New 4th Generation and Keeping Old Number News

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:29 pm

I looked for the 4th gen today and found them all over my part of Florida. WalMart, Office Depot and Best Buy. The Best Buy I bought my original device at last December had about 300 units then, and about 20 now. They are either selling a bunch of them or returned a bunch to MJ.

I took the plunge and bought a 4th gen, knowing I would have to pay for another year on December 31.

SURPRISE. They have changed their policy. I now have service with my OLD number until 11-03-2011. I would suggest going through their chat, so you have a record if something goes bad. I would also suggest getting bumped up to 10% chat as soon as you can since the first guy was pretty useless. The second one wasn't much better at first. They apparently make a distinction between porting your old number to the new device and registering your new device with your old number. I know, makes no sense, but following is that part of the chat.

Imarie: Transferring the old magicJack number to a new/replacement magicJack doesn't change the expiry date. It means that the new magicJack device with the old number will retain the old one's service or license. Is it okay?

Me: yes..I'm aware of that...thanks

Imarie: Please be informed that it will expire on 2010-12-31, is it okay?

Me: yes

Me: I would prefer to get a whole new year..but I knew I wouldn't

Imarie: you can have the same number and have free year if you register the device with the same phone number.

Me: I was told if I want to keep old number I would only have service until 12-31-10

Me: If I register the new one before 12-31-10

Imarie: Alright.

Imarie: Do you see on the dial pad 000-000-0000?

Me: Is that correct..or am I confused?

Imarie: That's correct.

Me: ok

Imarie: If you want to port your old number into the new device, you will have the device and it will expire on 2010-12-31

Imarie: But if you register the device under the same account with the same number, then you can avail the free one year of the new device.

Me: I guess I am confused..what's the difference in the 2 options?

Imarie: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.

Imarie: The difference is, on the first option to port your old number into the new device, it will expire on 2010-12-31. On the second option you will have the free one year of service with the same number. We have our new feature now to register the device with the same phone number during the registration process.

Imarie: You will see an option "I do not want a new number I will use the one of the numbers registered to my account".

Me: In the second option I still get to keep xxx-xxx-xxxx...but have service until when?

Imarie: If you register it now then you will have it until 11/3/2011

Me: that's better then

Me: and I keep my old number?

Imarie: I need to assist you and do this slowly.

Me: ok

Imarie: Yes.

Me: cool

Imarie: Okay.

Imarie: We need to do it step by step. Let me know once done and what do you see afterwards.

It worked. My contact list is there. My old number is there. I received my confirmation email almost immediately. And my account is showing 11-03-2011 as the expiration date. So if you are careful, there is no need to wait, you will only lose what year you have left, but get a full year.

Through that menu, they also are offering insurance for $1 a year. I said no, because it could be a sneaky way of getting account info for auto-renew. Plus the screen said you had to ship it back to them, which she tried to tell me wasn't the case, but 2 way shipping is $20, so forget it.

As far as quality? I use a portable phone that I blamed for picking up interference. Was getting some constant feedback. It's gone. My first test call was to someone I talked to right before switching out devices, and she said it sounded better and louder.

Only negative I've seen so far is it deleted my prior call list, but who gives a crap.

Nugrl · Post by **Nugrl** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:44 pm

YAY! I am so glad to hear this. So now I don't have to wait, but, I still need to find a 4th Gen MJ around here. Haven't been able to accomplish that yet. Wow, it would be so nice if all it takes to get me closer to landline quality would be a 4th Gen MJ.....

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:59 pm

Nugrl wrote:YAY! I am so glad to hear this. So now I don't have to wait, but, I still need to find a 4th Gen MJ around here. Haven't been able to accomplish that yet. Wow, it would be so nice if all it takes to get me closer to landline quality would be a 4th Gen MJ.....

Except for a side issue that has nothing to do with the MJ itself, I could not be happier. On the same trip I was looking for flash drives, just happened to go in OfficeDepot and they had a sale this week on 4GB for $10. Get home, and MJ finally gave me something good on top of that. Still would like to know what the difference is between porting your old MJ number to a new device and registering your new device with your old MJ number. Must be they push a different button on their end or something, but I wasn't going to argue. I'm still semi-stunned it worked out the way she said it would.

Nugrl · Post by **Nugrl** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:19 pm

so the call quality really is better then? without changing anything for the way you had your 3rd gen set up? right? I guess my search is going to have to continue then, because my time is drawing near. My 1st MJ expires Nov. 30th. So I really shouldn't be losing anytime then, I will still get my year, just like I renewed and hopefully have a better working device. Just going to cost me that extra $20 to buy the new device as opposed to just renewing my old one. I think I could live with that.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:27 pm

Nugrl wrote:so the call quality really is better then? without changing anything for the way you had your 3rd gen set up? right? I guess my search is going to have to continue then, because my time is drawing near. My 1st MJ expires Nov. 30th. So I really shouldn't be losing anytime then, I will still get my year, just like I renewed and hopefully have a better working device. Just going to cost me that extra $20 to buy the new device as opposed to just renewing my old one. I think I could live with that.

I did nothing but plug it in. Noticed a difference on my end. Difference was noticed on the other end. I'm sure issues will pop up, but so far so good. And yea, being so close to the end, IF you do it right, you will get a new year from the date you register it, only losing the time you had left. So only one year, no one year plus like it should be, but still better than what they were saying 2 weeks or so ago. And assuming they don't change their minds.

Nugrl · Post by **Nugrl** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:37 pm

nailgunner wrote:
Nugrl wrote:so the call quality really is better then? without changing anything for the way you had your 3rd gen set up? right? I guess my search is going to have to continue then, because my time is drawing near. My 1st MJ expires Nov. 30th. So I really shouldn't be losing anytime then, I will still get my year, just like I renewed and hopefully have a better working device. Just going to cost me that extra $20 to buy the new device as opposed to just renewing my old one. I think I could live with that.
I did nothing but plug it in. Noticed a difference on my end. Difference was noticed on the other end. I'm sure issues will pop up, but so far so good. And yea, being so close to the end, IF you do it right, you will get a new year from the date you register it, only losing the time you had left. So only one year, no one year plus like it should be, but still better than what they were saying 2 weeks or so ago. And assuming they don't change their minds.

ya, I sorta sounds like the conversation I had with them about a week ago. They told me I had 2 options and the 2nd option was the one you did. I just wasn't sure I could believe them. So I am glad you did it and it all worked out, so now I know what I have to do. I wonder what tsmith did, I think his was up today as a matter a fact.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:42 pm

nailgunner wrote: Except for a side issue that has nothing to do with the MJ itself, I could not be happier.

WRONG again. I guess I could be happier, because my side issue has already been cleared up. I use MagicFeatures, and when I tried to load it, my product key said it was already being used on another device.

Within 30 minutes, I posted a question on their forum, they sent me an email, and reset the key after I responded.

My only remaining problem was my contact list on MagicFeatures was gone, but I had saved it earlier, and it's all good. So if anyone uses Features, I would suggest saving the "MagicFeaturesPlugin$xxxxxxxxxx.ini" file for possible future use.

And another, even though it's getting redundant, thumbs up to PCPhoneSoft.

Nugrl · Post by **Nugrl** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:47 pm

nailgunner wrote:
nailgunner wrote: Except for a side issue that has nothing to do with the MJ itself, I could not be happier.
WRONG again. I guess I could be happier, because my side issue has already been cleared up. I use MagicFeatures, and when I tried to load it, my product key said it was already being used on another device.

Within 30 minutes, I posted a question on their forum, they sent me an email, and reset the key after I responded.

My only remaining problem was my contact list on MagicFeatures was gone, but I had saved it earlier, and it's all good. So if anyone uses Features, I would suggest saving the "MagicFeaturesPlugin$xxxxxxxxxx.ini" file for possible future use.

And another, even though it's getting redundant, thumbs up to PCPhoneSoft.

you could or couldn't be happier? so overall, do you think the 4th gen is a big improvement over the 3rd gen?

thanks, I will have to remember that about the Magicfeatures. I use it too. so if you save that .ini file, does that contain your contact list? or should I save it some other way?

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:47 pm

Nugrl wrote:
ya, I sorta sounds like the conversation I had with them about a week ago. They told me I had 2 options and the 2nd option was the one you did. I just wasn't sure I could believe them.

It looks like it can be done by yourself, but I would get a second tier chat person to do it with you. The first guy was clueless, he had me opening up all kinds of files looking for the serial number of the new unit. While I was waiting to be "transferred" I remembered the darn thing is on the MJ screen menu. And once I got it straight what my options were it took about 2 minutes to complete.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:52 pm

Nugrl wrote:
you could or couldn't be happier? so overall, do you think the 4th gen is a big improvement over the 3rd gen? thanks, I will have to remember that about the Magicfeatures. I use it too. so if you save that .ini file, does that contain your contact list? or should I save it some other way?

I was wrong that I couldn't be happier because I am happier.

I've only made 2 calls, but I'm sold.

Yea, the contact list is in there. Save it, open it in notepad to make sure you have the right one. I save mine in "documents" and just replace the new ini file with the one I saved.

Nugrl · Post by **Nugrl** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:00 pm

nailgunner wrote:
Nugrl wrote:
you could or couldn't be happier? so overall, do you think the 4th gen is a big improvement over the 3rd gen? thanks, I will have to remember that about the Magicfeatures. I use it too. so if you save that .ini file, does that contain your contact list? or should I save it some other way?
I was wrong that I couldn't be happier because I am happier.

I've only made 2 calls, but I'm sold.

Yea, the contact list is in there. Save it, open it in notepad to make sure you have the right one. I save mine in "documents" and just replace the new ini file with the one I saved.

well alrighty then, thank you for the heads up on that one. I don't have all that many names in the contact list, but it is a pain in the butt to type them all back in. I can't wait to see if a 4th gen will make it or break it on my end here, but like I said, I have yet to find one in any of the stores I checked around here. That was about a month ago, maybe, so hopefully someone around here finally got some 4th gens in.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:03 pm

nailgunner wrote: Yea, the contact list is in there. Save it, open it in notepad to make sure you have the right one. I save mine in "documents" and just replace the new ini file with the one I saved.

Have to amend this a little. In the past, I just had to replace the ini file, I think. This time the ini file looks the same but has a different name, so I changed it to what the ini file was that had blanks inside for the contact list, if that makes sense. They both started with $a078. I thought I just replaced it last time, but I may have deleted the new and copied in the old, that might work too.