MagicJack Good Enough 4 Your Only Phone?
Moderators: Pilot, Bill Smith
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- magicJack Apprentice
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:37 pm
- Location: West Coast Florida
- Contact:
MagicJack Good Enough 4 Your Only Phone?
I currently use Vonage for my home and have been pretty happy with them.
Now along comes MagicJack offering phone service for $20 a year!
Is MagicJack safe enough to cancel your current phone service and make the jump?
What do you think? Take the poll and share your thoughts.
Now along comes MagicJack offering phone service for $20 a year!
Is MagicJack safe enough to cancel your current phone service and make the jump?
What do you think? Take the poll and share your thoughts.
IMO, no one should depend on MJ (or any other VoIP service) as their only phone, because it may be unavailable when needed in an emergency.
If you don't have a family at home, have no serious health problems, and cellular coverage is good inside your house, you may decide that your cell phone is an adequate backup. Otherwise, get the least expensive landline. In most of the US, you can get a "low-use", "lifeline" or "basic" phone line for about $5.50/mo. When you add in the ~$6.50 in fees and taxes, it comes to about $12/mo. This is cheap insurance. Not only does it give you reliable access to 911, but it's also an additional line you can use for incoming or toll-free calls. With an AT&T, MCI, or Sprint prepaid card from Costco or Sam's, you can make calls for $0.02/min., e.g. when your other lines are in use, or when your Internet connection is down. If you ever need to connect a fax, Tivo, modem, etc., a landline works really well.
Even if you have a landline, keep a cell phone handy. An intruder may cut the lines before entering your home, or a fire that starts in the basement may disable the phones before it's detected. Of course, in case of fire, you should get yourself and your loved ones out of the house before calling 911.
If you have a home security system, a landline is usually more reliable than VoIP, but also consider cellular backup, for the reasons mentioned above.
If you don't have a family at home, have no serious health problems, and cellular coverage is good inside your house, you may decide that your cell phone is an adequate backup. Otherwise, get the least expensive landline. In most of the US, you can get a "low-use", "lifeline" or "basic" phone line for about $5.50/mo. When you add in the ~$6.50 in fees and taxes, it comes to about $12/mo. This is cheap insurance. Not only does it give you reliable access to 911, but it's also an additional line you can use for incoming or toll-free calls. With an AT&T, MCI, or Sprint prepaid card from Costco or Sam's, you can make calls for $0.02/min., e.g. when your other lines are in use, or when your Internet connection is down. If you ever need to connect a fax, Tivo, modem, etc., a landline works really well.
Even if you have a landline, keep a cell phone handy. An intruder may cut the lines before entering your home, or a fire that starts in the basement may disable the phones before it's detected. Of course, in case of fire, you should get yourself and your loved ones out of the house before calling 911.
If you have a home security system, a landline is usually more reliable than VoIP, but also consider cellular backup, for the reasons mentioned above.
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- MagicJack User
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:27 pm
I don't have 100% confidence in MJ reliability yet. So I still keep Vonage until MJ reliability becomes more stable. I bought the MJ mainly for traveling needs, esp. when traveling overseas.
On a side note, when I called in to cancel, Vonage lowered my bill to 14.99 a month until the end of the year, gave me 3 months free, and gave me a refurb. Motorola VT2442 at an unlockable firmware version. So I unlocked the VT2442 with Cyt 3.5 before calling in to activate. Of course Vonage couldn't provision it because the admin password, provisioning path, provisioning server, etc. had been changed. I played dumb and followed the tech support instructions until they gave me the factory default password. AhHa! Gotcha! At this point I just did a factory reset to restore all provisioning parameters and it was provisioned automatically by Vonage. With the factory admin password handy, I can unlock my VT2442 any time I want, at whatever firmware version.
On a side note, when I called in to cancel, Vonage lowered my bill to 14.99 a month until the end of the year, gave me 3 months free, and gave me a refurb. Motorola VT2442 at an unlockable firmware version. So I unlocked the VT2442 with Cyt 3.5 before calling in to activate. Of course Vonage couldn't provision it because the admin password, provisioning path, provisioning server, etc. had been changed. I played dumb and followed the tech support instructions until they gave me the factory default password. AhHa! Gotcha! At this point I just did a factory reset to restore all provisioning parameters and it was provisioned automatically by Vonage. With the factory admin password handy, I can unlock my VT2442 any time I want, at whatever firmware version.
- Jacksondale
- MagicJack Expert
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:02 pm
I intend to use it as my only phone line. I have a decent cell that has good service inside my home. My only complaint is my internet service (TWC) has been spotty ever since lightning struck a hub in our area several months ago. However that isn't a MJ problem and TWC is aware of our problem but just hasn't been able to resolve it yet. I really don't need a fax line or security service so those are non-issues for me. Of course, I just got it in January so I'm still really testing it but so far so good. 

I have used MJ for the last two months as my only phone service with almost zero problems. Of course, I have a cell phone with the VirginMobile $5.41 (tax included) per month plan, for emergency and additional service. This brings my total yearly telephone bill to $84.91. I am single, with no family at home, so I am "clam" happy with my arrangement.
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- MagicJack Newbie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:56 pm
- Location: Dirty South
Buh-Bye , Windstream!
I ported my business line to my cellfone and cancelled my residential service and DSL after getting a huge rate increase. They asked why I was leaving and I told them that their competition was cheaper. They would only offer a $5 reduction for 6 months to get me to stay. I got internet service added to my cable service from our local city utility department at $11.50 cheaper than the phone company. My total savings per month is about $116. With MagicJack I don't have to be afraid to use the long distance. It sure is quiet around here without all of those telemarketer calls. 

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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am
IN CANADA
I got my MagicJack a few hours ago - and I am going to cancel my landline ASAP!
I live alone, have a cell phone, and used my landline mostly for dial-up internet, and incoming telemarketing calls.
last month:
The only drawback is that I don't have a local telephone number, so my friends can't call me (because they're all being overcharged by the local companies). But I'm willing to live with that, and as soon as I tell everybody I know to get MJ, they can call me whenever they like!
I live alone, have a cell phone, and used my landline mostly for dial-up internet, and incoming telemarketing calls.
last month:
- local landline: $45/month
dial-up internet: $20/month
long distance plan: $5/month
TOTAL: $70/month $840/year
- highspeed internet: $60/month
MagicJack: $20/year
TOTAL: $740/year
The only drawback is that I don't have a local telephone number, so my friends can't call me (because they're all being overcharged by the local companies). But I'm willing to live with that, and as soon as I tell everybody I know to get MJ, they can call me whenever they like!
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:38 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: IN CANADA
What is dialup? some kind of ancient fossel or something? lol j/kcouch-potato wrote:I got my MagicJack a few hours ago - and I am going to cancel my landline ASAP!
I live alone, have a cell phone, and used my landline mostly for dial-up internet, and incoming telemarketing calls.
last month:now:
- local landline: $45/month
dial-up internet: $20/month
long distance plan: $5/month
TOTAL: $70/month $840/yearIt's not a huge financial savings, but I love that I have high-speed internet now, and I am so glad to cut the strings to the socialist telco monopoly.
- highspeed internet: $60/month
MagicJack: $20/year
TOTAL: $740/year
The only drawback is that I don't have a local telephone number, so my friends can't call me (because they're all being overcharged by the local companies). But I'm willing to live with that, and as soon as I tell everybody I know to get MJ, they can call me whenever they like!

I have a cell phone, magicjack is my home phone, nothing can go wrong... i really dont need a home phone since i have a cell but for $20 bucks a year its like nothing really... i can skip one night a year without dinner so i can pay for me MJ lol
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am
Yes I have been stuck in the stone-age.
I live in Saskatchewan - which is a pretty backwards place when it comes to telecommunications - check out the prices I've been paying.
I also live on a farm - with no high speed internet access until recently. Unfortunately, as soon as there are leaves on the trees it won't work anymore - but I'm willing to cut down a few trees when the time comes.
I live in Saskatchewan - which is a pretty backwards place when it comes to telecommunications - check out the prices I've been paying.
I also live on a farm - with no high speed internet access until recently. Unfortunately, as soon as there are leaves on the trees it won't work anymore - but I'm willing to cut down a few trees when the time comes.
$60.00 a month for broadband internet? What a rip-off! Cox here in Omaha charges $56.95 for a 12 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload bandwidth, and that's in US dollars (ironically enough, a US dollar is worth less than a Canadian dollar these days).
I already feel ripped off paying Qwest $26.99 a month for DSL. When I was living in Orange County, California, I paid only $14.95 a month for DSL.
I already feel ripped off paying Qwest $26.99 a month for DSL. When I was living in Orange County, California, I paid only $14.95 a month for DSL.
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am
I have no idea what the difference is between broadband, DSL, and cable.dukeomaha wrote:$60.00 a month for broadband internet? What a rip-off! Cox here in Omaha charges $56.95 for a 12 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload bandwidth, and that's in US dollars (ironically enough, a US dollar is worth less than a Canadian dollar these days).
I already feel ripped off paying Qwest $26.99 a month for DSL. When I was living in Orange County, California, I paid only $14.95 a month for DSL.
I have wireless internet, in that there is a tower 10 miles away that communicates with an antenna on my roof, and a line that goes from the antenna and plugs into my computer. I have 1 Mbps download and 256 kbps upload, but that is the only option available living in rural areas here. To me it's worth it, but I can't afford the landline anymore.
It's a good decision on your part to get rid of the landline.
I suggest you also get yourself an ATA device and use it with Gizmoproject.com (get a Grandcentral DID# to forward to gizmo), Freedigits.com (Freedigits number is already a PSTN DID#), or freeworlddialup.com (Use IPKall or GroovyTel DID to forward to it).
You can signup for Grandcentral here (do it while the link is still good): http://www.grandcentral.com/home/blogger_invite
All of those are free.
MJ call quality can be intolerable at times, so having more than one Voip solutions is safer than just relying on MJ.
With the free services I mentioned, you can make outgoing calls via Grand Central "click2call" also.
I suggest you also get yourself an ATA device and use it with Gizmoproject.com (get a Grandcentral DID# to forward to gizmo), Freedigits.com (Freedigits number is already a PSTN DID#), or freeworlddialup.com (Use IPKall or GroovyTel DID to forward to it).
You can signup for Grandcentral here (do it while the link is still good): http://www.grandcentral.com/home/blogger_invite
All of those are free.
MJ call quality can be intolerable at times, so having more than one Voip solutions is safer than just relying on MJ.
With the free services I mentioned, you can make outgoing calls via Grand Central "click2call" also.
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am
Thanks for all the info, I will check it out, but I think many of the services will not be available in Canada. Even if they are, I probably won't be able to get a local number for friends to call me, but I'll try.dukeomaha wrote:It's a good decision on your part to get rid of the landline.
I suggest you also get yourself an ATA device and use it with Gizmoproject.com (get a Grandcentral DID# to forward to gizmo), Freedigits.com (Freedigits number is already a PSTN DID#), or freeworlddialup.com (Use IPKall or GroovyTel DID to forward to it).
I dropped he local phone company and kept their dsl service. It's $36.00 a month and just as soon as my contract with them is up next year I'll drop that and go to cable to get twice the speed for about $5.00 more a month. Magic Jack is the only phone I need but I have a cell with a pre-paid plan if needed but what emergency would there be? I have the pc on all the time and if it broke I'd have it running again by the next day. I did add the Hawking HH1 broadband booster so the calls are even better then before with the land line.
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- Dan Should Pay Me
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- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:36 pm
- Contact:
Some interesting opinions have been voiced here ...
1) As I heard someone say on here somewhere, "MJ is not yet ready for prime time" -- I forget which post it was.
i.e., Beta-level service (still!), Zero Support/Communication (from a "Phone Company" no less), constant tinkering w/ Servers leading to downtime (presumably to improve service), frequent touch-tone sounds during a call (sometimes causing certain actions from the system you are calling)
2) No official support for ATA
3) No official Linux support
4) Privacy Protection: Not so sure it is that good and I am not so sure I want to provide CC info for Int'l Calling given that.
BUT,
1) It has improved quite a bit since July '07
2) It has REAL promise and potential (I just want to see it go from Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy)
3) This concept (I hope) has put ALL other providers on their ear (esp. the big gluttonous "Bells")
You may not believe this but I REALLY want MJ to succeed -- it has already done a lot in just existing.
Right now IMHO, it is best as part of a SUITE of VOIP/Cell/etc Services hidden behind something like GrandCentral or RingCentral. i.e., Redundancy, Failover, Load Balancing, and Uptime (assuming GC or RC don't take a crap)
PS: As much as I would love to have a analog/landline as a "backup", I am not willing to pay another CENT to Local Telco (or have my privacy breached by being listed in the public phone book or Internet phonebooks or Google).
1) As I heard someone say on here somewhere, "MJ is not yet ready for prime time" -- I forget which post it was.
i.e., Beta-level service (still!), Zero Support/Communication (from a "Phone Company" no less), constant tinkering w/ Servers leading to downtime (presumably to improve service), frequent touch-tone sounds during a call (sometimes causing certain actions from the system you are calling)
2) No official support for ATA
3) No official Linux support
4) Privacy Protection: Not so sure it is that good and I am not so sure I want to provide CC info for Int'l Calling given that.
BUT,
1) It has improved quite a bit since July '07
2) It has REAL promise and potential (I just want to see it go from Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy)
3) This concept (I hope) has put ALL other providers on their ear (esp. the big gluttonous "Bells")
You may not believe this but I REALLY want MJ to succeed -- it has already done a lot in just existing.
Right now IMHO, it is best as part of a SUITE of VOIP/Cell/etc Services hidden behind something like GrandCentral or RingCentral. i.e., Redundancy, Failover, Load Balancing, and Uptime (assuming GC or RC don't take a crap)
PS: As much as I would love to have a analog/landline as a "backup", I am not willing to pay another CENT to Local Telco (or have my privacy breached by being listed in the public phone book or Internet phonebooks or Google).
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- Dan Should Pay Me
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- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:36 pm
- Contact:
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am
MJ is not good enough for my only phone - however that doesn't mean I need a landline.
I know lots of people that have cellular as their only phone service - no landline.
I have a cell and a MJ - no landline.
I would not recommend that anyone use MJ as their only phone - however I think everyone should get MJ - at the very least just for long distance!
I know lots of people that have cellular as their only phone service - no landline.
I have a cell and a MJ - no landline.
I would not recommend that anyone use MJ as their only phone - however I think everyone should get MJ - at the very least just for long distance!
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:14 pm
- Location: proxy1.nashville.talk4free.com
Nashvillekumar wrote: WTF, what area are you in?
Peace
kUmar
I found a some info here and there seems to be some confusion on whether it was six months promo, but others at that link will agree, and my flyer clearly says EVERYDAY LOW PRICE. It doesnt go up. Its a 768/384 speed internet package plus voip for $49.90
In Wa., the Comcast price is $44.00 a month for 8 mb, if you already have Comcast cable which I do. I think it's about 20 more if you don't. Right now I pay Qwest $36.00 a month for dsl to go alot slower, 1.5 mbpm.-so for 8 more bucks I can go much faster. I first need to let my 2 year "price for life" contract expire, next year. Otherwise they will charge me a $200.00 fee for quitting the contract early. My advice is never do the contact thing or pay for anything too far in the future like MJ. You never know what deal awaits down the road. These communication companies are scrambling for our bucks and business and the ball is in our corner finally.
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- MagicJack Contributor
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:05 pm
- Location: San Diego
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:36 pm
- Location: Henderson, Nevada state, usA
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- MagicJack Newbie
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:58 am
i use vonage for my primary.
I have 2 cells I carry, then the other 2 people in my house carry cells
i added 2 magic jacks for outgoing calls....
vonage set to simulring to cell 2
cell 1 also has data plan for lappy, and on different service than the other cell plans in the house
i run a small business, and need multiple lines.
this poll dont have the option I need..... so i did not vote.
I would never rely on magic jack as my primary, but i do rely on voip and cells.
total = 6 lines, and I love it.
You could not pay me to have a land line. expensive, and no more reliable than voip, especially if you have cordless phones. afterall what good is a cordless phone if the base is off...
therefore I have came to the conclusion is a cell is the most reliable phone to have, voip is second.
I have 2 cells I carry, then the other 2 people in my house carry cells
i added 2 magic jacks for outgoing calls....
vonage set to simulring to cell 2
cell 1 also has data plan for lappy, and on different service than the other cell plans in the house
i run a small business, and need multiple lines.
this poll dont have the option I need..... so i did not vote.
I would never rely on magic jack as my primary, but i do rely on voip and cells.
total = 6 lines, and I love it.
You could not pay me to have a land line. expensive, and no more reliable than voip, especially if you have cordless phones. afterall what good is a cordless phone if the base is off...
therefore I have came to the conclusion is a cell is the most reliable phone to have, voip is second.
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- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:14 pm
- Location: proxy1.nashville.talk4free.com
I pay comcast $12.72 for just the basic limited cable service (for picture quality) cause I dont watch any TV.... just wanted it for PBS for my kids.saxman wrote:In Wa., the Comcast price is $44.00 a month for 8 mb, if you already have Comcast cable which I do. I think it's about 20 more if you don't. Right now I pay Qwest $36.00 a month for dsl to go alot slower, 1.5 mbpm.-so for 8 more bucks I can go much faster. I first need to let my 2 year "price for life" contract expire, next year. Otherwise they will charge me a $200.00 fee for quitting the contract early. My advice is never do the contact thing or pay for anything too far in the future like MJ. You never know what deal awaits down the road. These communication companies are scrambling for our bucks and business and the ball is in our corner finally.
I pay AT&T $47.95 (no taxes or add on fees like you pay comcast I think) monthly for their DSL DIRECT service (no voice line - just MJ) XTREME 6.0 speed. Which is rated 6 meg down and 512 up. However my DSL modem states its set at 8040 downstream and the AT&T guy says they configure it at 8.0 meg down so they can hit their 6.0 speed. I have hit in the 700's on download more than once but its usually stable in the 600's. I love my DSL over Comcast in quality of the pipe and stability of the service. I was Comcast cable modem for many years and so not just saying this without experience.
Broadband Prices
$60.00 a month for broadband doesn't sound that bad. I live in the sticks and my DSL costs me $90.00 a month for 3 megs down 256 K up. Cable just came to the area and can do 10 megs down 1 meg up for $38.00 a month.
I was rate locked in a contract with the phone company for 3 years. (The contract ending in February of 2009.)Those idiots raised my rate to $107 in February, then $115 in March, then $99 in April.. Now May's billing is here and it is $102.00... LOL. A few weeks ago cable was offered. I just dumped DSL and went with the cable company. Cable company is triple the speed and 60% cheaper.
The phone company threatened they are going to force a $600 early termination fee on me. I think I have a case to get out of it. I called them twice a month since February and gave them 4 months to fix the billing problem... Which I think is more than fair.
They also threatened they are going to disconnect my land phone if I do not pay the early termination fee. SO... I am going to be one step ahead of them and tell them to disconnect and use Magic Jack until cable offers local telco service which is suppose to be late in the summer or early fall. I told the phone company if they try to collect, I will take it up with the state utility commission.
I already have a cell phone with reliable service.. I think MJ would be Ok for my house phone. I have not yet hooked up MJ.. Probably will tomorrow. I think it will work out very well. I tried Vonage.. I do not like automatic credit card billing. I never had any billing problems with Vonage, but other companies I have. If you are overcharged, your account is zapped, it takes months of fighting to get your money back. Until Vonage does paper statements, sends, or e-mails me a statement so I can approve of the charges before I send the money.. I will stay away from Vonage.. I don't care if its $5 more a month to do it that way.. That's the way I like to be billed..
Vonage nailed me with an activation fee and termination fee when I had the service. Overall Vonage was good and reliable. I just didn't like the way they billed, along with the activation and termination fees.
Thanks again.. Sorry to ramble.. LOL
I was rate locked in a contract with the phone company for 3 years. (The contract ending in February of 2009.)Those idiots raised my rate to $107 in February, then $115 in March, then $99 in April.. Now May's billing is here and it is $102.00... LOL. A few weeks ago cable was offered. I just dumped DSL and went with the cable company. Cable company is triple the speed and 60% cheaper.
The phone company threatened they are going to force a $600 early termination fee on me. I think I have a case to get out of it. I called them twice a month since February and gave them 4 months to fix the billing problem... Which I think is more than fair.
They also threatened they are going to disconnect my land phone if I do not pay the early termination fee. SO... I am going to be one step ahead of them and tell them to disconnect and use Magic Jack until cable offers local telco service which is suppose to be late in the summer or early fall. I told the phone company if they try to collect, I will take it up with the state utility commission.
I already have a cell phone with reliable service.. I think MJ would be Ok for my house phone. I have not yet hooked up MJ.. Probably will tomorrow. I think it will work out very well. I tried Vonage.. I do not like automatic credit card billing. I never had any billing problems with Vonage, but other companies I have. If you are overcharged, your account is zapped, it takes months of fighting to get your money back. Until Vonage does paper statements, sends, or e-mails me a statement so I can approve of the charges before I send the money.. I will stay away from Vonage.. I don't care if its $5 more a month to do it that way.. That's the way I like to be billed..

Thanks again.. Sorry to ramble.. LOL