I’ve long been a proponent of Voice over IP (VoIP), having dumped the phone company over 7 years ago. During this period I’ve used 2 major vendors and only switched to the latest one because my former VOIP supplier was getting greedy. The price performance has been outstanding and the quality has been more than acceptable. I’ve never stood still and have continuously compared other VoIP providers offers, but I have not considered magicJack a serious player. This is because the magicJack required your computer to be running for it to work.. That’s until now! The new magicJack PLUS can be plugged into a router or broadband modem, just like the big boys. Also, I got turned off by the extremely annoying video on their home page.
Before I get into the details, perhaps a little refresher is in order. To use the magic Jack, or any VoIP device for that matter, you’ll need a broadband Internet connection. For magicJack a minimum bandwidth UPLOAD speed of 128 kb/s is required. This would probably be cable or DSL, but not satellite. It doesn’t make sense for someone to subscribe to broadband just for the telephone capability, so Grandma and Grandpa may want to stay with Ma Bell. You should also have a minimum understanding of your home network, because there will be times that you’ll have to reboot your modem and router to clear up problems. You should also be aware that if you lose power or Internet connection, you’ll also lose your phone capability. I’ve addressed the power issue at my house by plugging my cable modem and router into a UPS. This gives me an hour before I lose telephone service and covers most short power interruptions.
Features provided by magicJack:
- Voicemail
- Caller ID
- Call waiting
- Call forwarding
- Your own phone number
- Unlimited free calling within the US and Canada
There’s really not much to the device. You may not even need the smaller of the two cables. It’s a USB extension cable and you may be able plug the magicJack into your computer without it.
I decided to see how idiot proof the installation was, so I plugged the device into my LAN, via a powerline Ethernet adapter, hooked up the phone and within 30 seconds had a dial-tone. There’s no computer involved in the configuration, but to keep the device active, you’ll have to register the magicJack online within 48 hours of installing it. To minimize the number of variables when testing this thing, I used a corded phone, so the sound quality wouldn’t be affected by cordless phone issues.
Here’s a closer look at the setup. The magicJack plugs into the AC adapter, which plugs into the AC outlet. On the left of the unit you have a socket for the phone cable and one for the LAN cable. You could of course run the LAN cable from your router or switch. I like using powerline Ethernet because I can locate the phone anywhere there’s an AC outlet.
Here’s the setup when using the magicJack with a computer. Because of the clearance to my USB ports, I needed the extension cable. If using a laptop, this probably wouldn’t be necessary. This setup is simpler, in that all you have to do is plug a phone into the phone port. Power is supplied by the USB port. However, to run in this configuration, the computer must be on and the softphone magicJack application has to be running.
The first time you plug the magicJack into a computer, it loads the softphone application and has to be registered. This process takes about 14 screens of selections. Here you will get an online account and select a phone number. Unfortunately there wasn’t a number available in my home state of New Hampshire, so I elected to get a California based number. There is the option later of changing the phone number, for a fee, if one you want becomes available.
Be very careful when navigating the registration screens. Most of them have an up-sell button and of course, it is the biggest. If you don’t pay attention you could be signing up for more than you expected. The above screen shot is one of the less egregious examples. At the end of the process you should have a phone number and online account. Also, be sure to use the address where you expect to use the magicJack, when you sign up. This address will be used for the E911 service.
Now that we’re all registered, we can either leave the device plugged into the computer or plug it directly into a LAN port. I’ve opted to use the LAN port option because it doesn’t require the magicJack application to be running. However, when traveling I can take the device with me and use it with my laptop and when configured this way, I can either use a telephone plugged into the device or I can select to use the laptop speakers and microphone to make calls. This is changed in the softphone application.
When plugged into the computer, the above screen will pop up for an incoming call. At this point if you are using a telephone you pick it up and answer as normal. If using the computers audio, you would click on accept and begin speaking. You can also use the pop up window to place calls and listen to voicemail.
click image to enlarge
Regardless of whether you connect via the LAN or PC, you can access your magicJack account via a web browser. Here you have some options that can be changed and you can access your call logs. You may notice the switch for stutter tone at the bottom. At first this didn’t work, but now it does and it triggers the voicemail indicator on my phone.
Now the question is “how’s the voice quality?” I must admit I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the conversations I’ve had. With all the VoIP devices I’ve owned or reviewed, I’m used to echos and delays, but I’ve experienced none of that with the magicJack. This runs counter to what I’ve read about the device in online forums.
In short, this latest version of the magicJack could make them a serious player in the VoIP space. I now am considering dumping my current provider. If you’re thinking about jettisoning your POTS phone, the magicJack Plus may be the way to go. They do give you 30 days to try it out, so you don’t have much to lose. Now if they’d only do something about their annoying home page and stop the bush league up-selling on all their screens.
Note: The Gadgeteer is not affiliated with the Magic Jack company in any way. We don’t provide customer support for them. However, many of our readers seem to have chosen the comments section for this review as an informal peer support forum. There are hundreds of comments with this review, and it’s likely that your question has already been asked and answered. If not, and if none of the other readers can help you, you’ll need to contact Magic Jack directly.
Product Information
| Price: | $50 for the device and first year service; $19.95 per year thereafter |
| Manufacturer: | MagicJack |
| Requirements: |
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bb – Forgot to mention that my Panasonic system also has a caller id-based call “blocking” feature – you can set it to either block calls that have no caller id number, or to block specific numbers (but if I recall, the total number of phone numbers you can store to block is pretty limited). I *think* the phone “blocks” by picking up the call and then quickly hanging up. Both methods work perfectly with MJ, but I’ve found that sometimes I needed such (legitimate) callers to be able to leave a VM message so I don’t ever bother using this feature and just rely on the caller ID… by setting MJ’s voicemail delay to about 30 seconds I’ve found that the phone will ring or announce 6 times before going to voicemail (it takes the first 2 rings for the phone to receive/detect the caller id info, then rings/announces 4 more times thereafter). The Panasonic’s base unit also has its own built-in answering machine, but I keep it turned off and use MJ’s voicemail instead. Setting the MJ voicemail’s “stutter tone” to ON triggers the phone’s voicemail indicator light to go on – and its display to state that voicemail is waiting; but because the “stutter tone” method is based strictly on analog audio, how quickly the phone will indicate that voicemail is waiting depends ENTIRELY on how quickly/frequently the particular phone model is designed to check the line for that sound… and this Panasonic model seems to usually take anywhere from 2-5 minutes to do so once a message is actually left on MJ voicemail (it’s not MJ’s fault). A MUCH FASTER alternative: If you have a cellphone, instead of setting MJ’s voicemail system to send an email to your *regular email address* every time you receive a message, set it to send a message to your cell phone number’s TEXT MESSAGING email address – you’ll then receive a text message on your cell phone IMMEDIATELY as soon as a voicemail message is waiting, stating your MJ #, the date, time, & length of the message, and the phone number of whoever left the message.
bb, Yes Panasonic cordless phone system’s calls blocking feature works with MJ+. I’ve been using mine over a year now. I believe Panasonic limits 50#’s on the block list, and you can edit the list any time. A caller ID is detected on the 2nd ring, and Panasonic set will pick up and hang up immediately, so typically you will hear one long first ring then a short 2nd ring and the call is terminated. I also have my smartphone paired with the Panasonic on bluetooth, and an Epson AIO WF635 on MJ+ line xmit/rec fax without any problems.
- Jst as an FYI, the specifics regarding call blocking, contact directory, etc. on Panasonics do vary from one model to the next – even among the Dect 6 multi-handset cordless models.
Jonathan: Have you not been following the many threads here concerning Faxing on MJ??
MJ WILL NOT SEND OR RECEIVE FAXES!!! No way no how so please don’t post that it will or you will be accused of being an employee
Tom – You are incorrect. MJ *does* handle faxing OK, provided the *quality* of one’s Internet service is of an acceptable level. THAT’S why faxing on MJ works for some people but not others – and it’s the same situation with pretty much *all* inexpensive consumer-grade VOIP providers. My guess is that it might *also* have to do with how close the user is to the specific server that their phone number is assigned to. The same holds true regarding udsing MJ and any other VOIP provider for stuff like monitored home alarm systems and the like – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s also why most if not all consumer-grade VOIP providers’ terms of service specifically state that they do not guarantee that their service will consistently work properly for such things.
Steven HC: Please read my post again especially the last sentence………….I was making a joke that many say it will not work…..his does, yours does and I have stated many times mine does, but many posts always put the blame on MJ and even you in your defending some of the posts have been accused of being an employee……………are you?? I am not and don’t want to be. Sorry if I misled anyone, one of the faults on on-line communications, hard to tell if the post is serious or joking. Joke everyone…..MJ will fax….at least for me and that is all I use it for, have another VOIP for telephone but both are working through the same router……no issues.
As I mentioned once before, FAX does work on MJ, under the right conditions. Another equally important variable affecting FAX success is the quality of the fax machines at *both* ends. It goes back to the days when dial-up modems would negotiate and adjust to the fastest speed *both* could handle over a given connection (which was often 9.6kBd). So, it is both the quality of the Internet service and the machines themselves.
Let’s face it, a fax machine is basically a printer/scanner attached to an old fashioned dial-up modem. Over the years, dial-up speeds reached as high as 56kBd so designers of many new self-contained FAX machines forgot about the lower speeds. A good fax machine however, will still automatically adjust its speed to what works. Some allow you to manually switch down to 9.6kB but that is rare. You would have a better chance with a combo printer/scanner + software + dial-up modem on your computer. If you do not have backward-compatible FAX equipment at both ends, lots of luck.
Sorry, Tom! I *thought* you might have been joking but wasn’t really sure of it. Yeah, I’m an employee… just kidding… ;_)
Following the example of Bill Kurch, the creator of this thread, I recently purchased a Netgear powerline Ethernet adaptor, which enables me to plug the MJ plus into any electrical outlet in the house. This means that I am no longer tied to my router. I have only made one phone call so far which was free of stutter or any kind of interference. However, when I conduct a QOS test, on the adaptor, I get excellent readings for both up load and download testing. However QOS ratings are only at 77 percent. Anyway, time will tell. I will keep you posted.
WOW! I guess powerline Ethernet adapters have come a long way since they first came on the market! Good to know!
Does the MJ software work when you are using it in ethernet connected mode?
Max
Max – If you are referring to the magicJack “softphone” software that gets automatically installed on the computer when you first “register” the MJ device by plugging it into the computer’s USB port -
The answer is no. When you have a MagicJack Plus connected directly to a router via Ethernet, the MJ software left on the computer essentially becomes non-functional. The same holds true for pcphonesoft.com’s “add-on” feature set. The software is functional only when the MJ+ is connected directly to one of the computer’s USB ports and thus communicates with the router via the computer.
I have had a MJ+ for over a year and have been very satisfied. I’ve never dropped a call and the call quality has been great. I had the original MJ but like the Plus better. I have had problems with faxing. I also have a Ooma hub. I had trouble faxing on it also until I found their secret. With Ooma I must dial *99 first when faxing. This doesn’t work with MJ.
I have been using MJ plus for close to a year now and am about to get a second one. I have had no problems at all aside from an annoying echo but even that seems to be intermittent. Not sure what my upload speed is, but my download speed is 12 Mbps DSL.
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