macnn
04/10/2008, 4:50pm, EDT
Thursday, April 10th
Part II: First Look: magicJack Internet calling
After setting up your account and assigning a telephone number, the magicJack unit window appears, ready to place a call. Dial any phone number and magicJack connects right away, absolutely free, and even keeps a log of the numbers you called and how long you spent talking. For added convenience, the magicJack window can also store frequently called numbers.
Like VoIP phones, magicJack’s audio quality is noticeably lower than a landline or cellular phone, but not by much. Phone calls may also experience background static or a slight delay each time someone speaks. However these minor annoyances may be irritating, but ultimately they’re easy to ignore, especially when you realize you’re finally free to make unlimited local and long distance phone calls anywhere in the United States and Canada.
If you need to travel, unplug the magicJack unit and plug it into your laptop. No matter where you may be in the world, you’ll be able to make and receive phone calls just as long as your computer has a broadband Internet connection. whether you’re in San Francisco, New York, or Miami. As long as you have your magicJack unit, you’ll always have the same phone number that people can call to reach you at any time.
If you turn off your computer and someone tries calling your magicJack phone number, they’ll be routed to your magicJack voicemail. Although magicJack relies on a high-speed Internet connection, it won’t slow down your computer or Internet connection; you can talk and use your computer at the same time.
Overall, the magicJack is a remarkable device. If you’ve always dreamed about making and receiving free, unlimited phone calls, magicJack is the next best thing to a corporate cellular telephone, although magicJack always needs a computer and a high-speed Internet connection.
The magicJack unit costs $39.95, but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial where you’ll only pay for the cost of shipping if you decide to return the unit within this trial period. This $39.95 fee covers the cost of the magicJack unit itself plus one free year of service. Each additional year of service costs another $19.95. International phone calls may also incur additional fees.
If you limit most of your phone calls to the United States and Canada, the magicJack is a bargain. With acceptable sound quality and unlimited phone calling, the magicJack is something that everyone should consider if they want to reduce their cost for making phone calls.
Filed under: gadgets, networking, audio
Other story tags: phone, VoIP
, 
, 19
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
1. You can use real telephones. This is very preferable to some people.
2. Your total yearly bill for all calls, regardless of quantity or location, is $20. Skype et al charge you for calls to "real" phone numbers, resulting in an average bill that is considerably higher than $20/year for a typical user.
JackenIAX works fine as a softphone. There are plenty of SIP softphones as well. And if I want to plug a "phone" into my computer, I'd rather just use a $40 headset from Fry's.
W
At least that's what, uh, journalists would do.
I'll admit, I have a friend who has one of these things, and he loves it. But I really prefer to know who I am doing business with and I prefer doing business with someone who has a sense of advertising decorum.