Has anyone switched from Vonage (or any VOIP) to MagicJack?

[LanaJae]

The Magic Jack commercial got me this weekend, it looks outstanding and then I was even more convinced after I read the independent reviews.

We've been original Vonage customers. I've been very happy with Vonage (except for customer support). I prepaid a year in advance last May to save another 20%.

I ordered a unit, it's $39.99 for the first year, includes all local/long distance and $19.99 a year after that. It looks like number portability won't be available for a few more months and then it'll be a fee of around $10. You have to leave your computer on (or calls will go to voicemail), but according to the reviews, the sound quality is equal to land lines.

The only drawbacks to Vonage I can see are:

• leaving computer on
• can't transfer calls (I used to call someone for my dad and then transfer the call so he could use my long distance free)
• number portability (coming soon)
• transfer calls to cell phone (coming soon)
• must have cable/DSL only (same as Vonage)
• can't switch over all in-home phone jacks like I did with Vonage, but the new systems with one jack (that plugs into this unit) work just as well

The benefits (to me):

• take it anywhere
• can use bluetooth with the softphone feature so can use a headset if by computer (still can use any headset on a regular phone too)
• cost
• no taxes!

If anyone wants to check it out, the website is here: http://www.magicjack.com

The reviews are here: http://help.magicjack.com/SupportFaq/Home.aspx

The FAQ is here: http://help.magicjack.com/SupportFaq/Browse.aspx

I used a code for $2 off: mj532g

 

[LanaJae]

am bumping this hoping that someone has tried it and can tell us how good/bad it is

 

[bluedoggy]

I heard Clark Howard talking about this on his radio show earlier this week. I too was intrigued, and did some research through the website. I did order one, and it arrived today. Since there are no local area codes active right now in Wisconsin, I will wait a few weeks to activate it (they said at the company that we should have some active area codes in the next few weeks.) Clark Howard talked about how great it is, as he has been using it for awhile now. Even used it when he was in Hawaii at the hotel to make free calls.
I can see how this would be great for having as a replacement to a land-line, even for college kids. We have high-speed internet, so just plug it in and go. Just to be able to save $40-$60 / month on phone bills would make me smile... More money saved for Disney
Anyone have this and can give us some more feedback?????

 

[LanaJae]

I've had it for a little over a week now and I LOVE IT! Right now I am running both this and Vonage over our Comcast internet connection without a problem (along with 4 PCs, 2 TiVos, HD Cable TV).

It's as clear as a landline. The voicemail is kinda hokey, but liveable, and it sends you a .wav file of your voicemail in email (Vonage does too).

There is nothing to setting it up, you literally just plug it into a USB port on your PC and into a phone and it installs it's own software - you choose your number from the computer interface. I couldn't get a prefix for my town, but got one for a town about 8 miles from me. We're in a metro area so that didn't really matter anyway.

Wish we were going somewhere so I could try it in a hotel that had free high-speed internet.

 

[LanaJae]

The only drawbacks to Vonage I can see are:

• can't switch over all in-home phone jacks like I did with Vonage, but the new systems with one jack (that plugs into this unit) work just as well

This works!

These are the directions I followed when we switched all the in-wall phone jacks to Vonage: http://www.mi-telecom.org/distribute.html