February 7, 2011 5:02pm by Team | 
Reader Marc provides the following Magic Jack observations… none of which are positive!
I purchased a MagicJack at Wal-Mart, knowing I would have absolutely no problem returning it there, which is exactly what I intend to do first thing tomorrow.
The advertising for Magicjack is EXTREMELY misleading. It never mentions that you must compromise your computer’s and/or network’s security for the softphone program to install properly — this presents an easy entryway for many kinds of malicious software (viruses, spyware, etc.)
The ads also don’t mention that you have to leave your computer on whenever you want to send a call, and that you’ll pay a hell of a lot more than $20/year if you want to be able to receive calls at your current number.
Furthermore, the Magicjack ads completely skip over the inconvenience of having to use the computer to dial out instead of using the keypad on the phone itself. For those of us who prefer portable and mobile phones and don’t like to carry extra junk around (e.g., a computer!) just to use the phone, Magicjack is completely pathetic.
Given the complete lack of toll free customer support or even a functional real-time support forum, and the many allegations that Magicjack customers who were foolish enough to provide credit card numbers have had charges applied to their cards without their approval, I would strongly agree that Magicjack is a SCAM!
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SEED!
The info Reader Marc tells of Magicjack is totally false. I been using one for a couple of years now. First of all I do agree that the ads on TV, etc. makes it looks like it is super easy to use. That part is not true. You do have to make a few adjustments with your computer settings,but by no mean do you have to compromise your security settings. Reader Marc is obviously not setting things up properly. As far as dailing from the keypad of my phone – no problems. Reader Marc, you are wrong again! Are you so dense, that you don’t understand that when your computer is off the Magicjack is not on. No Problem! Via the Magicjack you can have all your calls forwarded to your cell phone.So When I’m home all call comes in thru my computer/Magicjack. When I’m not home all calls are forwarded to the cell. I don’t miss any calls. The $20/yr price can’t be beat for all U.S. based calls. I suspect that since there is an ad for Ooma immediately after his rant, that he works for Ooma. Anyway, I have not had any problem with my Magicjack once I got over the initial setting it up. If you have a problem you can get support via a magicjack Live chat. It worked for me, so again I dont understand Reader Marc problem. Bottom line – Magicjack isn’t as easy as the ads say, but once you get your settings properly adjusted, your as good as gold. And beside…$20/yr! Who has better?
I agree with Dave. I have had my Majic Jack for almost a year now and it is great. As Dave said you don’t have to be at your computer to dial out-but you do have to use the area code for the phone number that you are dialing. I call my daughter overseas(you do have to buy airtime for out of the country-but is very reasonable) and the call is crystal clear and immediate, unlike when I used to call her from a landline and calling card. There are some adjustments with the MJ,like if I try and use the computer during the call it distorts the sound quality,but for me this is no big deal,as I don’t have to use the computer during the call. I say $20 a year is the best deal out there. I use my cell phone as a back up. I intend on using my MJ..
I bought a Magic Jack from Wal-Mart, and hooked it up when I returned home. It installed its software in less than 1(one) minute, and then the setup screen popped up and asked me for the normal info that all companies ask for. I filled it out, entered my credit card number into my Magic Jack account, and then another screen popped up. This time they gave me the option to auto pick a number, choose one from a list, or pay a one time $10 fee to make a personalized number. I chose to choose mine from the list. I put in my area code, and it took me to another list. This second list allowed me to choose the first 3 digits of my number. I made my choice and it offered something really cool, it gave me the option to pick the last 4(four) digits myself for a one time fee of $3!
Thats a good deal to be able to have a simple easy to remember number for only $3 so I did it. Now I have a number that will be mine for the rest of my life that is easy to remember (my last 4 digit pattern is like this but this is only an example 6226)
I have been using my Magic Jack for a few months now and I have not had any problems with it. It has a convenient software that looks similar to a cell phone that has a caller ID and a programmable phone book. The coolest feature though is that you don’t even need to have a phone plugged into the jack, if you have a laptop that has speakers and a Mic you can talk through that just as if you were using a speaker phone.
$43 bought me 1(one) whole year of coast to coast service and an easy to remember number that will always belong to me. and all of my contacts are automatically backed up on the net. So if I really wanted to I could take my Magic Jack to a friends house and use it on their computer and i wouldn’t need to worry because my numbers would show up on any computer that I plug the device into.
This is just my honest opinion but anyone that does not think this is an amazing product after hearing about all the features has to be a complete moron.
Magic Jack RULES!
I totally agree with the pro-mj comments. After a medical emergency that left me financially destitute in 2009, I was forced to restrict my expenditures to compensate. Thank goodness for mj. After much research, I ventured to purchase mj, and I have not regretted that decision once. I am able to call and talk to my mother and family members as much as I want without the fear of amassing a huge debt. In addition as Dave stated, the live chat system works wonderfully and when I had a problem and wish to change my number to a local number near my mother, live chat listened to my situation and when a local number became available they notified me thru email. I was able to change my number for free, and now my mother can call me whenever necessary and there is no long distance charges involved. I am still identified for 9-1-1 services and with the purchase of an inexpensive headset (Gigaware from Radio Shack, i can sit and talk to anyone as long as I wish. Or you can purchase a wireless headset and only be limited by the frequency range. As a vote of confidence in mj, when my initial year was up I bought 5 additional years of service.
so thru the use of mj, I am able to utilize high – speed internet and top notch phone service with unlimited local and domestic long – distance service for a total cost of $504. This means a lot to me because I live in a rural area of Texas where I was spending a minimum of $ 1000 annual for phone service thru the use of AT&T services. In addition no matter how much I utilize mj there is no surcharges supporting this entity or that entity. (In other words, look at your recent telephone bill and add up all the different surcharges and ask yourself what exactly are you supporting?)
So to everyone debating whether to purchase mj or not, I say it be the one of the best financial decision you will ever make. And no I am not affiliated with mj, nor have I been compensated for my endorsement.
I love the magic jack, I have had it a couple of years no problems. On my land line just for basic plus long distance I was paying $70(+) per month, now to pay $20 a year that is a blessing. That’s a savings of at least $1640.00 so far. I also at one point had trouble with the quality of the voice if I was online and went from one site to another, or one page to another. But, when I changed desks I moved my hard drive from my desk to the floor, no more issuses with that, something about the position.
My MJ audio keeps cutting out while trying to talk. I called and thought it was fixed after screwing around for 45 minutes and 3 different agents.
I don’t want deal with the overseas help.
Bill
I have had my Magic Jack for about six months, and I think it is FANTASTIC!!! I was paying about $75 for our landline per month. I paid $75 for my Magic Jack, which included one-year service. I do NOT have to have my computer on to make and/or receive calls. I loved being able to pick an easy phone number I can remember. The cost savings is out of this world. I had a little problem setting it up, but I called MJ Customer Service, and they were very patient with me. I have had a couple of little “bobbles” with my MJ, but considering the cost savings, anyone who does not look into this, is CRAZY!
I love my Magic Jack Plus. I have had it for almost a year now and will never pay a phone company 45 dollars a month again! MJ plus plugs into your router so no need to leave your computer on anymore! Once in a while I get a call cut off, but that was aleviated when I moved the MJ further from the computer tower and modem…all is perfect now! Especialy for 40 dollars A YEAR!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
Magic Jack has begun to charge for minutes to call a lot of numbers that were once free(most phones that are businesses and some residential) because their system has determined it to be a platform call. According to their”read the chart” customer service Magic Jack is being charged by our phone company to connect the call. Our phone company is not doing this but their system determines the number prefix is charging them. In essence you can call a business that has 2 different number prefixes and one may work. I use to swear my internet phoning and push Magic Jack to everyone I would see in Walmart…not any longer. This service has gone south. They won’t even tell you what the listed price per minute to call local is going to cost you. You pay x amount and it will tell you how many minutes you have left when you make a phone call. Shame on Magic Jack.