Here is [...]]]> A friend of mine just bought Ooma for their land line and so far he says it is great.  Apparently you only have to pay something like $200 to get up and running and then your monthly bill is only about $3/month.  They are sort of the Tracfone for VOIP land lines.

Here is some information I found about Ooma:

You might want to consider trying Ooma!

Buy an Ooma Telo and get crystal-clear unlimited free U.S. calling with your Internet connection and existing home phone. You pay only applicable taxes and fees. Unlimited calls are subject to normal residential usage limitations.

Ooma has a number of awesome VoIP phones to choose from.  Check these out:

If that if your initial impression of MagicJackScam.net, then you would be [...]]]> We just stumbled across a website called MagicJackScam.net.  The first thing that probably pops into your head is that this site is exposing all of the various problems with the Magic Jack service… most notably customer support and the notorious billing troubles.

If that if your initial impression of MagicJackScam.net, then you would be wrong.  We have no proof, but it strongly appears that this is a shill site set up either by Magic Jack themselves or a person simply looking to cash in through a Magic Jack affiliate program (if they even have one).  The annoying popup that appears every 15 seconds lends ammunition to this theory.

I just posted a comment on the front page that brings people over to a blog post where more than 600 people have voiced concerns with their Magic Jack service.  Let’s see if they actually allow that post to be published.

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 [...]]]> 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!

Buy [...]]]> Are you fed up with Magic Jack?  Try Ooma!

You might want to consider trying Ooma, the Magic Jack alternative with actual customer service!  Sure, the initial cost is greater, but read the 600+ negative comments about Magic Jack and perhaps you’ll think it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Buy an Ooma Telo and get crystal-clear unlimited free U.S. calling with your Internet connection and existing home phone. You pay only applicable taxes and fees. Unlimited calls are subject to normal residential usage limitations.

Ooma has a number of awesome VoIP phones to choose from.  Check these out:

Wow!  A whole lotta haters here.  I have a magicjack and will admit that when I first tried to set up a Calgary phone number I was left brain confused.  The available [...]]]> A reader from Calgary, Canada has had a great experience with Magic Jack so far.  He is what he had to say:

Wow!  A whole lotta haters here.  I have a magicjack and will admit that when I first tried to set up a Calgary phone number I was left brain confused.  The available phone numbers for 403 were 403-800-xxxx – I could not get past the 800 number part and put the USB away for a few days.  I went back and tried again, agreed to pay $10/yr for a Canadian phone number (less than 1/2 the cost of one month of shaw svc).

I have ZERO complaints so far!  Voice mail, caller Id (yes it is phone number only but if I don’t know the phone number I don’t answer anyhow) portable home phone number.

It will be interesting in a year though – I did purchase the 5 yearr deal.  Seems a lot of dissatisfaction here is around “renewals”.

Would be ideal to move my shaw phone number to my magicjack – for now.  I am informing those that need to know… we are leaving the monoploy/big box of internet/phone… with or without the dinosaurs!

Not sure what that last sentence means, but what the heck.

I received my MJ yesterday and have been considering installing it. My first question was “How do I port my current phone number onto MJ”? After reading a goodly portion of the remarks stated previously – I guess the answer is that I don’t [...]]]> Reader Mindy May has this to say about Magic Jack:

I received my MJ yesterday and have been considering installing it. My first question was “How do I port my current phone number onto MJ”? After reading a goodly portion of the remarks stated previously – I guess the answer is that I don’t – can’t – no way be able to use my old phone number. So that pretty much settles what I will be doing. MJ goes back (all three of them).

My first indication that I probably wasn’t going to get along with MJ was that my account password wouldn’t work. Neither did the next two that were sent to me. And I wasn’t readily able to find a contact number. The number listed for MJ says “This number has not been activated.”

I am in Alberta. I had made a trip to the US on business. Used my Visa in the US and had the Visa fraud squad in a tizzy because I had not notified them of my travels. They blocked my Visa until I spoke with them and confirmed my US purchases. Knowing that it is possible to BLOCK a credit card is useful. It stops anyone who has the number (i.e. MJ) from putting charges on it (including me). Sometimes it is also useful to cut it in half and report it lost. You will be without a credit card for a week or so but when the new one comes, it will be a different number. So if you need to stop payments – those are two suggestions.

My MJs are going back and hopefully I will get a communication saying that they have been received and “Sorry that you were not happy with them” – also will need a credit or a payment reversal statement. To date, no charges have gone onto my credit card – so, for me, MJ has been as good as their word – first 30 days free. I will not reactivate my credit card until this is cleared up. And if it does not get resolved, I guess the puppy will get to chew on the credit card . . . . or something. I will try to stay in MJs “good books” because I may just want to use the product on a limited basis some time in the future.

I could see that a one year MJ contract would be good if you were going on holiday and wanted to call home on a daily basis – it would pay for itself after a few days. So I will compose a polite “thanks but no thanks” note to add to the parcel and stop by the post office.

Thanks for this site – it has helped me make up my mind about what to do. I suggest that right-up-front you set out additional findings on the known facts, i.e. if your phone exchange is full, you can’t get a number with your own (old) area code. I happen to know that the one that I am in is full so I would get a local number BUT it would have the new area code. Second – THEY assign you a new phone number. et cetera.

This has been an experience on a steep-learning-curve.

Mindy.

Don't use Magic Jack for business!

Reader LC reports that Magic Jack canceled her number after she attempted to use her new Magic Jack as part of her business.  After they shut her down, she researched the “fine print” and discovered that they reserve the right to cancel your service if you either [...]]]>

Don't use Magic Jack for business!

Reader LC reports that Magic Jack canceled her number after she attempted to use her new Magic Jack as part of her business.  After they shut her down, she researched the “fine print” and discovered that they reserve the right to cancel your service if you either make more than 50 calls in a day, or call 50 different numbers.

Perhaps this is LC’s fault for not reading the fine print, but it is something potential Magic Jack customers should be aware of.

We were just sent this comment from another net forum:

Today I went to make on my magic jack and I kept getting a message to call a certain phone number about my magic jack service.

I call the number and they told me my magic jack account was suspended, abuse of their service they said.

They told me abuse was too many phone calls that lasted too long were being made on my service.

That my friend is not unlimited phone calling.

Oh, I can still get incoming calls, but wait, no one can call me as magic jack phone numbers will be long distance to your friends. If I want to continue using my magic jack I will have to buy prepaid minutes.

This is the biggest fraud being perpetraited on hard working people just trying to save a few bucks and get by.

The sun won’t shine where I would like for them to stick their junk and false advertiseing!

Borislow said YMax has sold 5 million magicJacks for landline phones in the last two years, and that roughly 3 million are in active use.

If you are willing to sink about $75 you can put your MJ on a thin client and it works perfectly and you don’t have to be seeing the advertisements.

Once you setup the thin client [...]]]> Reader Jack writes about the success he has had setting up his Magic Jack on a thin client.

If you are willing to sink about $75 you can put your MJ on a thin client and it works perfectly and you don’t have to be seeing the advertisements.

Once you setup the thin client like the T5720 you just push this mini-computer to the corner and leave it on all the time. Low power consumption since it works all by flash drives and no hard drive, no fans… quiet like a solar calculator.

There are many support forums so if you look around you will find it. Also have a decent internet connection helps. DSL works fine but probably not as good as a cable internet. I have had my MJ for over two years with the thin client setup and love it. No choppiness, call my family in Canada on the opposite coast everyday and talk for 30 minutes to an hours if you believe it… CLEAR CLEAN PHONE CALLS ALL THE TIME!! I don’t have that BS $20 for making local phone calls with AT&T. Works great guys… just a matter of setting it up correctly

We have selected two recent customer comments.  You decide what’s going on here.

Reader Ann Marie writes:

BEWARE OF CREDIT [...]]]> We have recently been receiving complaints from Magic Jack users that Magic Jack “accidentally” charges credit cards and then claims ignorance.  Contacting customer support will generate blank stares and no record of such charges.

We have selected two recent customer comments.  You decide what’s going on here.

Reader Ann Marie writes:

BEWARE OF CREDIT CARD PAYMENT.  I wanted to renew my subscription [with Magic Jack] and after using my credit card, the system said ‘invalid’ however my bank said the charge was made. After speaking with Magic Jack help desk “Nigel” told me to do the transaction again. I warned him that I already used the card and it was charged, but did it again and same problem, and my card was charged again. Then the chat session just ended and I cannot get on to the help desk. The bank said another charge was made on [my credit card], and can only be refunded if Magic Jack emails a confirmation.

John writes with additional details:

I am a Canadian, living in London, Ontario. I recently purchased the Magic Jack. I had no problems installing, nor have I any complaints about call quality. I have a NYC phone number. One thing that is not mentioned, or at least not where I have seen it… Canadians using an American number cannot call Canadian toll-free numbers.

My problems started when I tried to purchase a Canadian number, using my prepaid Visa card. I went through mymajicjack, using their online system to order.

I have been charged twice for the Canadian number… leaving me with a 32 cent balance, and still no Canadian number… and yes, it is $4.95 plus $10.00 for the Canadian number.

Upon contacting customer service (their joke of customer service, online support), I was told that they had no record of these transactions. (Never mind that I can provide their company information showing to whom the payment was made). I was told that I would be emailed by customer service… I obviously have not been. I was assured that their engineers are working hard on it (seems like a recurring theme…)

I was also told that since there was no record of an order, these pre-authorized amounts (as I was told) would be removed… and check back with them 3-5 days after receiving my statement… so it seems that I have to wait for up to a month to see what happens.

It seems that an honest company would be a little more proactive about customer service, and follow through on promises made.

I am quite seriously considering contacting the American IRS… it seems that the majic jack company charges quite a few credit cards without providing the service being paid for… I guess we’ll see what happens…

There you have it.  Does that sound like a company you would like to deal with?