Magic Jack

[lakngulf]

Anyone using Magic Jack? What are your thoughts? What other alternatives for AT&T Landline? Have cell phones, but not totally dependable at all times where I live.

 

[Soundguy]

is att your source of internet as well? if not what type of inet do you have? ( looking at VOIP ideas.. )

 

[timster2]

I have used magic jack for years works ok for me. A lot less expensive than a land line. As long as you have a good internet connection you can't tell the difference :thumbsup:

 

[lakngulf]

I have used magic jack for years works ok for me. A lot less expensive than a land line. As long as you have a good internet connection you can't tell the difference :thumbsup:

is att your source of internet as well? if not what type of inet do you have? ( looking at VOIP ideas.. )

No my internet is a local cable company called Comlink--not one of the big boys. But with decent internet service. Is Magic Jack totally dependent on internet? Other than internet what do I need?

 

[k0ua]

Voice Over Internet Protocol - How It Works - VoIP Calling | magicJack

look at the video. you really just need internet, an open ethernet connection on your switch or router, power. thats about it

 

[Soundguy]

Is Magic Jack totally dependent on internet? ?

yes, as stated. it is voip

 

[lakngulf]

yes, as stated. it is voip

So, I buy the magic jack go, follow the video and I am in business? My internet connection is fairly good, especially for the remoteness of our area, so it might just be a workable solution.

 

[k0ua]

So, I buy the magic jack go, follow the video and I am in business? My internet connection is fairly good, especially for the remoteness of our area, so it might just be a workable solution.

Pretty much. You have to register it to make it work, and I imagine they are going to want a credit card number to keep billing after the "free year" runs out. I don't know that for a fact, as I don't have it, but that is the way most of them work.

 

[timster2]

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. I have been using it for several years and have two Magic jacks currently working. One is the house phone and the other is used for all those calls you don't want to answer. I use it for anywhere I need to put in a phone number on the internet that I really don't want to talk to like dealer quotes etc. I get an email with a voice mail attached, however, the useless ones rarely leave a voice mail. I once inquired about a quote for a walk in bath conversion about a year ago and they still keep trying to call but never leave a message.:laughing:

 

[DennisArrow]

So if ATT is your land line phone carrier as well as your internet...........what happens when you cancel your land line. What does ATT do to your line???........thanks....God bless....Dennis

 

[timster2]

Can't answer that one for you. You may have heard of an issue called "net neutrality". As it is now all net traffic has the same priority, however, some would like to propagate or prioritize their signals ahead of others. This could become an issue if ATT, Verizon, or other internet carrier would put their traffic ahead of say Magic jack, Netflix or other streaming video to make their service better. Something to be aware of.

 

[Soundguy]

So if ATT is your land line phone carrier as well as your internet...........what happens when you cancel your land line. What does ATT do to your line???........thanks....God bless....Dennis

lotsa times you see bundled service. phone and internet.. etc. so it CAN be hard to do that sort of thing. ( but not always ).

with cable in the mix, you can get digital cable and internet, and thru vopi, get phone... )

my telco just started offering cable.. and they also do internet.

go figure.

 

[Stimw]

A year ago I went to "Verizon Home Phone". I costs $20. a month, no additional fees!!
It is wireless, I have caller ID, unlimited long distance, call forwarding, I ported my ATT phone number.
It has a small box the plugs into the wall with battery backup if power goes out.
I can take the box with me when traveling and have my home phone anywhere there is Verizon service!!
You need a regular phone to plug into it and you can disconnect your home phone line from the grid and put the regular phone cord into a home jack from the box and have whole house phones.
The only thing, fax machines and medical machines don't work with it.

 

[k0ua]

So if ATT is your land line phone carrier as well as your internet...........what happens when you cancel your land line. What does ATT do to your line???........thanks....God bless....Dennis

Nothing. The left hand, and the right hand, will never meet.

 

[JBourquin]

Been using Magic Jack for just over a year. Small problems here and there but my internet sucks. Extremely slow DSL. If you have cable internet you should have no problems at all. I wish I could get cable internet again...

EDIT: I remember reading about Magic Jack customers having problems calling or receiving calls from people in their local area (same prefix). So, when I set mine up I picked an area code where I didn't know anyone. You can pick a number from just about anywhere.. Plus, put the app on your phone and you can call from your house phone from anywhere that has wifi or data service. I used mine to call the parents from a Starbucks in Cozumel Mexico.

 

[KTurner]

So if ATT is your land line phone carrier as well as your internet...........what happens when you cancel your land line. What does ATT do to your line???........thanks....God bless....Dennis

There's some DSL broadband internet that requires you to keep a landline.

Keith

 

[jaotguy]

if you drop your land line , you can just buy a "dry loop" from a phone company ( it just keeps the line available for dsl and not regular voice calls ).. somewhere around $10 a month ....

do not try to activate magic jack with windows XP ... all you'll get is scripting errors ....

works well enough when you finally get it up and running .....

 

[OKnewguy]

You might want to give this option a try. It only cost you the price of the device. I have been using it for years now. Google ended support for this device but they are now "officially supported" by google. Anyway: after your initial setup you have no recurring cost. I posted a detailed thread about it here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/285488-great-voip-telephone-service-update.html
I detailed what you need to do to port your existing phone #, although it is a bit easier if you use a random google number.
Good luck, Dave

 

[OKnewguy]

BTW, another option I use for my elderly mother is straight talk. I set her up with their cell based unit for $75 dollars for the unit and $17 a month. She does not have a reliable internet connection and this has performed great with free long distance and e911.
Dave

 

[skyhook]

My son uses "Google Voice" to call me from Montreal.
He uses his computer to make the call and i receive it on my cell phone,
no long distance charges for him either.
I don't know if it's similar to MJ but just thought I'd throw this in.