Product Review:  MagicJack

I purchased my MagicJack at Wal-Mart for $39.95.  The breakdown goes like this:  You are paying $20 for the device itself and $19.95 for one year of MagicJack phone service.   You can also go to their website and get a free 30-day trial. 

 Put simply, MagicJack is a small device that you plug into your computer’s USB port; plug any phone into it or use your computer key pad, speakers and microphone, and viola!! You have a phone line!  You must however, have high speed internet service to use the Magic Jack.  Some of the features MagicJack offers that are included in the $19.95 yearly cost are Free local and long distance calling anywhere in the United States and Canada, Free voice mail and Free directory assistance.  The MagicJack offers a very low cost solution for those willing to put up with some inconsistency and inconvenience.

Installation of the device is as easy as it gets.  When you plug it in for the first time, the MagicJack software automatically loads and prompts you to register. After that, the installer asks for an e-mail address, sends a confirmation message, and you choose a phone number.  The MagicJack software provides an onscreen soft phone, consisting of a touchpad in the center of the screen, a contacts memory, caller ID feature, and special buttons for voice mail, redial, and 411.  It also has links to the weather channel online and Yahoo.   Another feature I like is that it gives you the ability to accept or ignore a call.  When you are receiving a call, a prompt appears on the computer screen to “accept” or “ignore”.  If you ignore, it sends the call straight to voice mail.  Great for screening those unwanted solicitors!

After setup, I was immediately able to start making and receiving calls.  The quality was fine and my MagicJack operated entirely as advertised.

When a call comes in, you answer as you would with any phone. Note that in order to make or receive calls, your computer must be on; if it is hibernating, or in standby mode the service directs your incoming calls to voice mail. 

One of the problems with this device comes in when you install it on a computer that isn’t running optimally.  The MagicJack requires a large portion of your computer’s resources to run.   If you’re running any other programs that also require a lot of resources, the programs might not play nice together.  Some of the problems I’ve experienced with my MagicJack are poor sound quality, the call being interrupted as if being disconnected, then reconnecting, intermittent silence, calls being completely disconnected, calls not coming through, unable to make a call and settings issues.  Most of these were one time issues, or at the most an infrequent nuisance, with the exception of poor sound quality.   The majority of the time, the sound is crystal clear, but if you are calling a cell phone you will likely get echoes or choppy sound and even with land lines, occasionally you will have these same issues.   Some of the problems, like settings, I have been able to troubleshoot on my own and remedy using the MagicJack website’s troubleshooting page.  Sometimes I can just re-boot my computer and the MagicJack magically works again!   I have also had to use the “live chat” feature to remedy other problems, like being unable to make or receive a call.  The “live chat” feature is practically the only option you have for customer service as no customer service phone number appears on MagicJack’s website, which is troubling. 

Overall, I feel that the MagicJack delivers a decent service for the money.  I would not recommend that anyone rely on it for their primary phone line, but as a secondary line to save minutes on your cell or make long distance calls, it is definitely a good value.

Click the link below to get your free 30 day trial!