Last month, I happened across the Magic Jack website. Magic Jack is a USB device that, when hooked up to your computer (with your phone cord connected to the other end), will allow you to make and receive local and long-distance phone calls for free. Well, almost free. It costs around $40 for the USB device, and there is a yearly 'licensing' fee of $20.
At the moment, there is a 30-day free trial period, which I've taken advantage of. Magic Jack mailed me (there is a shipping cost, I do believe) my USB device, which has been connected to my computer and cordless phone for several weeks. Although the device does work, in that I am able to make and receive calls with no cost, there are some issues that I dislike about it:
- My computer has to be on, all the time. I can't even put the computer into 'hibernation' or standby mode. This bugs me, since I like to have my computer OFF (or as close to off as possible) when I'm not using it. If your computer is off, people can still call you---their calls simply go directly to voicemail.
- The downloaded 'Magic Jack' dialogue box seems clunky and amateur-ish. When I had the USB unit plugged into my laptop, my callers indicated that they could hear beeping noises, as if I were pressing buttons on a phone. This doesn't happen on my desktop computer, but it was annoying.
- Sometimes when I call out, the person on the other end can't hear me, and I can't hear them. This generally happens once, and then the second time I make the call everything is find. Also, I've found that there is a long delay when the phone call is first connected. So the person I've called is saying "hello? hello?" and I'm doing the same, but it takes more than a few seconds for us to 'hear' each other, if that makes sense.
- I can't use the second handset on my cordless phone. I like having one phone in the office and a separate handset in the bedroom. With this system, that doesn't seem possible. I believe you can purchase more than one Magic Jack and set it up that way (if you have another computer in the room in which you want your other phone), but it doesn't work with phone systems that have a 'base' and then a separate handset that plugs into the wall (rather than a phone line).
- My computer seems to run much slower when the Magic Jack is hooked up.
4 comments:
I use Skype for my business calls and I really like it. I just hook up a headset to my laptop and can talk just fine (which might not work if you like to walk around while you are on the phone). I bought a phone number for $30/year so people can call me from regular phones and then pay $2.95 each month for unlimited calls to the US and Canada, voice mail, call forwarding and a bunch of other stuff. :) I highly reccommend it!
i really like this blog layout. i use google chat (video) all the time and it is completely free. for phone i only use my cellphone. and faxes can be sent online. :)
mydebtcomeback.blogspot.com
I use Skype also and really like it. IT seems to always work well, even with my regular calls between the U.S. and Australia. I use a web cam so get to see the person also as long as they have a camera too.
If you live near somewhere that offers cable service *most people do* we were able to get phone service really cheap bundled with our cable. I used to work for the company so I know that if you call about a month before your "promotion" is up, they'll give you whatever they can to keep you as a customer. We pay $15.00/month for our phone service. It's about $60 less than my grandparents' landline and we have a prepaid cell that we rarely ever put $$ on for emergencies only. Love the blog!! I can relate to "Finally Frugal" because I've made so many mistakes getting here.
Post a Comment