Apr
18
2008
Magic Jack
Author: Steve Martin
I am a long time VoIP user. I have been using Packet8 for almost 4 years now. It is inexpensive phone service that comes with all of the major features you generally pay extra for. I have a VoIP comparison of different providers at my business website Smart Technology if you want to check it out.
There is a new player in the VoIP market and it is called Magic Jack. I recently purchased one to test out and possibly use as my phone when I am at a client’s and don’t want to use up my cell phone minutes on a bunch of support calls. It can often take as much as a half hour or longer for a tech to finally get on the line to help troubleshoot a problem and then who knows how long after that. My cell phone bill ends up paying the price.
The device is about 3 inches by 1.25 inches by .25 inch in size. It plugs into any available USB port and has it’s own RJ11 phone jack on the back of it. You simply plug any standard phone into the RJ11 phone jack and start making phone calls. You buy the device for about $40 plus shipping which includes your first YEAR of unlimited calling within the US and Canada. Each year after that is currently priced at $20 per year. When you first plug in the device, you go through a quick setup which lets you pick a phone number for your device. You don’t have to pick a number in your current area code. You could pick a number in another state if you wanted to. Might make it easier and cheaper for grandma to call you if you pick a number in her area code.
The service only works if you have a high speed internet connection for the computer you plug the device into but high speed doesn’t have to be super fast, just faster than dial-up.
I tested it out yesterday as soon as mine arrived and must say that I was quite impressed with the sound quality. I had the device plugged into my laptop which is connected to my network via wireless and the calls sounded great. There were a couple of times that the call stuttered but other than that it was great. I don’t think I would replace my home phone with it or even my current Packet8 VoIP lines but for my purposes, I am glad I have it and am pretty sure it will come in quite handy at times. If nothing else, it provides you a great way to make super cheap long distance calls without having to watch the clock.
