Looking for ways to conserve on overseas calls? Consider this amazing gadget
If you’ve pondered ditching your landline or cellphone because of exorbitant phone bills, MagicJack may be the ultimate gadget for you. It’s an unassuming cigarette lighter-sized plug-and-play USB telephony device that offers unlimited local and long distance calling within the U.S. and Canada (international dialing expected by the end of the year). You’ll be surprised with how easy it is to use and the quality it provides for only a one-time fee of PhP 4,800.
Installation is simple: plug the 0.9-ounce magicJack into a USB port on a Windows-powered PC or a Mac OS X and about 3 minutes later the bundled software is automatically loaded. After registering the device and receiving a personal MagicJack phone number, you can start begin making landline or cellphone calls. Users who wish to forgo a traditional handset can opt to use a cordless phone.
You can also use the MagicJack to make calls using your PC, whether you’re at home or on the road. Dial using the keyboard or an onscreen keypad, and you can talk using either a headset or your computer’s built-in microphone and speaker.
The overall voice quality is good: better than most cell phones but not quite on par with true landlines. Users have reported an occasional crackle and pop, but there have been no frequent encounters of dropped calls on several tests. This level of quality and stability is said to be attributed to MagicJack’s proprietary network, which maintains a solid, reliable connection that the company claims cannot be achieved on traditional VoIP channels.
MagicJack doesn’t skimp on features either; it comes packed with all the amenities you’d expect from a phone service, including voicemail (you can receive messages even when you’re offline and just download from your email and play as an music file), caller ID, call waiting and call forwarding.
Priced at a reasonable one-time fee of PhP 4,800, MagicJack comes with a year’s worth of service. You’ll only need to pay an annual fee of $20 (around P900) after the first year of successful registration. Although it’s designed for use with a single phone line and your PC has to be turned on to use it, the magicJack is a fine way to cut your monthly telephone bill without making too many tradeoffs.
To view specs: pls check
http://gadgetgrocery.com/MagicJack.html
July 28th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Can other land lines in the U.S or other countries call in to this phone? If yes, will there be a telephone number assigned for other phones to call?
July 31st, 2008 at 7:25 am
Yes. Each MagicJack unit has a designated phone number. As long as the user is online, the number stays active.
Like the one I’m using, I have a US number that’s been set-up under the state of California. So as long as I’m logged with the magicjack plugged in, I can receive incoming calls through my assigned California number.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
what is the warranty coverage? repair how long is the period of coverage? etc.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Hi Jozel,
Thats 1 yr warranty.
Sam
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:04 am
In general I find it to be reliable, but I have heard complaints about it as well. One thing to remember is if your computer is already running poorly so to will the phone service, but, the money you save can certainly pay for a new computer. I also eliminated my cable television bill and receive over 1000 channels over my computer, which I then connected to my tv. The quality is the same as my cable tv or even better.