....about this product. It sounds amazing so I ordered one to check it out. What I'm worried about is this:
I've been reading articles about this device and I see that some people say that they use Magic Jack as their primary home phone and they never have any problems. I also have read that using this device as your main home phone is not a good idea. I use high-speed cable as my internet connection, I use WindowsXP Home Edition and my computer is left on 24/7. It's not connected to any televisions or anything else in the house. So, why would I have any problems at all while using with this device as my main home phone?
Thanks for listening.
I'm very curious....
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HendersonMike
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I considered the same and here is a couple of reasons:
1. if the machine locks up or you need to reboot for any reason, you lose your connection. how about the scenario that you are having a computer problem (not magic jack issue) and your online with the tech for some time and part of the help required you reboot your machine. Has happened to me twice since getting magic jack.
2. If you lose power you have no phone service -- we lose power here sometimes for various reasons. Of course, you can use your cell...
3. I have had this land line for quite some time and people are used to my phone number and I am not yet ready to move my phone number over to magic jack.
4. Magic Jack is a startup and while they appear to be soaring currently, there is no guarantee they will be in business in say two years. getting rid of your home line and/or moving the phone number over is a risk which could be a pain to 'fix' should magicjack disappear for whatever reason.
5. The main reason I have a land line (which prevents me from going to any voip solution except for perhaps Comcast phone which I won't do) is that I have a house alarm system I put in over 15 years ago (at some cost) with ADT and ADT says very clearly they are not compatible with most VOIP solutions and so if I get rid of my land line I would either no longer have my alarm monitored since it will not dial -- or I have to replace my equipment and provider (which then loses the financial advantage of going to MJ to save money).
Now there is an increasing trend to go cell phones exclusively and as the unlimited prices come down from $100/mo, it will become more and more appealing to get rid of land lines totally and devices like MJ will become less appealing and perhaps of interest only in those areas where there is Internet but no cell services or outside the US where Internet costs are either free (provides by Hotel) or less expensive than phone costs (though it was pretty cheap with calling cards bought locally last summer when I was in Peru -- though that doesn't account for easy of use for incoming phone calls).
Anyhow, some food for thought.
1. if the machine locks up or you need to reboot for any reason, you lose your connection. how about the scenario that you are having a computer problem (not magic jack issue) and your online with the tech for some time and part of the help required you reboot your machine. Has happened to me twice since getting magic jack.
2. If you lose power you have no phone service -- we lose power here sometimes for various reasons. Of course, you can use your cell...
3. I have had this land line for quite some time and people are used to my phone number and I am not yet ready to move my phone number over to magic jack.
4. Magic Jack is a startup and while they appear to be soaring currently, there is no guarantee they will be in business in say two years. getting rid of your home line and/or moving the phone number over is a risk which could be a pain to 'fix' should magicjack disappear for whatever reason.
5. The main reason I have a land line (which prevents me from going to any voip solution except for perhaps Comcast phone which I won't do) is that I have a house alarm system I put in over 15 years ago (at some cost) with ADT and ADT says very clearly they are not compatible with most VOIP solutions and so if I get rid of my land line I would either no longer have my alarm monitored since it will not dial -- or I have to replace my equipment and provider (which then loses the financial advantage of going to MJ to save money).
Now there is an increasing trend to go cell phones exclusively and as the unlimited prices come down from $100/mo, it will become more and more appealing to get rid of land lines totally and devices like MJ will become less appealing and perhaps of interest only in those areas where there is Internet but no cell services or outside the US where Internet costs are either free (provides by Hotel) or less expensive than phone costs (though it was pretty cheap with calling cards bought locally last summer when I was in Peru -- though that doesn't account for easy of use for incoming phone calls).
Anyhow, some food for thought.
Have a great day,
Joel
Joel