new to magic jack, want to make sure I understand..

[jonclayton]

new to magic jack, so far so good. call quality is decent and I have no complaints.. I do want to make sure that I understand this correctly though.


I live in Anderson, SC and choose a local anderson SC phone number (864-556-xxxx). it is my understanding after talking with magic jack support that if I give my number to say my next door neighbor with a standard anderson SC land line, she will be charged long distance for calling me because her number does not have the 556 prefix. I have lived in anderson for many years and I know most of the local prefixes here, but so far the only people I know wiht 556 prefixes are magic jack users. Is this MJ's way of saying anyone calling me without a MJ will be charged LD? If this is true, how can someone be charged long distance for placing a local call that did not require them to dial the area code? I understand that if someone is outside the anderson sc calling area and calls me by dialing 1+area code they will be charged LD, just as any other phone line would.


I got MJ mainly for outgoing calls, so I am still pretty happy... i just wanted to make sure before I hand out this number to friends and neighbors and have them get billed for calling me.


Also, how does it work when people call from cell phones that offer free long distance in the US (verizon etc), are they still billed for not having a 556 prefix?

Thanks!

BTW, running MJ on a 2009 mac mini, net gear router, set up was a breeze and all working great!

[maine-iac]

Call your local phone company and ask them if the 864-556-xxxx is a local call for your neighbor and others in the area.

As far as cell phones are concerned, I imagine that would be up to the individual's cell phone plan. If they have free long distance in the US, they should be able to call any number.

[jonclayton]

Thanks.. let me try to rephrase a little... my local phone company list 556 as a local call but according to MJ no matter what, if the number calling me is not a 556.. .they will be charged.


for those of you using MJ who have friends/family locally calling you, but without the same prefix as you... are they being charged any strange charges for calling your number?

[hsweiss]

In most areas, the local calling prefixes can be found in the front of the White Pages. There you should be able to find your prefix and all the other prefixes that can make a local call to reach you.

I believe that the MJ tech folks are just plain un-informed. If someone in the same area code with the same prefix calls you, its going to be a local call. Heck, my MJ is registered to the 718 area code with a prefix that comes up on caller ID as Queens NY. My family in Brooklyn NY can call me MJ number (from entirely different 718 prefixes) as local calls - no problem and no long distance or toll charges.

[cdwaldron]

The above responders are correct. MJ support has no idea what they are talking about. Call the local phone provider . They would be the ones charging LD, not MJ. ANytime you can 7 digit dial it is not long distance.

[jonclayton]

Thanks. this is what i suspected. I was starting to think that by the way they described it, maybe they had some deal with the phone company to make money off people calling "locally" without the same prefix. I thought it seemed sketchy to be able to bill someone for long distance if they were able to call with the 7 digit number.



I am going to start using this as a regular number now. Thanks!

I think I am still a little skeptical of how the company can make money selling a product this cheap. I am always suspecting there to be some catch, but as of now I am very happy with it.

Is there any truth to the MJ client causing pop up ad's / acting as spyware?

thanks everyone

[CALIDVA]

Hey guy's I'm trying to call the Philippines. Is there anybody out there who can help me or guide me on how to call Philippines???????

[maine-iac]

It helps to know what number you want to call to start with.