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The Magic Jack internet phone is a new member of the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology which allows you to make free local and long distance calls in the US and Canada. This device plugs into any open USB port on your computer, it transfers an analog signal from your phone into a digital signal which can be sent over the internet like an Email, where it will connect with any phone number you dial.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Magic Jack
Advantages:
* Magic jack is the size of a cigarette lighter that is simple and compact that plugs into your computer, not your modem.
* Set up is easy and takes only a few minutes.
* All the features you would pay extra for from a traditional landline are included.
* Allows you to unplug it from one computer and into any computer with a broadband connection, in any country and make free long distance calls back to the US or Canada - so you can take it with you when traveling.
* Also works with WI FI (wireless internet) as long as you have a strong connection.
* Call quality - for the most part calls are clear without any background noise and can be compared to today's cell phones.
* You are able to make emergency calls to 911 - not all VoIP services provide this.
* $39.95 for the device and first year of service and $19.95 a year thereafter, compared to what a traditional landline service charges - this is a 96% savings if your landline cost an averaged of $40.00 a month and most people (like me) was a lot more.magicjackinfo.blogspot.com
Disadvantages:
I've recorded better then 92% of my calls were at least as clear as a good cell phone connection. But when it doesn't work
* Your calls maybe broken up like a cell phone with a weak signal.
* Your calls may drop totally when the receiver is picked up.
* There are times when only one end of the call can hear the other.
* Sometimes you may get an annoying echo buzz or hiss in the background.
* You can not make calls when your power goes out. If your power goes out you can not make a 911 call - I, like most people nowadays, have a cell phone I can use in such a case.
* You must have your computer on to receive calls.
* Customer service is almost non existent in the minds of some people who have had serious problems getting magic jack to work properly. What customer service you get is through a chat service in which you type in your problem with a service rep (not a technician) that has a manual with a list of common problems that they will refer to. The overall percentage of people having serous problems with Magic Jack is fairly small comparably to the amount of these units sold daily.
Conclusion:
Magic Jack Internet Phone does work and reasonably well. Its not always perfect butfor the price of only $19.95 a Year - not a month - but a year, even if you could only get 70 % of your calls without any problems, to me it would still be worth it. For the money you can save, a few random problems - I can live with.
Should you buy a Magic Jack internet phone? You do the math for yourself - for most everyone, not all, but most everyone this little device does work and works surprisingly well for something with such a low price tag.
