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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Magic Jack Questions

In an attempt to lower my bills and keep services I want, I am seriously considering getting Magic Jack for my home phone.

My home phone was fried when I lost electricity in the April 27, 2011 tornado. So, my home phone is forwarded to my cell. I don't give my cell phone number to anyone at a doctor's office or put it on a check.  I want a home phone number for whatever silly reasons! So, let's not try to explore that. Okay? lol

My ATT $23 plan with all the taxes and fees ends up being a monthly $36.16! Magic Jack will be $2.50 for the thingamajig. That is a savings of $33.66 each month. I have been told the first year is free and $29.95 after that. Then, after the year is over and the attachment is paid for, my cost would be ~$2.25 each month.

I have many questions:

Can I keep my phone number?
Can I forward my Magic Jack to my cell?
What are the problems or quirks of Magic Jack?

Since I don't even know what I don't know to ask, give me information I need, if you will. There is no number for Magic Jack for me to call and ask questions. So, I depend on you, dear readers!

UPDATE: Does it work for you? Any problems with service? How about customer service?

Thanks.

10 comments:

  1. We use one for our 2 nd hone. Here's what I know. 1) you are assigned a number 2) yes you can forward calls to it but 3) In order for it to keep a connection, you have to have the Magic Jack page open in your browser...you can minmize it, but you can't let your computer go to sleep mode, or you won't receive calls.
    I would consider it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meg B,
      The package said I could keep my home phone number. But, if you got it for a second line, maybe that is why you were assigned a number. Great, forwarding is what I want. The package said I could forward calls, but a friend says he cannot...hmmm. Must be his own problem. Now, there is a new MJ that can be put into the phone line and does not require a computer. I just found this yesterday. Even the clerk had not seen it.

      I had heard that the computer could not be shut off. That bothered me!

      Thanks so much for the information.

      Delete
    2. Google Magic Jack and see what it is and how it works. Then Google Magic Jack Comments and see what other's say about it.

      Delete
    3. Coffeypot,
      I did that last week and this weekend. There were only negative comments. When I purchased a cell phone once, I read the reviews after the fact. All sad the hinge broke easily. Then, I realized that only 14-year-olds were reviewing. You all are sort of a known bunch. I won't lose anything since I can get a refund at Walmart easily. I just thought that I might save myself the trouble of hooking it up. Thanks. I have not found one positive response. Maybe the happy people did not bother to review it.

      Delete
  2. I put Magic Jack on my IPhone and use it to call the States for free. We got rid of our home phone number as I was getting so many advertising calls that I had had it. My home phone provider even offered to cut my bill in half. lol I don't miss it at all. It was a free app for my phone and doesn't cost a dime to use! I get fairly good reception with it too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feral Turtle,
      Thanks for this information about the IPhone. I wonder if I can use if for my plain old dumb phone. If ATT would give me service for the first year for $2.50/month, I would stay. No, I would not because the billing is so confusing along with there is no way to pay with a check over the phone because the stupid man gives no options to pay UVerse and ATT. I can pay only one and I forgot which one. I got my cell phone turned off 6 months in a row. Two months, I called to pay my bill, I was told I did not owe anything. Then, the other months I was told the wrong amount for the service that got cut off. An agent listened to my choices and agree that I did not have the options I needed. I spend about three hours a day twice a month trying to figure it all out with the help of numerous ATT agents who give me wrong information, connect me with billing when I asked for technical support. Okay, my blood pressure is going to rise if I don't stop recounting this!

      Thanks.

      Delete
    2. Do you think there is a way to put it on my regular cell phone? I can put apps on it.

      Delete
  3. Couldn't you just get two cell numbers? Or would that be more expensive? Our AT&T cell service has some sort of family plan ....and we are a part of it but since I can't get John to carry his phone it NEVER rings. I wonder if you were to get a second phone might you be able to keep your home number? I keep threatening to dump our home number but never seem to get around to doing it. What I would really like to do is cancel the cable but I live with a guy who watches SPORTS. Heck he watches 25 year old football games!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Two cell numbers? Well, I am not sure. I just want to get away from ATT, one service at a time! Plus, I want to keep my home phone number because it is the only one that most people have. So, doctors would never get me. Exbf won't carry his cell because he says he doesn't need to. Some days, it just rings because he has left it in the car and I need to get in touch with him. His car is slowly dying, but he leaves the cell home. He just makes sure he will never have it when he needs it.

    TV service is next to be replaced! No football watchers in this house!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't know anything about Magic Jack, but I did use Google Voice for a short period for my photography business. Best of all, it's free. Although it may not be what you need. https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115061?hl=en

    As for TV, I gave up cable almost 2 years ago. I rarely miss it. Instead, I bought a Mohu Leaf Antenna. I absolutely LOVE it! In my area (used in both 1st and 3rd floor apartments), I get about 20 crystal clear basic channels. Easy to set-up. It works so well, my boss let me buy one for the office TV. If I wanna rent a movie, I use Amazon Prime. Otherwise, I watch DVDs I have or rent videos from the library for free. My BF has Netflix, cable, and Hulu.

    http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Paper-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B00HSMK580

    ReplyDelete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.