4. magicJack VoIP phone

2015-03-17: MagicJack [MJ] device offers VoIP phone with unlimited calls to USA and Canada, i.e. good at low yearly fee. However there is a catch that many users have been complained about. MJ blocked calls to local phone numbers used by calling card, and they excused that the calling flatforms charged them. This was the reason that many phone users would keep their local phone even at higher monthly fee, i.e. convenient. MJ wanted to sell their prepaid minutes, but at what rates?

- call to VN charged around $0.02/minute by prepaid calling card, but MJ charged $0.165/minute or more. Their prepaid minutes also expired after 6 months, i.e. not like having an account to deposit money in for ad-hoc use - extremely unthinker for extremely high rates and ripping others off. No wonder why my cousin kept his local phone even I gave him an MJ device.
-> If I open a business like MJ, I would lower rates, e.g. $0.03/minute long distance call to VN, but user would be able to purchase prepaid minutes and save in their account until depleted, i.e. no expire date for prepaid minutes. This way users would buy prepaid minutes and don't have to worry about using all prepaid minutes as they did in a calling card, i.e. without admin fee and connection fee. The prepaid minutes in the account would expire if users cancelled their subscription, i.e. remove reliability of the company as carrying debts [prepaid money in the account].
-> Sometimes we couldn't offer lowest rates like prepaid calling card companies, but shouldn't be too high. Users could compare.

* One day I'd get rid of my MJ devices, too. That's how normal people pick their choices. No wonder why the renewal rates were low. My shares of CALL sucks.

* MJack offered low yearly fees, but they've ripped off consumers with other stuff.

* MJ must know who are their customers. Low fee VoIP? High income earners would subscribe to tens of mobile phones in a house with full voice and data features. Anyway this was why magicJack customers did́n't get any commercial calls.
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2014-11-25

I like Magic Jack (MJ) devices, which is a VoIP [Internet] phone, for its call plans and same high quality as other VoIP providers like Vonage, Videotron, Rogers, Cogeco, etc.

Currently MJ devices was sold at Walmart, BestBuy, The Sources, and its web sites. I've bought 11 devices from its web services.

1. Unlimited calls to USA and Canada from anywhere. As long as we have Internet connection. The MJ device is small and portable.

2. It could be connected to an Internet router or a PC's USB port.

3. 1-year call plan is US $35. It doesn't matter if it's in USD as long as it was clear for Canadian using CAD.

4. 5-year call plan is US $120.

5. Canadian phone number US $10/year.

6. US phone number is free

7. Using a cordless base connected to a MJ devices and other cordless phones spreading around a house provides convenient to users, i.e. pick up a phone at many places. Cellular phone is the only handset in house, i.e. you must run and search the phone to answer a phone ring.

8. MJ device provides basic call features like Caller ID display; voice mail; pinless conference is an additional feature for multiple party call instead of Conference Call; Call Waiting and Call Forwarding.

9. Same quality as other VoIP phone providers in the markets.

10. You can connect MJ device to the USB port of a lap top with WiFi connection to make a free phone call to USA and Canada. This is usefull when you travel and visit a place, which offers free WiFi.
-> Btw, I am not sure if you could use PC's microphone and speaker, otherwise you'd need a portable handset connected to the MJ device.

11. MagicApp is good for calling to any phone number in USA and Canada using either WiFi or Cellular data. However user does not like one thing, i.e. they could not receive a phone call. Other apps with installation on both devices could receive a call, but they could not call any number in USA and Canada like MagicJack.
-> Actually user could call a MJ App with "My Number" including "*" from a magicJack device. It looked weird, probably that's why user didn't know.
-> Otherwise (inconvenient steps):
You can use this number for magicJack to magicJack calls or have others call you from anywhere, like so:
• First dialing the access number:
1-305-848-TALK (1-305-848-8255).
• After the prompt, enter the magicNumber
including the asterisks/stars, like so: 01234567 [Google editor
removed the stars * before and after the number 01234567]

12. MJ App on the iPhone should allow user to prioritize protocols to use, e.g. WiFi [free] first, then Cellular data later if the first one failed. Btw, I don't like use Apple's iPhone or like their design.

13. MagicJack GO latest device offers users to get called MJ device phone and MJ App phone ring at the same time. This is a good feature for singles, who don't want to miss any phone call to their MJ device or a cellular phone [in this case their MJ App].

14. MJ web site should specify fees or charges in USD. Btw, Canadians are using the same web site. It didn't matter to me, but it may to others.

15. Those 11 MJ devices that I've bought were used in Canada, USA, and Viet Nam. Voice quality was very good as compared to other VoIP phones.

16. Speakers of cordless phones are good, thus I could chat and use my computer at the same time. I like Panasonic cordless phones and AT&T cordless phones.

17. A family with kids would need an inexpensive home phone like MJ device unless they out fit each kid with a cellular phone. Btw, we could connect several MJ devices into an Internet router, i.e. several phone numbers in a house. I did with 2 MJ devices once, and it worked.
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* magicJack device coupled with multiple cordless phones and low yearly fees for long distance [Canada and USA] could compete easily with local phone companies as well as single cellular handset.

* I have several cordless phones for a magicJack in my house. I have used VoIP from Rogers, Vonage, and magicJack I found that MJ voice quality is very good.