Archive for VoIp Review: Magic Jack

VoIP Review: MagicJack Plus Cutting Consumers Phone Bills

January 18, 2012 VoIp Review: Magic Jack, VoIP Review: Magic Jack Plus No comments

Anybody looking to save money can find huge savings by switching their phone service from a traditional landline phone service provider to the magicJack Plus. The magicJack Plus is a small USB device that lets consumers make calls through their high-speed internet connection. It delivers many of the same features that are provided by a traditional phone service provider, but at a price of just $29.95 per year (with an option to purchase five years of service for $99.95).

The magicJack Plus makes calls through a VoIP network, also known as Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol.. This is the same technology other companies have used previously , such as NetTALK, Vonage, and the previous model of the magicJack, released in 2007. These services use your existing broadband internet connection to make and receive calls. One downside to this, however, is that you will not be able to make or receive calls during a power or internet outage. With a reliable internet connection, this is not be a significant issue.

The magicJack Plus phone service gives users call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, three-way calling, and voicemail, all for no additional charge. With their low yearly payment, users can make and receive unlimited local and long distance calls anywhere in the United States and Canada. Users can also make international calls for a low per minute rate, which varies from country to country.

The device is simple to set up. Consumers can expect to spend less than five minutes from opening the device, to being able to make calls. The magicJack Plus device is plugged into a high-speed modem or router, and into its power supply. Next, a standard telephone is plugged into the magicJack Plus, and users can begin making calls immediately, using their own phone number.

The device requires an initial purchase of $69.95, which includes the magicJack+ device and all of its hardware, including an AC adapter power supply, an Ethernet cable, and a cable for USB. This price also includes the first year of service, so consumers do not even have to worry about paying a phone bill for at least a year after the initial purchase. The initial purchase also includes a 30 Day Free Trial, so consumers have a month to decide whether or not they are satisfied with the magicJack Plus. This trial period eliminates the weariness of those who are switching to phone service provided through a VoIP network for the first time. If they are unsatisfied, the device can be easily returned.

VoIP Review: MagicJack – Skype – Vonage

March 18, 2010 VoIP Review, VoIp Review: Magic Jack, VoIP Review: Skype, VoIp Review: Vonage No comments

This post will share a VoIP review of three different companies rates. A long time fixture of the VoIP industry, Vonage provides various services for various rates, some of which vary in cost over time. Rates for Vonage start at $17.99 monthly, and can go as high as $34.99 a month. Much like Vonage’s status as a fixture of the VoIP industry, Vonage’s prices have remained quite fixed over time, and continue to be competitive in the VoIP industry.

In contrast to Vonage, the MagicJack service which is a relative newcomer to the VoIP industry has proven to be innovative in price and service packaging. With a low cost of $39.95 for both the MagicJack unit and a year of service, and a $19.95 yearly bill, the MagicJack service already beats Vonage hands-down in regard to service price. Adding to MagicJack’s value is the fact that service includes free long distance calling to the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. On top of long distance services provided by MagicJack, the MagicJack service also includes free directory assistance, phone number assignment, call waiting, voicemail, and caller ID.

While MagicJack and Vonage have only long-term service rates, Skype provides service on both a monthly and “Pay-As-You-Go” basis. With rates from 2.1 cents per minute for Pay-As-You-Go, Skype’s short-term benefits are quite apparent. More so, Skype presents itself as quite the competitor in regard to their monthly service plans by providing services starting from $2.95 a month for domestic calling. Along with their domestic (US & Canada) plan, Skype also provides country-selective services at the cost of $5.95 a month.

Skype’s ‘Unlimited Country’ plan allows the user to select a country in which they can make unlimited land-line calls to for the duration of their month subscription. Skype’s third monthly option is the ‘Unlimited World’ plan, at the price of $12.95 a month, Skype provides landline calls to over fourty countries worldwide. Along with the capability of being able to make telephone calls, Skype also provides the capability to make free PC-to-PC calls which also include video services.

Overall, in the competition between VoIP services, Skype provides the most cost-efficient plan without many frills. MagicJack meanwhile provides the most cost-efficient price which also includes a wide range of special services. Vonage, while being a long-time leader in VoIP services has fallen behind with their use of excessive prices, for services which are now common-place and can be delivered at lower rates by their competitors.