magicJack... be careful

[CoolBreeze]

Many people already know this but if you're considering a MagicJack as a gift or for yourself anywhere south of Fairmont in WV, be aware that you can call anywhere just fine. But people cant call you without incurring a long distance charge. That's because the idiots at MagicJack chose the Clarksburg-Fairmont area for their prefix. Why they didnt choose Charleston-Huntington (where most of the business is) I dont know. It's been over a year since MagicJack installed a prefix in WV, and to this very day, they haven't added a new one.

The bad thing is that MagicJack refuses to post all their current prefixes on their website, so you don't know there's going to be a long distance charge for your friends until you've ordered the device and then get your prefix number. That's a cheezy way to do business.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I had Magic Jack for the 30 day free trial and returned it after about two weeks. I had the same problem here in Ohio that you did. The phone exchanges that were available in 740 were all 60+ miles away and there is no way to know what is available until after they get your credit card info and sign you up. I always felt it was intentional.

Another problem is that Magic Jack uses your computer to process the call. Unlike Vonage or cable TV digital phone service providers that give you an external box that functions independently, Magic Jack must have a functioning online computer to make or receive a call. My anti-virus software and firewall automatically break my computer's connection with the internet to prevent snooping and hijacking my hard drive. This feature also kills your ability to ever receive a phone call through Magic Jack, since there is no connection to the internet. You must actually be online for Magic Jack to work, or you must permanently disable your firewall, leaving your 'puter vulnerable to attack. Not much of a choice.

The last issue is there is no really good way to contact Magic Jack other than to buy their product. Technical support? Forget it. Wanna order two or three new Magic Jacks? Absolutely. Just go to the website. The return policy is automated, and I was able to print off a shipping label and send that little toy back where it came from.

Magic Jack: A+ for marketing. C- for the actual product. It's a cheap way to make a bunch of phone calls. Just don't try to receive any.

[The People's DJ]

I had Magic Jack for the 30 day free trial and returned it after about two weeks. I had the same problem here in Ohio that you did. The phone exchanges that were available in 740 were all 60+ miles away and there is no way to know what is available until after they get your credit card info and sign you up. I always felt it was intentional.

Another problem is that Magic Jack uses your computer to process the call. Unlike Vonage or cable TV digital phone service providers that give you an external box that functions independently, Magic Jack must have a functioning online computer to make or receive a call. My anti-virus software and firewall automatically break my computer's connection with the internet to prevent snooping and hijacking my hard drive. This feature also kills your ability to ever receive a phone call through Magic Jack, since there is no connection to the internet. You must actually be online for Magic Jack to work, or you must permanently disable your firewall, leaving your 'puter vulnerable to attack. Not much of a choice.

The last issue is there is no really good way to contact Magic Jack other than to buy their product. Technical support? Forget it. Wanna order two or three new Magic Jacks? Absolutely. Just go to the website. The return policy is automated, and I was able to print off a shipping label and send that little toy back where it came from.

Magic Jack: A+ for marketing. C- for the actual product. It's a cheap way to make a bunch of phone calls. Just don't try to receive any.

Well I was thinking about buying one. After reading that, not now.

[Jet Black]

MagicJack will make you high tonight,
And take you to your special island...

--- Billy Joel

[Lester]

I thought you could only get those at those psychic reading places on the side of the highway.