MagicJack USB VoIP Service Review

Mike Oconnor (Webmaster)

If you have thought about dumping your land-line because of high telephone bills, MagicJack can be the gadget you’ve been waiting for. MagicJack is a small USB device that easily plugs into any computer that allows you to make phone calls through the Internet on the cheap. Currently this device only works on Windows based computers but the company plans on offering this to Mac users as well before the end of the year.

After installing the MagicJack device, you receive a personal phone number, you may make outgoing calls to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for as little as $39.95, which includes a year of service. Renewals for the next year are billed at $19.95. MagicJack currently provides caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding and e911 (enhanced emergency dialing.

These prices however do not include International calls. One other drawback is the fact that you need one device per computer per phone and that your computer must be on in order to make phone calls. One huge drawback is that there is no easy way to uninstall the software, as this requires going into the registry and deleting keys to completely remove it. This does not make for a good gadget in which to travel around the country with, as your friends and family you may visit might get a little annoyed if you install it onto their pc’s.

The general voice quality of calls is about as good as your cell phone company. Not better than traditional phone service, iConnectVoice or Sunrocket is / was, but just as good as a cell phone.

Compared to services such as iConnectVoice, which I use at home and when I travel (provides soft-dialer with headset) I would have to pass on this. Yes the costs are attractive, but when it comes right down to it voice quality and an easy to use service (to me at least) matters more. It will be interesting to review this device again at the end of the year, rumor has it that several improvements are in the works.

Weeklytech

MagicJack USB VoIP Service Review