Magic Jack Phone Review - Is Magic Jack Legit Or A Scam?


Product Rating: 4.5

What Is magic Jack?
magicJack, in its most basic sense is a telephone service provided by VocalTec Communications. Generally used as a home phone service, it can also be used for business lines. The phone service runs over VocalTec's private VoIP network and can be used by anyone that has purchased one of their devices, has an active subscription, and a high-speed Internet connection. It provides subscribers with unlimited local and long distance calling to both the United States and Canada all for one low yearly fee of $29.95.

How Does magic Jack Work?
The service works pretty simply. First you will need to purchase one of the companies three devices - the original magicJack, magicJack Plus, or magicJack Plus 2014. The first generation device hooks directly into any computers USB port and requires a small software install in order to register the device and begin making calls. The second and third generation devices work by hooking them directly into any modem or router and an electrical outlet. Once the device is hooked up simply attach any regular telephone to the other end and you can begin making calls right away. Don't forget, a high-speed Internet connection is needed in order to use the service.

What Features Does The Service Come With?
It comes with unlimited local and long distance calling to anywhere in the United States or Canada for one low yearly fee. Standard features that come for free include everything you are use to getting from traditional land line providers. This includes caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, call forwarding, free conference calling, free 411 directory assistance, and much more.

How Much Does The Device Cost?
The original magicJack has been discontinued but it was originally sold for $39.99 for the device and one year of phone service. The second generation device, the magicJack Plus can be purchased for $50 (plus shipping and handling) which includes the device and one year of service. It is no longer available through the magicJack website but can still be purchased from various third party retailers online.

The newest device, the magicJack Plus 2014 can be purchased directly from the official company website for $49.95 and includes 6 months of free telephone service. All purchases comes with a 30-day risk free trial that allows for full no questions asked returns for any reason whatsoever.

How Much Does The Service Cost?
Regardless of which of the devices you are using, once your subscription is up you can renew for just $29.95 for one year or you can get a five year plan for just $99.75 ($19.95 per year). At a super low price of under $3 per month magicJack phone service is an amazing deal. The daily cost comes out to under $0.10 per day for a fully functioning home phone. Yep, its under a dime a day and a lot less than you are probably paying for your land line right now. Gone are the days of spending $50 per month for home phone service.

Can I Make International Calls With magicJack?
Yes you can make international calls but they are not free. In order to calls outside the U.S. and Canada you will have to purchase prepaid minutes. Although not free the company does provide very competitive and often times some of the cheapest international calling rates around.

Can I Keep My Old Number If I Switch To magicJack?
Most numbers can be ported over to the companies telephone service, although they do not guarantee that any and all numbers can be switched over. If you are thinking about getting magicJack and keeping your number is important to you then you should contact customer service before purchasing.

Can The Service Be Used With Smartphones?
Yes! VocalTec released the magicJack App in 2012 and it can be used for FREE with any IOS devices including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It can also be used with any Android devices and is expected to be coming to the Blackberry platform in the near future. Use of the service is super easy. Just download the app from iTunes or the Google Play Store and you can begin making calls within minutes. After download you can make calls instantly without a phone number or you can sign up for a free account and the app will automatically assign you a number. Current magicJack subscribers have the option to login to the app with their account which enables them to take their magicJack home phone number on the go with them. The company is expected to begin charging for use of the app sometime in 2014 along with adding additional features such as texting. Paying subscribers are expected to be able to use the app for free while current free users will be charged one super low yearly fee just like regular subscribers.

How Does The Service Work And How Is It So Cheap?
Magic Jack technology is simple; it takes any traditional land line phone call and re-routes it over the Internet via the companies dedicated VoIP server. The callers voice is transferred into data packages on one end, then sent through the network, and ultimately spit back out as the callers voice on the other end of the line. The result is that neither you nor the person you are calling will be able to tell any difference at all. In fact, nowadays voip voice quality has actually improved to the point where it is usually better than through traditional telephone lines. Speaking of telephone lines and infrastructure, that's where the cheap price comes in. Without the need for expensive lines stretching miles and miles across the country magicJack is able to keep its fixed costs down and in turn passes this along to the customer.

Does the Magic Jack Really Work?
YES! In fact, magicJack was the winner of the 2013 Frost & Sullivan North American Consumers' Choice Award as best overall VoIP service provider. Millions of individuals use the magic Jack each and every day, in fact the company says they have sold over 15 million devices, and there is a reason for that. The reason is simple, because the Magic Jack works, and very well. When the original device came out there were a lot of questions about its call quality but the VoIP industry as a whole has come a long way since it's release in 2007. With each subsequent device release the company has improved call quality by more than doubling the processor speed of the device and also adding various features such as HD Voice and Echo Control. The company also has and continues to pour money into its private dedicated VoIP network, with the aim at providing the best call quality possible.

What Do Users Have To Say?
In the past there were quite a few users that complained about technical difficulties and poor customer service. With a new CEO, new management, and a renewed focus on the customer the majority of these customer service issues are in the past. As far as technical difficulties go, most of them have been eliminated as a result of upgrades to the magicJack network along with the new devices that simply work better. When magicJack first came out voip technology was rather new and it has taken some time for companies to perfect to technology. The newer magicJack Plus 2014 not only provides better call quality but really ups it's game in regards to ease of you. Past devices required you to plug the device into your computer and go through a registration and install process but with this new device it's as simple as plug and play straight out of the box.

The biggest thing to remember when reading about the device is that the when any company has sold in the neighborhood of 15 million devices they are bound to have some complaints and unsatisfied customers. And we all know its always the unsatisfied customers that are going to complain, while the happy ones aren't even thinking twice about the service or that they should go and give it a glowing review.

Do You Have Any Reviews Submitted By Users That I Can Read?
Yes, we have a large number of reviews that have been submitted by email and also left in the comment section. We have listed several reviews here and suggested you scroll down to the bottom in order to see more in the comments.

Shawn said... 
"My father purchased a Magic Jack device a few years ago and my nephew brought it over and we tried it out. It worked the way it was supposed to. We made some phone calls with it, but since I had cell phone service at the time, with nationwide calling, it really wasn't that practical for use in my home, but it was cool to try for the moment.

With that out of the way, I work for a company, which shall remain nameless just to keep on topic, which deals with electronics and services and deals with millions of customers. I get calls all day long about this and that about how great things work and how crappy things work. It's electronics people. Made by HUMANS! Show me one human that doesn't make a mistake or who's head isn't always screwed on tight! People tell me to guarantee them they will have trouble free service. I cannot, nor can anyone guarantee that I will not hit a deer on my way home from work.

The Magic Jack for all intense and purposes does what it is supposed to do, make phone calls. If it doesn't work right, then there's either something wrong with the phone, computer, the internet, internet provider, the Magic Jack itself or something else. That doesn't make the company a crappy company or the the Magic Jack device a piece of crap either. To me $46.95 is a lot of money for the first time buy, but within a year, $46.95 is a drop in the bucket compared to regular phone service and will not change my life if the Magic Jack, which I just made a purchase for yesterday and awaiting the shipment, doesn't work properly all the time."
Trevor said...
"I just installed a magic jack on a computer with a Suddenlink high speed cable connection. It connected and installed perfectly. There were only a limited number of locations for my phone number, and all were long distance. (I live in rural NE Texas) Still it worked perfectly. I have installed it on a tablet PC that was gathering dust in my closet, and I plugged it into my Panasonic phone system. It is now line 2 on my phone system and is working from all of my phones in my house. At least for me, this device is working great and saving me lots over my previous line charges."
Wil said...
"We live in Thailand and travel all over the world for work. MagicJack allows us to have an Indianapolis number while in Thailand or anywhere else we travel. We have one unit dedicated to our home here and one that we take with us on the road. Since we have a unit at our Thailand place that lists as an US number, we can call from Australia, Europe, or China back to Thailand for free. The system thinks it's a call from the US to the US when in fact we're calling transcontinental. AMAZING product that we've convinced all of our friends to purchase and utilize."
Denise said...
"Let me start out by saying I am the most skeptical person you will ever meet! I recently purchased my first home and where it is located I don't have great cell phone service. Some parts of my house it's great, other parts I have to sit up against the window to get service! I contacted my cable carrier to see how much it would be to bundle and add phone on my existing cable/internet package. Of course it was an additional $39.99 and that was for local calling only. 
As I was thinking about it that's an extra $480.00 a year, not to mention additional charges for long distance. I was prety upset when I heard that. So I thought about the magic jack. I remember all the infomercials about it and kept thinking there has to be a hidden charge, or it can't work that easily. So I went to my local Radio Shack and talked to the sales rep there. She said that the only complaint is that if the power is off on your computer it will go to voicemail, and there isn't always a local number available. 
I thought ok I keep my computer on all the time so no problem there, and everyone I know has a cell phone, so the local/long distance wont matter. So I decided to purchase it. I got it home plugged it in, and followed the on screen prompts, I got the same area code as I live in. 
It was VERY easy to set up, and I had service within minutes! I have been using it now for about a month and it is awesome!!! I forward all my cell phone calls to my magic jack and I have no problems what so ever!!! I can't believe I actually love something I was so skeptical about!!! This is a wonderful product!!.. By the time my house is paid off I will have saved well over $15,000.00 on phone service!!!! Thank you so much to the creators of MAGIC JACK!!!!"
Chevron7 said... 
"This has to be one of the best purchases of my life!!!! I bought it at Wal-Mart for $39.95. That includes 1 year of free service. It is extremely easy to install on my computer. I did not have to use a credit card - so they don't have my credit card information. It's like I never had my regular phone shut off. It works great! I have call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail, it's AWESOME! 
I registered it with my e-mail account so when I'm not at home, I will get an e-mail and I can actually listen to my messages at work on my computer. How handy is that! Who cares if you have to dial the area code every time you call someone, it's a FREE call! 
So far I have no complains. I had phone service within 10 minutes, installation was so simple a child could do it. I went immediately and registered my new phone on donotcall.org that way I won't have pesky telemarketers calling me. 
They are up front and explain everything in detail on their website and I'm not disappointed at all with my purchase.  In fact,it's the best purchase I've ever made. We were paying $900 a year for unlimited long distance and local calling and I thought THAT was a good deal. Now I can use that money for vacation every year!"
Ryan said...
"I have had a Magic Jack Plus for a few months now, and save for a minor installation difficulty at first (now fully resolved), it's been a great device. The calls are clear as a landline and sound great, and the cost can't be beat by any other telco.

Let me explain about that install difficulty I had: When I first got my MJ+ and got it hooked up to my phone & router, there was an awful noisy hum in the audio, in the phone's receiver ear piece. Since I didn't have any problems with the phone when I previously had it connected to a landline a few years ago, I assumed it was the MJ+ that was on the fritz.

I went and exchanged it for a new unit, but had the same problem again! So, I decided to try a different telephone set to plug into the MJ+, and lo and behold, it worked perfectly! The noisy hum was gone, just crystal-clear calls to be had! So, the MJ+ does tend to be a bit picky as far as the kind of telephone set you have connected to it. If you have a phone on you MJ+ that has bad hum in the audio, try a new set, it might solve the issue.

Besides this hiccup (and the common consensus that MJ's technical support is lacking, which fortunately I have not had to contact yet), the magic jack plus is a very good product and quite a money-saver. I was originally thinking about getting a landline again from my incumbent telco (CenturyLink), but MagicJack is a much better deal. I'd rather spend $30 a year than $18 a month."

So What's The Catch?
There is no catch. It's really quite simple. VoIP uses a completely different technology than traditional land line companies and with significantly less overhead and fixed costs VocalTec has chosen to pass this savings on to users like yourself. They run a very simple "Do The Math" ad campaign with a clear goal of being a price leader within the VoIP industry.

The only truly notable issues lies with the company's customer service. In the past the company got a lot of complaints about their chat only customer service and customers inability to get the device to work. Again, the majority of these issues have been resolved with upgrades to the new devices and new management has also began to address these issues quite aggressively. In fact, in early 2014 the company hired a new Vice President of Customer Experience, whose job is to completely revamp the customer service department. The company is looking into providing more than just chat support but at such a low price point it's not yet clear if they will be able to do this.

During this transition its important to take the savings and just remember if you are one of the unlucky few who have trouble, that you are saving $500 per year on your phone service! In a few cases users have blown their complaints way out of proportion and claimed that the service is a scam, of course in reality it is far from this. Any claims that magic Jack is a scam are quickly squashed by checking its rating with the Better Business Bureau, which is currently an A rating, with all complaints resolved.

What's Next For Magic Jack?
The company released the magicJack Plus 2014 in late 2013 and it is still a mystery as to exactly what they plan to offer through the device. Currently it doesn't do anything that the old magicJack Plus can't do but it does have new wifi and SDIO slots that aren't functional to this point. It has long been rumored that the company wants to expand their services and provide both Internet and TV through the device for one low yearly fee. If magicJack can come to some sort of agreement with a 3G or 4G provider this may be a possibility but it doesn't likely to happen any time soon. The company has yet to release any official word regarding triple play service or how it plans to use the new wifi and SDIO slots so for now it's a guessing game. The company has stated that it plans to add texting capabilities to the magicJack App at some point in the near future along with charging for its use.

The Magic Jack Bottom Line
magicJack phone service is a great innovation within the home phone market and it offers all consumers an excellent way to keep their home phone line while not paying the outrageous monthly fees that traditional phone companies charge. With cell phones dominating today's market the land line phone appeared to be headed for extinction but with the magic Jack people can now keep their landline for only $29.95 per year. In fact, it is so good and so cheap that it has its competition panicking at the thought of everybody making the switch. If you are thinking about getting the Magic Jack we recommend that you give it a try and don't doubt you'll be satisfied. Of course, in the unlikely event that you are one of the few that isn't you won't be risking anything since magicJack is offering a 30-day risk free trial to all new customers.


91 comments:

  1. what can you lose except 40$ sounds like a dream come true. I'm curious as to how you may be able to keep your original home phone number..? or do you receive a new one from MagicJack...? anyone know how this is dealt with? Thx.

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  2. Their website says later in 2009 they will be able to use your existing number, but for now its just regular random number or you can pay $10 more for a vanity number.

    I just got a MagicJack and I like it so far. The only problem I see is if the software is not running or your computer is in sleep mode then the number will go straight to voicemail. Luckilly its waiting for you next time you load the program and e-mailed to you in a .wav format as well.

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  3. When I got it you had to get a new number. They are apparently trying to port numbeers, so in the future you may keep your old number. This works great, IF you are comfortable using internet chat for assistance. Mostly it works great. I have had 2 fry due to sever thunderstorms. One was replaced Free and I had to buy the other. Only $40. In 9 months I have spent $89 for my phone and long distance. Even with having to get another to replace the fried magic jack, I'm still ahead of my old phone cost.

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  4. You get a new phone number. They have limited area codes that you can use at this time. I am in Canada, and my magic jack (that I purchased in Texas) works just fine with a Texas number (which I chose to have). They do not have Canadian numbers yet. I went to the Canadian Magic Jack site, and the price is outradegously different. I'll stick with the US number & US magic Jack.

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  5. Can anyone tell me how faxing is accomplished using a MJ? Thanks.

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  6. magic jack is incredible, you have to have a good internet service, i have fios. I have had 6 connected at my home at the same time, to 6 computers behind a router. Due to hard times, we moved our office home and have used magic jack for 7 months now. My business partner did the same thing at his house with cable internet. We were paying $50 a month at our office and now $20 a year. Truly amazing, yeah sometimes there are some static and cutting in & out, but you can't win them all.

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  7. I'm not able to make International calls because I have no more minutes, but When I try to buy more, my account is like frozen and I can't even change my number.
    There is no one that will help me, no phone number , no address, and live chad is useless.

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  8. Magic Jack has their own conference calling service. I am guessing this is because it saves them money and helps allow them to continue to offer phone service at the lowest price in the world at just $19.95 per year. The conference calling service is free so it should not be an issue that you have to use their service.

    Yes, the magic Jack service is not perfect but really what can you expect for $1.60 per month. It will drop calls from time to time but this is no different than what we all tolerate with our cell phones.

    Don't complain if you bought it and it's past the 30 day window and not working for you. It clearly states it's a 30 day trial so you need to try it within the 30 day period to make sure it works. That's plain and simple. If you don't follow this it's your own problem.

    I highly doubt they charged you for a transaction that you didn't finish. If so this would be fraud and they would be in serious legal trouble. And if they did report them by all means and also ask for a refund through the 30 day trial return period.

    I have noticed crazy people that are on a witch hunt to smack talk on magicJack. Sure they don't provide the best service and sure their product isn't perfect but are there really any companies out there that provide perfect products and perfect customer service. Nope, didn't think so. It seems that in their early days the company did make some mistakes but I think they are doing a pretty good job right now. I can't stand the people that are going around chatting with customer service reps just trying to be the devil's advocate and baiting customer service reps into tough situations just so they can post the chat log online. Smells fishy to me.

    I think the magicJack is a great product, although not perfect. I think that anyone and everyone in need of a home phone should at least give it a shot. After all, what do you have to lose with the 30 day trial period?

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  9. Has anyone tried to use a fax with this, and if so did it work?

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  10. I'm using MagicJack since 2 months, I travelled to Canada and I have noticed that the hotel charged me for my local phone calls while using their room's land line, then ... the second day I got my MagicKack and start calling USA & Canada to do my work with ZERO charges .. the device is very easy, even I can install it in my office laptop with out any issues (i was not havinf full access (admin) on my laptop). The voice is clear, even sometimes people telling me that you voice is load! because I was using a sensetive phone set, so there is no issue with using MagicJack to call people. Very small device, easy to install, easy to swtitch from actual phone to laptop headset and has nice menu and contact list. In general, the device is great with compare with the price.

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  11. I have a multi-port modem which is connected to a router which provides a witeless connection to my computer. Does anyone know if I can plug into the modem so my service won't be interrupted after power is restored following a power outage? I'm concerned about the computer rebooting whem I'm away. Are there any other solutions

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  12. papamaui from HonoluluOctober 29, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    If you have an alarm system which automatically calls a central office which in turn calls the police, be aware that the Magic Jack probably won't work for you due to the fact that the alarm software is programmed for a dial tone. If you're thinking about installing an alarm system, be sure to ask rather than assume it will, then be upset when it doesn't.

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  13. To the person asking about faxing with Magic Jack:

    YES, you can send faxes with MJ, BUT I haven't been able to receive faxes with it. I read the same thing somewhere else. I'm actually searching now to see if there has been some upgrade or if users have found a way around this.

    Anyway, to send a fax, just plug the regular phone line from the MJ into the fax machine instead of into your phone. Voila! You can send a fax!

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  14. I got my MJ when I moved to Canada so I could keep in touch with my family in the US with out international charges. It works great!! Once in awhile I get breaks in the conversation and I call back and the sound is perfect. That is kind of a pain but for the price who can complain. Certainly works better than my Verizon cell phone.

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  15. For the price you pay it is a small thing when it acts up on occassion. For the most part it works great as our home phone. The sound quality is actually better than Verizon was!!

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  16. I was thinking about getting MJ, but was wondering if I could call Italy. If you know could you reply.

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  17. Had the magic jack for four months not one problem love this product don't understand people complaining that it doesn't work when their computers asleep they tell you right up front computer must stay on as far as faxing is concerned all you have to do is set the speed to medium and turn off error correction after that works just fine best investment I ever made in my life

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  18. Regarding Faxing:

    It works great sending out faxes. To address the receipt of faxes, you might using j2 Messenger, which is a free voice mail and fax receipt service. You download their program onto your computer. They assign you a phone number, which could be anywhere in the US, that people can call to leave you voice mails or faxes. The voice mail or fax is sent to the e-mail address of your choice, and you use their program to either view the fax or listen to the e-mail. The j2 phone number is what I used to test if the MagicJack would fax. I've used j2 for at least 5 years. It is a great service, and Magic Jack is a GREAT product.

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  19. From Virginia; I'm thinking of buying a Magic Jack my question is how good does it work in the mountains

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  20. I work for a Cable Telephone and Internet installation company, I have used MagicJack for more than a year now. I have it wired to the existing phone wiring in my house with 3 telephones, It has for the most part worked great. Most problems I've have had have been problems in MY Equipment (computer}.

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  21. Anonymous ask will mj work with wifi

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  22. Has anyone had luck with faxing with magicicjack on a thin client? I could fax before moving to the thin client. Did not want to leave computer on 24/7. I love my magicjack! Before magicjack all my call would be long distance calls.

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  23. My Magic Jack works fine with wifi. I have had Magic Jack as my only home phone system for one and a half years.

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  24. I have had the MJ for a year now & it works fine....I went ahead & renewed for the 5 yr plan......& contrary to what many posts say I fax with my MJ. I have a Brother MFC 490CW & I run a phone line from my MJ to the phone in line on my MFC 490CW. I was unable to fax with an older fax machine. It's a great product at a great price.

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  25. yes my MJ works with wifi

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  26. Would Magic Jack work in United Arab Emirates?

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  27. I have been using MJ since March 09. It has been great! I have never had any dropped calls however I did experience a beeping tone. I looked into troubleshooting it and it seemed to need an update and my internet connection (Time Warner Cable) needed to be upgraded. After taking care of the little thing, I have had no issues! I have recommended this to many people and even told them just go buy it at the store, save yourself the hassle of S&H! I cannot wait for femto though... any news on eta?

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  28. I have two MagicJacks. Let's get something straight for the complainers. In that it connects to your computer and not your router, meaning your computer must be on at all times, it will never replace traditional phone service. Don't expect it to do that. Do your homework first. What MJ is REALLY good for is give to your friends and family outside the USA & Canada. I am in Bogota,Colombia as I write this. We gave my wife's mother one here so she can call call her kids and grandkids in Canada and the USA and they can call her...NO CHARGE! I have one that I use on my notebook when I am in foreign countries. THAT is where it really shines. I dislike their scripted customer chat service. If you throw someting at them that isn't on their script, they are lost. I also have to admit I am suspicious of any company that hides their real identity and location. A PO Box is not good enough. BTW, the company is missing a huge opportunity in marketing to the Latino market who have millions of family and friends in Latin America who use a MJ. When I mentioned this to the chat lady, she didn't have a comment. That wasn't on her script.

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  29. Works ok for me, we use cell phones mainly but I wanted a phone in the house..Sometimes it cuts out but I am having problems with my cable so that may be it. I am dumping Time Warner cable, they suck. If the new cable company installs and I still have problems, I just won't renew. At worst I had a year of calling for $20

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  30. I've used magic jack for over a year and it has worked ok on DSL but can't use internet and magic jack at the same time without cut outs. Their "new feature" according to MJ is you can NO LONGER CALL webinar numbers except theirs. It's loosing it's magic with every new feature but for $40 it's still a deal.

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  31. I purchased the MJ several months ago as a backup to my VOIP phone system. It is now hooked up to my fax machine, and I can now send and receive faxes through the MJ for free. It has never dropped a call, and every call and fax goes through. It is definitely worth the money.

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  32. Cable internet is not available at my home address but I can get DSL service though my phone company without phone service. Will this still work?

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  33. This is my second year useing MJ with only minor problems as audio that Always corrects its self, nothing 100% perfect, not even ma bell, for a measly 5 cent a day, who can complain, it's the next best thing to being free in a world of record run away inflation, I have found no problem with MJ with Patience that cannot be solved, personaly I plan to keep my MJ service forever and thats a fact!

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  34. How does this product work with windows 7. Has there been any problems that people will share.

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  35. Hello,
    I got the MJ recently but it never seemed to work. The local telecommunication provider in the country I reside in has blocked the service for some reason. Can any one help me get through this and finally be able to use my MJ? Thanks
    Country:United Arab Emirates, Provider:Etisalat

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  36. I purchased the MagicJack several years ago for my business. I thoroughly enjoyed it. However I primarily needed it to send and receive faxes and that is not supported. No matter what I tried, it would not work. I was able to return the unit with little hassle, though.

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  37. Serious, I have had the MJ for almost a year.. with NO complaints, enough that I bought my wife's brother a mj as he lives in Australia. Now he can call her, or his brother in Washington DC. So I am definitely happy with the MJ just to use to make local calls, as my wife is on the home phone so often.

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  38. Will MJ come out with a MJ wifi selfcontained phone that you can take with you to any wifi hot spot? Larry McPh

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  39. Below is one of the MJ FAQ. Note that you have to disable firewall on your router and possibly disable anti-virus on your computer for MJ to work. The risk of leaving your computer wide open to virus and hackers should outweigh the benefits of MJ.

    ---

    If your magicJack service is not available:

    Click here and save this upgrade to your desktop. Once the download has completed, double click the upgrade icon on your desktop.

    If that does not work:

    Please disable any antivirus that may be running on your system and try again.

    If you are behind a network/external firewall or router, please open port 5060-5070 UDP. Also make sure that the firewall on your router is disabled.

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  40. I am now in my second year using a magicjack. I use it primarily California to/from Vancouver Canada. Its not perfect but it is very very good. They now have Canadian numbers and I've just bought another mj for use at my home there.

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  41. I just came back from Israel and Europe. I took the Magic Jack with me, connected it to my Asus 1005HA Netbook which picked up wireless signal and I was able to call the local numbers in Tucson as if I were in town. People who called my MJ number didn't believe I was out of the country, and only the pictures I emailed from Jerusalem, Vienna, Rome and Paris were the proof.

    I didn't dial long distance numbers in Europe, only the phone numbers of my clients in Tucson. For the MJ it was considered a local call anyhow.

    I bought eight MJ at Best Buy in Tucson before I left and after establishing phone numbers I gave them away to family members overseas. Now when we want to talk we dial a local number in Tucson. The only issue is the time difference.

    The device works well, and at time there is a delay in ful duplex voice, but I encountered this issue with Comcast VoIP phones, Skype and Start VoIP systems. For the benefits, the price is funny and for the value the device is fantastic.

    At home and in my Tucson office I use an older PC as a Phone Server. It is always ON and works great.

    By the way, MJ does NOT recommend using the MJ on a PC with a CD/DVD burning software like Nero and Roxio. If you need to use the software to burn a CD, you better disconnect the MJ and after burning the CD reboot the computer and connect the MJ back again. I don't know why, but this is the only issue I found with the device.

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  42. all i see is people making calls from MJ( aka not micheal jackson either) Does this program work for recieving calls?

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  43. Will MJ eventually have a wireless internet connect card? I really do not want to pay $ 50.00 a month to have internet access while on the move. Can I port my current home # to MJ yet?

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  44. How are you using your MJ for your home business if you can't fax? If I cancel my home phone service and get MJ, I won't be able to fax to clients.

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  46. Mj works great! of course you have to set your computer not to go to sleep or hibernate at first it worked great two days and i would come home from work i would have a dial tone but not be able make or receive calls looked into it i also had to turn off usb suspend now works great i'm running a laptop with windows 7

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  47. How long before we can bring our old number with us??

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  48. Can you use this for calls made through a hotel's switchboard system?

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  49. I purchased MJ over a year ago and it does work.The problem i have is, at that time they didnt have #'s for Canada,so i got a NC #.I was told by several agents that once they become available i could get a Canadian local # and change it free of charge.Now that #'s for Canada are available,they are telling me it's for new activations only!!I have to buy another MJ.There is no # to call someone to sort this issue,just a chat box.I find it ironic a phone service has no phone #.

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  50. (Anonymous said...
    Can you use this for calls made through a hotel's switchboard system?)

    You're not using the switchboard, it's an internet connection.

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  51. Bought this thing, plugged it in to Win 7, installed, plugged in a base to a wireless phone...done. Perfect quality, started downloads on 3 computers and started an online game (Warcraft)...caused no lag, no lapse in connection and stayed clear. I used to pay 120 bucks a month for 3 cell phones...i can cut that down to 20/year for MJ plus 2 prepaid phones when we leave home, MJ will forward to those mobile phones...this IS the deal and it will get even better...watch for it. To those NAY-sayers...UPGRADE YOUR HARDWARE AND NET CONNECTION ALREADY!!

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  52. To go into a couple of comments...
    Yes u can receive calls coming in.
    I run my firewall and Anti-Virus software constantly and MJ works fine. Don't get hung up on little solutions to rare problems.
    Cars get flat tires...u stop driving?
    Same thing here. MJ is absolutely working fine.

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  53. My company has been using Magic Jack for several months. We make a lot of long distance and international calls, so the Magic Jack seemed like a fantastic way for us to save money. As a small start up buiness this is vry important. For the first few months, the Magic Jack worked great. Then in October of 09, we started experiencing problems. I started getting an error "Broken Storage Data". I got with the Magic Jack Tech support, and they help me with the issue. They did a great job. Untill the next day when I got the same error again. I worked with tech support and fixed the problem. I was assured the problem was fixed, and would not occure again. But, it did. Every day for a month. And every day I cantacted tech support and "Fixed" the problem. Eventually we installed the Magic jack on a seperate computer, thinking the problem was with my Computer. Well lets just say that I still to this day hae a problem with this same error EVERY DAY. I have now gone through the "Fixing" process so many time that I can do it on my own and no longer need tech support. However, this is very inconvienent and time consumming. Not to mention extreamly agrivating when I go to call a customer, and have to take 30 minutes of my time to fix the issue.

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  55. I bought MJ about a year ago. Sent it back within the 30 days because:
    1) no port of home phone number.
    2) requirement to dial area code to call the phone next door.
    3) Limit of two phones connected to MJ
    In limited testing, it seemed to work.

    It seems to me that it should be easy modify the software to fill in the area code if you only dial 7 digits. The power problem can be solved with a simple external battery backup. The 2 phone limitation can be handled by buying a wireless phone with as many extra handsets as you want. All the MJ sees is the base unit so it counts as 1.

    That leaves the number porting problem that MJ says will be solved "soon" (its een that way for a year now). I chatted today, and the answer is still "soon" and "we are working on it".

    Based on my testing, if I were to buy this, I would also buy the following:
    1) Uninterruptable PowerSupply (Battery Backup) from Belkin or APC.
    2) A cheep green pc to act as a host
    3) A wireless phone "system".

    I would plug my cable/FIOS modem, my router, my new pc, and my wireless base unit into the battery backup box. That should solve any power problems and most stability problems. In my area, most power outages are short.

    So all I need is "number porting". Exactly when is "soon"?

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  56. One caution about purchasing magicjack. Be sure that the city where you reside is listed within the cities serviced by magicjack within your area code. If your city is not listed and you select a nearby city, any local call you receive from friends is long distance to them. Also, any local call you dial requires you use the area code and number since your phone thinks it is in the city you selected from magicjack not the city where you live.

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  57. bought it like 2 months ago. currently use it in iraq to call home in u.s. love it. no problems

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  58. Have 3 MJ's now.They are great as I have a home in Canada and a 2nd in the US. I gave one to the kids so they can call me either place for free.It is working well for them because you can get Canadian #'s now. They mostly use cell phones so even just to call people to call them back on there free incoming minutes works well. I travel with a laptop and most places have wi-fi so I just plug the hotel ph into my Mj. You have to replug into the wall jack if you want room service. In the US I switched to an Ooma connection because it plugs directly into the router so I don't need to have a computer on all the time and I could port my phone #. I just use the MJ for long distance to Canada. The voicemail sent to my e-mail works really well for me as all my phone messages from any location go to the same place and for business purposes nobody knows if I'm at my desk or at the beach 1000's of miles away.

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  59. Lots of interesting comments. I have been using MJ for two months all is well so far. I now have faxes working. However I have a need to dial into a device via my pc dial up modem. My control software doesn't want to communicate over the over the MJ connection. Unfortunately when the remote device answers I don't get a connect message as usual (via landline)but instead I get a no carrier message from the remote device. Any special settings to allow a dialup connection over MJ call to a remote device? I understand MJ uses codec and I am using a very low baud rate 1200,N,8,1. Shouldn't this also work for the required phone line connection on a DirecTv sat rcvr? And for those non techies I am not using dial up as my MJ internet connection.

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  60. I get internet via ATT phone line. If I cancel my ATT then no internet, right? Then MJ will not work. My IP is SBC Global with DSL Pro. If I can ATT phone line then my
    SBC Global won't work.... In other words to get wifi, I need my computer tied to my modem which is connected to an ATT phone line. How can MJ work if I cancel my ATT Phone line???

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  61. MagicJack is awesome! Running Vista Home Premium 64 bit, 8g RAM, quad core processor, Verizon DSL. Set up was a snap. I was talking to folks in minutes with land line quality.

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  62. I plugged my fax machine into my mj and I get the message "remote fax error". My fax machine worked just minutes before with my landline phone. I thought it would be a good idea to use the mj line so that it wouldn't interfere with calls coming in on the landline. What am I doing wrong? Otherwise, I have absolutely no problems with mj. It was simple to install and I was able to choose a number very close to my landline number. If someone can help me with the fax issue I would appreciate it.

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  63. With present landline, Verizon, I have 911 protection. Is there any provision for 911 with MJ? I have not purchased yet. My landline has gone up about $25. a month, need relief!

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  64. I've read several comments here about international calls. It seems that it's better to give this device as a gift to family members abroad with a US ph#. Does that mean I'd need to upload it & set it up in the US first before giving it to them or can I upload it on their pc (abroad) & select to have a US#? I'm doing homework before buying mj.

    thank you,

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  65. Magic Jack customer service:

    Company contact that consumers may use for complaints or inquiries:
    Toll Free:
    888-230-0060

    They are not "hiding" where they are located they're in FL. You just are looking for MAGIC JACK, and it's owned by YMax.

    YMax Communications Corp.
    5700 Georgia Avenue
    West Palm Beach, FL 33405

    Some of you guys need tin hats.

    The rest of you need to learn that if you can't get refunded by simply calling and complaining, they have a new thing-y now called CHARGEBACK to your credit card. There are time limits to how long you can do this, most are 60 days or less, so GO, and call your CC issuer, and tell them how many times you tried to get this fixed. They will send you a form.

    You file a chargeback, I can pretty much guarantee you that you will get your return processed. MJ may well call YOU.

    BTW, EVERY company has a couple clinkers here and there, it isn't some personal vendetta, you just got the 2% that don't work, just have them send you a new one.

    Too many questions about this phone-- pay attention, it is VOIP!! No it doesn't work with no computer, and if you plug into your laptop you can take to any hotel with free internet service, and make any calls you like. Of course you have to have a PHONE with a telephone cord along. *the hotel phone may not be unpluggable, so check.

    If you wanna fax, plug the FAX MACHINE in instead of your phone, and fax away.

    This doesn't really sound so hard to me.

    The only issue would be having to leave the PC on all night, but for 19.95 a year, I would consider it.

    But I need to keep the same number, so I'm still waiting for "keep your number" coming soon. (I sure hope it's not coming the 12th of never.)

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  66. We've had the Magic Jack for two years and we love it. We never got a great many calls and it made no sense to pay 30.00+ for a landline. This way we get calls, forward calls, have a complete record of calls in and out. We love it!

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  67. MJ works fine. After reading comments, what is a router?

    I had trouble forwarding MJ to a cell phone. It forwards OK--the phone i've forwarded to rings and the caller can hear me but I cannot hear the caller on the forwarded phone (no audio) can you tell me what's wrong.

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  68. Mine worked great for 6months now I can't talk to anyone in my areacode. They tried to fix it but can't. They won't refund my subsciption or give me any kind of satifaction. I am tempted to turn them into the Attorney GEneral.

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  69. MJ works fine unless you call someone using comcast, I believe they block MJ calls

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  70. I have had and used the magic jack for over one year now and I love it. Works every time for me and has beautiful audio qauality

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  71. I live in KSA, but although the average speed for connections in KSA is about 6mbps, I live in a somewhat remote area and my internet is about 160kbps, which means about 25kbps transfer rate. It works like a charm. I know, you might think I'm lying. My dad's friend gave it to my dad and it's amazing. I call Canada for free =)

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  72. I love MJ!!!!,I send MJ to my mom and south America and I received a call every day for free, and I call her without any problem. Thanks MJ.

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  73. I've had my MJ for about 6 months now. I love it!! I'd previously closed my Vonage account when the company I work for provided me with a cell phone. I already had a personal Verizon cell at $51 a month, so I figured 2 cell phones were plenty. I checked into Trac Fone and decided I could drop my personal cell phone (even with the early termination fee) and save $$$. My LG Trac Fone was about $22 including shipping. Minutes and time role over. I have 480 minutes good trhough September 2011 for a purchase price (Look 4 the Double Minutes For Life) of about $50 or so. My plan is to use MJ as a primary phone at home, and use the Trac Fone as a secondary. Can't beat the price. I really don't care about not having a local area code. My friends have both #s. I tend to keep my # private after the days of telephone robo calls. With MJ you can also disconnect the land line from the outside of the house and use a T splitter to feed all phones in your home. Provided of course that you have your computer ON at the time. If not, they go to voice mail.

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  74. Hi does anyone know if the MJ works okay with the USB 3G modems? I have a cricket modem as we have no internet service in this house and I travel quite abit and find it to be great for travelling....but will my MJ work ok with this? Thanks to anyone who knows...don't want to buy and be disappointed.

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  75. It is a good example that you get what you pay for. The price is great for unlimited local and long distance calls.
    However, there are some annoying issues. While on a call, the sound is clear but intermittent. I rarely have a conversation without missing some of the words.
    In addition, there are many times when I call a number which results in an odd tone similar to a busy tone, but if I call the same number using my cell phone, it connects without a problem. When I contacted customer service, they said it was an area not covered by Majicjack.
    For the money, I'll keep Majicjack as a secondary line only.

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  76. Is it Mac compatible?

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  77. How do I fire my phone company and still keep my DSL service?

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  78. Order DSL only service, the phone company can no longer require you to pay for a landline for the purpose of supporting DSL service, but the price of the DSL only service is a little bit higher ~$5. There's a phone number associated with it, they have to be able to let you dial 911 on it, but you'll have to get your own filters if you don't buy their install kit.

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  79. what is actually needed to use the majic jack plus?

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  80. MJ works fine with Comcast customers.

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  81. I've used MJ for almost three years and love it. I have a cell phone available for when the PC or electricity is off. The "interruptions", I think, are due to a voice-activated type of switch. If you're listening to someone and you want to interject a comment you have to wait until their end is silent for a second. It's annoying sometimes but I can live with it. This new MJ+ is a bit confusing. Does one have to pay for an ethernet service or is that a hardwire situation? Whatever, I'll probably get it as it will allow me and my PC to go nitey-nite and still have phone availability. A comfort for an old f..t who lives alone.

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  82. Like many others, I think MJ sounds like a great deal. Today, I decided to research some sites which had actual MJ customer comments. This is the third site which I have visited, and it seems much like the others. Many of the complaints are identical. However, also like the others, some commenters are thrilled with MJ's performance. For the time being, I have decided to forego the MJ and stick with the phone service which I have. Perhaps in a few months - or years - MJ will not receive so many negative reviews, and I may purchase one.

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  83. I have just gone from MJ to MJ plus. I am wireless have Charter Cable. My MJ is plugged directly into my router and it is amazing. . My only hesitation was my security system calling out in case of a breakin but I have solved that. I am an 80 yr. old Senior Citizen with no tech. skills to brag about so if I can have a good clear MJ anyone can.
    I love my MJ.

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  84. Just received the new plus model,it seems to work very well.

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  85. I saw the commercials for the MJ and thought, this is hinky; A piece of infomercial crap. Looking to streamline costs and not have to lay off people, I have spent hours upon hours cutting cost while maintain quality and keeping everyone working. I have saved THOUSANDS of dollars with the MJ. I have dropped my T-1 service line and went to MJ for all my phone lines. Call me crazy, I got one to check it out at home, I was impressed. My wife asked if I could use it at my office. I wanted to try it long term. But the quality and ease of use is just awesome. My office makes hundreds of call a day, we are a recruiting firm. So we live and die by the phones and internet. When my phone rep came by to inquire as to why we dropped the T-1 service and found out I had replaced them with MJ, he said we’ll see in a couple of months. Over a year later, were still going strong. I have not let anyone go. MJ is the REAL DEAL. I have not had any problems. Were kind of geeks, so I have not had any CS issues? There are 11 lines in my office. How’s that for “every day use”? I tell everyone about MJ.

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  86. Magic Jack works really well. Used it for over a year and it sounds better than Ma Bell. Try to get customer service though. That's another story! Ma Bell will talk to you but likes to keep those prices creeping up when you aren't watching your account.

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  87. well, I bought the magic jack plus in dec..l already had a voip phone so knew the expectations of sometimes l have to call back..well, I love it, I got rid of the voip when I had 3 months of NO problems. I'm in canada so I have to pay 29.90 a year for a canadian number but yeahh its worth it. I downloaded the MJplus on my itouch and took it on a cruise with me, in ports, I got a wifi connection and was able to call back to North America FREE, yes, you can call from anywhere in the world for FREE...it cost me 2.50 a month....I am saving a fortune and just love my magic Jack plus.

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  88. that's what you get for $20 a year... so customer service... that's part of why its so cheap. Zero business overhead. They just revamped the web site and added a few features (about time), but they still are missing the all important voice mail control. You can't turn it off, or change # of rings.

    I have 2 MJ lines. One for my office phone, and I just ported my land-line # from Time Warner "Rip me off" digital phone, to the MJ+ (stand alone). It drops calls every once in a while, but completely worth it for cutting my bill from $50/month, to $1.66/month. You can adjust your audio/voice settings through your control panel; once I figured that out it became almost a dream.

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  89. does mj work if you have direct tv or any other satellite system?

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  90. I bought MagicJack Plus for my sister in Europe and we use it to call each other. Free international calls - it only costs me whatever the yearly fee is. Used it for over 6 months and love it. No issues yet.

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  91. Will say MagicJack is not a scam, but be aware they do limit your usage. I had an MJ for approx. 1 month and during that time I repeatedly called my girlfriend in another part of Canada. Service was superb and the 2 times I had to contact customer service it was handled quickly and easily. Today I tried to call my friend and discovered my service had been cut off. Apparently I had violated their usage limits. Which are stated in the agreement as 50 times more than average use. What is average use? I can not get service restored. PLEASE read the Agreement and be aware of usage limits.

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