first experience with magic jack

Soundguy · Jan 6, 2014

Had to call a # the other day and got a magic jack message. IE.. the persons number was a magic jack #.

Apparently if they have not called you, you can't call them!

IE. if that person has not dialed your #.. then when you call them.. it tells you that. you can't even leave a message!!

My wife is a teacher and was trying to call a students parents and found this out.. glad it wasn't an EMERGENCY!

Along those lines. i guess if you use magic jack.. you can't use your number as an emergency contact for somebody as they won't get thru!

aczlan · Jan 6, 2014

I would guess that it is an anti spam "feature" that the end user has enabled. Mom has Magic Jack and anyone can call it.

Aaron Z

timster2 · Jan 6, 2014

I have been using magic jack for years and never had that problem. Sounds like some blocking and/or caller ID is activated on the call receivers line. I currently have two magic jack lines and both work fine.

Soundguy · Jan 6, 2014

if it is a spam setting the end user has enabled. they need to rethink it as the school her daughter goes to can not call her.

that's not good for an emergency! and that is the number she listed on her school records for contact.

go figure.

aczlan · Jan 6, 2014

Soundguy said:
if it is a spam setting the end user has enabled. they need to rethink it as the school her daughter goes to can not call her. that's not good for an emergency! and that is the number she listed on her school records for contact.
go figure.

Might be worth sending a note home with the child as the parent may now realize the ramifications of the "features" they are using...

Aaron Z

Baby Grand · Jan 6, 2014

Feature bloat. Feh.

caver · Jan 6, 2014

I've been using Magic jack for years and like others have not had that problem. It's the number my employer has to use for call-ins and I always got their messages.

3930dave · Jan 6, 2014

While VOIP services have their place, and I've used Skype for quite a while, I don't want to be in a situation where I'm depending on it for E911 services.

There was a tragic case in Canada where a family moved (to another province) but did not inform their VOIP provider of their new physical address. In the digital miasma that's out there, it's easy for many people to lose track of what's going on.

Rgds, D.

kenmac · Jan 6, 2014

I have a friend that uses magic jack. I call him all the time. Never had any problems trying to call. There may be different ways to set them up. I don't really understand how it works but, he says magic jack comes through his computer ??? Is this correct ???

caver · Jan 6, 2014

It's essentially a "thumb drive" you plug into your USB. It has a jack for a telephone. Your computer has to be up and running for it to work. If offline the call should go to voicemail that you have to set up. The voicemail sends you a file via email with a WAV recording of the message left.

aczlan · Jan 6, 2014

caver said:
It's essentially a "thumb drive" you plug into your USB. It has a jack for a telephone. Your computer has to be up and running for it to work. If offline the call should go to voicemail that you have to set up. The voicemail sends you a file via email with a WAV recording of the message left.

It depends on the model. Mom's has a place where you plug in a network cable and a place where you plug in a phone cable. No computer needed.

Aaron Z

adventure bob · Jan 7, 2014

Its a setup setting. Some folks use it. It may be checked as a default now. They may have chosen it not understanding what it would do.

deepNdirt · Jan 7, 2014

caver said:
It's essentially a "thumb drive" you plug into your USB. It has a jack for a telephone. Your computer has to be up and running for it to work. If offline the call should go to voicemail that you have to set up. The voicemail sends you a file via email with a WAV recording of the message left.

This is what I was thinking as well. The original magic jack had do operate through a computer Via: an Internet connection,
Many people including my Mother while using the MJ didn't know had to leave their computers on, But if I'm not mistaken the newer Magic Jack II can be installed directly into the modem, No need for a computer at all,

edit: Arron Z
I now see you had already mentioned this,

rockinmywaypa · Jan 7, 2014

As a newby to this concept, who would I go see to set it up in my home? Would I get to keep my number I have now? Is it a good trade-off for getting rid of the landline?

aczlan · Jan 7, 2014

rockinmywaypa said:
As a newby to this concept, who would I go see to set it up in my home? Would I get to keep my number I have now? Is it a good trade-off for getting rid of the landline?

It can replace a landline and you can transfer your existing phone number to it. Mom has it and likes it. Their site is: magicJack PLUS - FREE Local and Long Distance

Aaron Z

Soundguy · Jan 7, 2014

aczlan said:
Might be worth sending a note home with the child as the parent may now realize the ramifications of the "features" they are using...

Aaron Z

i'll mention it... they SHOULD add in some common #'s too... I'll 'GUESS" the emergency numbers may be exempted from the spam settings.. but who knows.

I know in our county when a deputy has to make a well check.. etc. they call from their cell phone. the numbers are not always registered to the county. some are personal #'s and the deputy gets reimbursed for work use.

thus having a default of block all #'s i have not called ( not in my phonebook / contact list.. etc. ) that's a BAD IDEA IMHO...

And yeah.. there are times deputies call the school for contact info.....

homedad · Jan 7, 2014

I've had a MJ Plus for 2 years and never had that issue. Some numbers can't call though for no apparent reason even if I've called them before.

aczlan · Jan 7, 2014

Soundguy said:
i'll mention it... they SHOULD add in some common #'s too... I'll 'GUESS" the emergency numbers may be exempted from the spam settings.. but who knows.
I know in our county when a deputy has to make a well check.. etc. they call from their cell phone. the numbers are not always registered to the county. some are personal #'s and the deputy gets reimbursed for work use.
thus having a default of block all #'s i have not called ( not in my phonebook / contact list.. etc. ) that's a BAD IDEA IMHO...
And yeah.. there are times deputies call the school for contact info.....

I chatted with a fairly dense MagicJack rep today and they thought that it might have been a "magicNumber" which is free, but only works for outgoing calls and incoming calls when you have called them in the past... Seems like a foolish number to use as an emergency contact number though.

Aaron Z

Soundguy · Jan 7, 2014

aczlan said:
I chatted with a fairly dense MagicJack rep today and they thought that it might have been a "magicNumber" which is free, but only works for outgoing calls and incoming calls when you have called them in the past... Seems like a foolish number to use as an emergency contact number though.

Aaron Z

if that's what it was.. then yeah.. foolish...