Area Code Confusion ????
Moderators: Bill Smith, Pilot
Area Code Confusion ????
My area code is listed as available and in the frequently asked questions it states that anyone calling me from my area code will not be charged for a long distance from there phone company. The thing that I don't quite understand is that there are many location that are in my area code that are long distance calls through the phone company. Do the same phone company rules apply with MagicJack or is everyone in my area code regardless of there location considered a local call
There was a lengthy discussion about this in recent days in another thread. Essentially, MJ has no way to extend the local calling area. If it's long distance to call a land line from the originating location, then it'll be long distance to call your MJ number. No magic there.
What MJ and other VOIP services do is let you chose a number in a city that your friend/relatives can call as a local call. Then for them to call you, they just dial your "local" number. As long as it's normally a local call for them, it won't cost a thing.
I have a Manhattan NY number but live on the other side of the continent. For anyone for whom calling a Manhattan number is a local call, then they can reach me with just a local call.
PS. There is a ton of info on this forum to be unearthed with the search option, even discussions on what constitutes a local call.
What MJ and other VOIP services do is let you chose a number in a city that your friend/relatives can call as a local call. Then for them to call you, they just dial your "local" number. As long as it's normally a local call for them, it won't cost a thing.
I have a Manhattan NY number but live on the other side of the continent. For anyone for whom calling a Manhattan number is a local call, then they can reach me with just a local call.
PS. There is a ton of info on this forum to be unearthed with the search option, even discussions on what constitutes a local call.
Someone should email Dan and point that problem out to him. If he doesn't fix it, we could add it to the unofficial wiki page concerning MJ's "cons" (business practices).
Mark
See the MagicJack Wiki (FAQ, How-To, history and more).
Two options here. Option 1 is for people wanting to get a better understanding of what MJ's advertising means re: area codes. Option 2 is for those who are legally and technicality-minded wishing to right a wrong.
1. If you are unclear whether MJ will do the job of providing a "local" number for your friends and relatives, then read Vonages description which is clearer. If you understand Vonage's description then you'll be clear on what you can and cannot do with MJ as far as providing a local number.
"Vonage Virtual Number is a great added service to your Vonage plan. Do you have friends, family, business colleagues or customers in a particular city where you don't live? Simply add a Virtual Number and give them a local number to call you!"
Next step is your due diligence. Telephone companies publish which communities fall within their local calling areas. If your MJ number doesn't fall in the local calling area for your friends and family, then it's a long distance call for them to reach your MJ. Just check the front section of your phone book. I did this with my Manhattan 646 number to make sure relatives in the boroughs could call me free. My due diligence told me it's a local call anywhere among the boroughs that make up New York City. So I was set.
2. If people are so inclined, the second option is to lobby and expend energy to change MJ's advertising.
In my mind it was easier to just do due diligence on whether the product will do WHAT I NEED.
1. If you are unclear whether MJ will do the job of providing a "local" number for your friends and relatives, then read Vonages description which is clearer. If you understand Vonage's description then you'll be clear on what you can and cannot do with MJ as far as providing a local number.
"Vonage Virtual Number is a great added service to your Vonage plan. Do you have friends, family, business colleagues or customers in a particular city where you don't live? Simply add a Virtual Number and give them a local number to call you!"
Next step is your due diligence. Telephone companies publish which communities fall within their local calling areas. If your MJ number doesn't fall in the local calling area for your friends and family, then it's a long distance call for them to reach your MJ. Just check the front section of your phone book. I did this with my Manhattan 646 number to make sure relatives in the boroughs could call me free. My due diligence told me it's a local call anywhere among the boroughs that make up New York City. So I was set.
2. If people are so inclined, the second option is to lobby and expend energy to change MJ's advertising.
In my mind it was easier to just do due diligence on whether the product will do WHAT I NEED.
Thanks Tony
I checked with Verizon to check up on the calling plan I had and found out the prefixes in my area code that were local calls. The only thing left to do is find out if MJ has one avalible
Thanks for your help
Thanks for your help
Exactly. I am waiting patiently for new numbers to be made available in the 585 area code. Right now when I try to go and change my 585-xxx-xxxx phone number there are no 585 numbers at all available. I saw that faq also before getting my MJ. the way it stands now, somone who lives next door to me gets a long distance charge on their local phone company provided phone. I do want to know what the hold up is in getting more prefixes added in this area code. There are quite a few folks who live in and near the Rochester,NY area. And my sister and father were a bit upset with me when they got their phone bills with charges added for their calls to me.az2008 wrote:Someone should email Dan and point that problem out to him. If he doesn't fix it, we could add it to the unofficial wiki page concerning MJ's "cons" (business practices).
Mark