Save Money with magicJack Almost Free VoIP Phone Service
When I looked at where I could trim my living expenses, I knew my phone bill was too high. So I started researching alternatives.
I have now been using the VoiP phone service and device known as magicJack for about a year. I switched from AT&T long distance because they were charging almost $50.00 per month for local, flat rate long distance and calling services like CallerID, 3-Way calling, voice mail/message center, etc. By switching, I saved $500 in a year.
Before I bought it, I had seen one tv commercial for magicJack and then my uncle told me he was using it and is very happy. I did some more research online. One good site to check out is DSL Report and I read some online reviews in PC Magazine and Laptop Magazine
magicJack offers a free 30 day trial. magicJack runs using your computer (Windows Vista, XP, or Mac Intel) and high speed internet connection (DSL, cable, wireless), so you can use it as long as there is electricity and a working PC that is turned on. Right now I am using it with my wireless laptop which means I can take it on the road when i travel.
magicJack will give you a new unique “magic” phone number when you register (you can often pick the area code and have a choice of exchanges). magicJack works with your regular phone handset (so you can walk around the house if its cordless) or has a softphone feature where you can just use your computer’s speakers and microphone. The company plans to offer number portability later this year, i.e., get your current number to work with MagicJack.
Start up costs include $19.95 for the magicJack devicet, $6.95 for standard shipping plus $19.95 for the flat rate services for one year. magicJack provides:
- Free local and long distance (U.S. and Canada)
- Free directory assistance
- Free call waiting
- Free Voicemail
- Free Caller ID
International minutes can be purchased, click here for rates.
Using the options in my.magicJack.com, there is also a Call Forwarding feature and when you get a voicemail message, an email will also be sent to the address you used when registering your magicJack.
Once I switched to magicJack from AT&T phone service to long distance I continued having AT&T DSL and my original landline home phone number. I decided against dryloop and switched to measured local service in case of power outages which is only about $6/month. I also had to get a digital answering machine for my landline home phone number. Instead of purchasing one, I sent out a WANTED request for an answering machine to my local Freecycle group (more on Freecycle in tomorrow’s blog post). I will also continue to have a cell phone which currently is through Sprint.
Dan Borislow, CEO of magicJack parent YMax, said in an interview the company has passed 4 million units sold, and expects to reach $100 million in revenue this year, so it looks like they’ll be around a while. MagicJack is developing cool, new technology, too: A wireless base station for your home called a “femtocell” that lets you use your GSM cellphone and maybe Apple’s iPhone with MagicJack’s service. Femtocell could be ready as early as Q1 2010.
I recently needed some tech support and had a chat session online via magicJack’s website. Their tech support seems to have improved, especially being able to access an agent with no wait time. Sometimes call quality can be “tinny” or there is background noise, but since it’s primarily for personal use, given the price, I just renewed my magicJack service for another year ($19.95 for unlimited local and long distance service).
Related Articles:
Magic Jack review
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One Response to “Save Money with magicJack Almost Free VoIP Phone Service”
JackHammer
November 7th, 2009
I have had a Magicjack for more than a year now. The service works great. The downside - I still can’t get a local number and you have to leave your PC running (not sleeping) 24/7 if you want phone service 24/7. The economy of the majic jack is lost in increased electricity costs. There are ways around these obstacles by using thin clients or nettops to keep power use down and I am routing my calls through a local Google voice number.