a senior citezen and can not afford to have my credit card be charged for 2 magicjacks and 2- 5 year plans they have not emailed me nor have live chat removed the amt off my credit card can someone help with this i want the magick jack but just one and not have to be billed for 2

One thing to know before you do about the MJ service. Although you pay about $50 for the MJ jack & then after the first year a $19.95 for use of the jack “NOT THE MJ PHONE SERVICE” for making & receiving calls. MJ then proceeds to provide all it’s MJ phone # to third party companies for the sole express purpose of spamming the customers accounts ref: »www.magicjacktv.com/5/privacy.asp * Third Party Advertising
magicPage will show you advertisements from local businesses in your area for goods and services that may be of interest to you based upon the personal information you have chosen to provide us and based upon the pages you’ve visited using the magicJack portal. Advertisers may assume that people who interact with, view, or click targeted ads meet the targeting criteria. magicJack does not provide any personal information to the advertiser when you interact with or view a targeted ad instead, by interacting with or viewing an ad you are consenting to the possibility that the advertiser will assume that you are interested in the ad and meet the targeting criteria used to display the ad. The advertisements appearing on magicPage are delivered to you by magicJack LP, our web advertising partner and are subject to magicJack’s Privacy Policy. We will not provide personal information to anybody else and we will keep your information private and housed on our secure servers.

I know this for a fact since I received my first voice spam in my Yahoo email account today.

CharO

I wanted to ask some questions of this company, but hey just very deftly took me through the purchasuing process without ever giving a phone number or an address.
After hering some of the comments from other buyers I definately wanted to cancel my order, but there was not a chance to do this.
I think the company is perpetrating a hoax and is going to rip us off.However I contacted my credit card company and they assured me that I can remove the charge.

I jus got mj, and immediatley find that I cant hear any of my ringers on phone,no support that matters,area codes and numbers are few & between.

Over the last few months I’ve been closely following the blogs and growing media coverage on the MagicJack, the coolest product to hit the marketplace in a very long time.

MagicJack is a USB phone jack that allows users to make FREE local and long distance phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada. Users can bring their MagicJack anywhere in the World and make FREE calls to the US and Canada, as well.

It’s easy to use. After plugging the MagicJack into the USB port of your computer, the software that resides in the MagicJack self-loads, a brief & standard registration process is required (during which time you get to choose a telephone number for your MagicJack from a large inventory of area codes/numbers in most every major metro area)and when done you simply plug any standard corded, cordless or portable phone (headset or Bluetooth also works) into the MagicJack, pick-up the phone and dial-tone has been delivered! You’re free to make FREE phone calls!

Initially, I was expecting to be unimpressed by the product since its extremely inexpensive — man, was I wrong! For $40 you buy the MagicJack and then $20 per YEAR for additional years can not be beat — for all the FREE local and long distance calls you can ever make in a year!! I started making calls immediately and I was AMAZED at the clarity and quality of the phone calls! Everyone I called agreed with me that the call quality was just as you’d expect from any landline. The MagicJack proves you do not have to sacrifice quality for cost!

But, let me take you back in time a bit since I did some research before I bought my MagicJack. Being a techno-savvy guy, I always research a product, its roots and its history before I give it a shot. After hearing about the product on a few techblog sites,I happened to catch the companies TV commercial recently. So, I began my own research.

Overall, the MagicJack has been hugely embraced by bloggers and the press alike. When visiting the company’s website http://www.MagicJack.com I was quickly impressed by the Tier 1 media coverage the product has received. Excellent reviews by NY Times, Boston Globe, LA Times, LAPTOP magazine, CNBC and video clips of consumer reporters raving about the MagicJack on CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News. Then I read about the founder of the company and inventor of the product, Dan Borislow. From what I’ve read, he has over 20 years experience in building succsessful long distance telephone companies. His previous company struck a deal with AOL and carried AOL long distance customers on their long distance network. He came up with this idea, spent his own money on R&D of the MagicJack and then constructed a nationwide telephone network that is one of the largest and newest telephone networks in the industry. The MagicJack is backed by its own telephone network and is operated by executives who have extensive experience in the telecommunications and internet business.

From what I have seen, the company just expanded it’s online TechSupport platform to a 24/7 chat service. I can bet that part of the reason for the companies decision to rollout an online tech support system is due to the following:

1) The super ease-of-use does not require a lot of support;

and,

2) The low product price point is huge benefit to consumer but does not allow of large & very expensive live phone CS center.

Also, from all accounts, Dan Borislow is an inventor that wants to stay in touch with the people who use his product. In fact, the MagicJack website has a link to send Dan an email and he replies to every one!!

I’m a very happy MagicJack customer and I can’t wait to watch this company soar!!

Caution: Make sure you read the Terms of Service which include:

“You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work … Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads”

and

“Any claims, legal proceeding or litigation arising in connection with the magicJack device or Software will be resolved by binding arbitration … in Palm Beach, Florida.”

Also, while they don’t say how long or how much of your personal information they will keep; they “will transfer personal information if magicJack is acquired by or merged with another company … [and they] reserve the right to include your personal information, collected as an asset, in any such transaction” according to their Privacy Policy.

I knew the whole thing sounded fishy. Now I know why.

I’ll bet it’s a front for AT&T testing out the details of their new EULA.

“AT&T Your world delivered” to the NSA.

Over the last few months I’ve been closely following the blogs and growing media coverage on the magicJack, the coolest product to hit the marketplace in a very long time.
For those who do not know or do not have a full understanding of the magic behind the magicJack (and how its different from Skype and others…) my product overview is below.
magicJack is a USB phone jack that allows users to make FREE local and long distance phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada. Users can bring their magicJack anywhere in the World and make FREE calls to the US and Canada, as well.
It’s easy to use. After plugging the magicJack into the USB port of your computer, the software that resides in the magicJack self-loads, a brief & standard registration process follows (during which time you get to choose a telephone number for your magicJack from a large inventory of area codes/numbers in most every major metro area in the US)and when done you simply plug any standard corded, cordless or portable phone (headset or Bluetooth also works) into the magicJack, pick-up the phone and dial-tone has been delivered! You’re free to make FREE phone calls anywhere in the US and Canada! So, much different than other IP telephony options since it can be used with ANY regular phone and you get your own telephone number for LIFE!
Initially, I was not sure how the call quality would measure up since its extremely inexpensive — man, was I wrong! A mere $40 buys you the magicJack plus the 1st year of local and long distance calls and then its only $20 per YEAR for additional years!! You can not be beat that price for all the FREE local and long distance calls you can ever make in a year!! I started making calls immediately and I was AMAZED at the clarity and quality of the phone calls! Everyone I called agreed with me that the call quality was just as you’d expect from any landline.
The magicJack proves you do not have to sacrifice phone call quality for cost!
But, let me take you back in time a bit since I did some research before I bought my magicJack. Being a techno-savvy guy, I always research a product, its roots and its history before I give it a shot. After hearing about the product on a few techblog sites,I happened to catch the companies TV commercial recently. So, I began my own research.
Overall, the magicJack has been hugely embraced by bloggers and the major press alike. When visiting the company’s website http://www.magicjack.com I was quickly impressed by the Tier 1 media coverage the product has received. Excellent reviews by NY Times, Boston Globe, LA Times, LAPTOP magazine, CNBC and video clips of consumer reporters raving about the magicJack on CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News. PC Magazine just awarded magicJack with its Editors Choice distinction! Then I read about the founder of the company and inventor of the product, Dan Borislow. He has over 20 years experience in building successful long distance telephone companies. His previous company struck a deal with AOL and carried AOL long distance customers on their long distance network. He came up with his latest invention and has spent his own money on R&D of the magicJack — and, then constructed a nationwide telephone network that is one of the largest and newest telephone networks in the industry and is certified as a CLEC in 50 US states! The magicJack is backed by its own telephone network and is operated by executives who have extensive experience in the telecommunications and internet business. This is a HUGE differentiator between magicJack and any other company, including Skype, Vonage and others, in the space who are not telephone experts and are not certified in (even) a single state in the US!
From what I have seen, the company just expanded its online TechSupport platform to a 24/7 chat service. I can bet that part of the reason for the company’s decision to rollout an online tech support system is due to the following:
1) The super ease-of-use does not require a lot of support;
and,
2) The low product price point is a huge benefit to consumer but does not allow for a large & very expensive live phone CS center.
Also, from all accounts, Dan Borislow is an inventor that wants to stay in touch with the people who use his product. In fact, the magicJack website has a link to send Dan an email and he replies to every one!!
I’m a very happy magicJack customer and I can’t wait to watch this company soar, as it saves millions of people around the world thousands of dollars per year!!

Hi, I am wondering if would you know by any chance. I am trying to install my mj and the area code for my area is still pending. do you know by any chance if i can change the number later on if i select any number right now?

I recently went to Korea on business and MJ worked great! I have experienced some quality issues calling out a few times but here in Texas however that is rare. I am very happy with the product so far. I do not believe they will off an ethernet connection anytime soon because that would force a higher network traffic demand. The use of a USB implies limited use of the product and that saves them money and bandwidth.

A friend of mine was having problems with his MJ and these are their comments below:

magic Jack tech support and they say that —Musicmatch–Musicmatch jukebox—Yahoo jukebox–nero–and Roxio all cause problems with Magic Jack and if you have any of these programs to remove them before calling tech support.

I got my MJ yesterday as part of their 30 day trial. No charges have appeared on my card as promised. I plugged it in and it required a reboot. Then my Windows firewall stopped it from access the internet twice. Once I got passed that, I love it. Get a dial tone everytime. The little GUI interface that comes with it is nice. I see where the ad support is going to go. Right now it is filled with MJ stuff. Not intrusive at all.

I have mine plugged unto my USB hub (1.0) built into my monitor. They don’t recommend it, but I haven’t had any problems. They even supply you with a 6″ USB extension cord.

I don’t see any reason for sending it back right now. Calls come… calls go out. Perfect.

Hi Rob,
Can you share where and how you purchase your MJ? I like the fact that your credit card is not charge until the 30 days trial period is done. Speaking of which when did you purchse and when did your CC got charged - assuming you kept the MJ.
Would really appreciate your feedback. I am undecided to get MJ or not. Thanks ! -dawn

I check the area code and mine is still pending. Will I be able to change the number later on?

Rsjian,

I found the answer to your question on one of the other blogs that was a response from the owner of magicJack. Dan was answering several questions in this reply copied from: (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=9&p=2460&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more2460)

Take note: Dan provides his personal email for questions. See below:

I am the inventor of magicJack.We have over 50 people on Chat to deal with many different type of matters.It is extremely efficient and works well.We DO offer the ability to track your shipment with Priority mail.I have posted my email many places as well.It is Dan@magicJack.com.Also we will be adding North Carolina and many other area codes soon and you can change your number when they become available.Their will be many positive changes as we grow and understand the needs of our customers better,but so far the great majority of people seem quite happy.
Dan
02/12/08 @ 13:33

TO John Biggs: If you are going to quote Latin, do it correctly.
It is EMPTOR CAVEAT, NOT cAVEAT EMPTOR

I thought it was CAVEAT EMPTOR, I like it that way better, not that I use latin very often or ever, but hey I like what I like so that is what I’ll use, while I’m at it, I’ll make up new words because someone has to, where do you think all these words come from?

A LITTLE INFO FOR JOHN DIGGS.
MERRIAM WEBSTER IS GIVING YOU THE TRANSLATION FOR EMPTOR CAVEAT IN ENGLISH BUT NOT THE ORIGINAL LATIN IN WHICH THE WORD BUYER
(EMPTOR) COMES FIRST AND THEN BEWARE (CAVEAT)COMES SECOND. CHECK IT FURTHER IF YOU WANT. BUT DONT GET CRAZY IN THE HEAD.
O.G.

What about having multiple numbers? Can you choose you number?
Does anyone rec. this for business? Cost to call overseas, Europe, Africa?
Can one take their laptop overseas and call back here is the states like Vonage for an extra charge?

Thanks

D

Dee,

To have multiple numbers, you must purchase multiple magicJacks. When you register your magicJack by selecting an area code, you are assigned a phone number, at this time you can not ‘pick’ a number. In the future, you will be able to port your existing phone numbers for a small fee (per FAQ’s on http://www.magicjack.com)

For long distance cost from the states to other countries, see http://www.magicjack.com (click FAQ’s, international calling, How much are the international rates?)

When overseas and calling back to the U.S. or Canada, it is FREE.

I am in the Arizona area, and have purchased at least 5 magicJacks for myself and family members, and I am also an authorized reseller.

I think that says a lot.

how do one be a reseller?

I love Magic Jack and use is frequently when i travel to Korea. Of course there is no charge and it works great. All hotels in Korea have a computer in the room with high speed internet. If you have friends overseas then just have them purchase a magic jack then they will have their own US telephone number to call anyone free of charge.

Enjoy

I am not actually Dan the Inventor but I have a few concerns listed below regarding the Terms of Service that I find disturbing
These are directly from the website which I might add could use some improvement the YMAX site is much better. The ticker for instance has a number on the home page and when you go through the mac download instructions it’s completely different. I understand it must be difficult with all the competition out there trying to squash this product, not everything is as it seems on the internet however, I find it a little unsettling to see so many negative comments being posted almost 10 to 1.
With that said My experience has been mostly positive…..but…

BY COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND CLICKING THE “I ACCEPT” BUTTON, YOU INDICATE YOUR AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT AND ABIDE BY THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MAY NOT USE THE magicJack DEVICE OR DOWNLOAD OR USE THE SOFTWARE.

9. Payment
…….You agree to be responsible for any applicable taxes, fees, or charges, now in force or enacted in the future in connection with the license and your use of the magicJack device.

10. Privacy Policy
You understand that by using the magicJack device you consent to magicJack’s collection and use (as set forth in the Privacy Policy) of this information, including the transfer of this information to and from the United States and/or other countries for storage, processing and use by magicJack, its affiliates and business partners to provide you with information about communications-related service. http://www.magicjack.com/privacy

11. Advertisements
You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work and for the service to be free in the first year of the ag