NetTalk reveals the Duo, we await MagicJack's response
By Sean Hollister 
posted July 15th 2010 3:54AM
posted July 15th 2010 3:54AM
netTALK.COM, INC. Debuts netTALK DUO™ VoIP Telephone Device, Creating Superior Digital Phone Service that Offers Free Nationwide Calls without Monthly Fees and Long Term Contracts – Now Available for Pre-Order
netTALK's versatile digital voice service and simple VoIP adapter comes with everything you need to Fire Your Phone Company®, including free local phone number, faxing capabilities, voicemail and more
Connects directly to Internet, resulting in savings, convenience and portability -- no computer required
Miami, FL – July 14, 2010 - netTALK.COM, INC. (OTCBB: NTLK), a publicly traded Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) company engaged in the sales of developed products and connectivity network phone service for the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), has revealed its newest creation that gives you everything you need to Fire Your Phone Company® -- the revolutionary netTALK DUO™.
Now available for pre-order at a discounted rate of 10 percent, the netTALK DUO offers customers free nationwide calls to any landline or mobile phone in the U.S. and Canada from anywhere in the world, as well as low-cost international rates. It's also the most versatile digital phone service available – no monthly fees, no contracts and no computer required.
Unlike other devices, the netTALK DUO is flexible enough to connect directly to your Internet connection through the router/modem, rather than passively through the computer; although that is also a convenient option with the DUO. Plus, its sleek design is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it the most portable device of its kind.
By not relying on a computer to make and receive phone calls, the DUO allows for greater flexibility and phone privacy for single-computer households and families. Additionally, the DUO reduces the wear and tear put on your home or office computer and considerably reduces energy costs, resulting in significant money savings. Plus, with the fax-friendly DUO, there is officially no reason to hold onto your traditional phone service, a unique feature not offered by similar digital phone services.
The portability of this small device is also great for international travelers who want to place free nationwide calls to the U.S. and Canada, or who are looking for a low-cost solution for international rates. Calls to other netTALK customers are always free.
The DUO comes with everything you need for a quick set-up, including a 3-ft. Ethernet cable, USB cable and USB adaptor for easy plug-and-play functionality. All the user needs to get started is high-speed Internet and a traditional corded or cordless telephone. netTALK even has nationwide phone number availability for customers in the continental U.S. who want to keep their local area code.
Additional benefits of the DUO include the choice of a free local telephone number, enhanced 911, free 411directory assistance, call waiting, voicemail and live tech support with specially trained TALK Experts.
To handle growing demand and expected high call volume, various operation and service upgrades are also in full effect for netTALK. In fact, network operational data centers have already expanded from Miami to multiple new metropolitan areas like Tampa, Beaverton, Houston, Smyrna, Salt Lake, Seattle, Cambridge, Charlotte and New York City, to improve call routing efficiencies and switching procedures, enhancing overall call quality and customer service satisfaction. These new networks also eliminate data bottlenecking and clogged call centers.
For improved customer engagement, netTALK has also redesigned the interface of its Customer Account Manager web site where users can access enhanced voicemail and E911 capabilities, among others. The local phone number selection process has also been streamlined for improved convenience.
The netTALK DUO is available for $69.95 including the entire first year of service and only $29.95 each year after (no monthly fees or long term contracts) at www.netTALK.com. It's a no brainer! Other phone companies can charge this for only ONE month of service. Plus, for a limited time, customers who pre-order the netTALK DUO will receive a 10 percent discount.
@engadget, is there a problem with MagicJack? Coz my dad used one and since he connected it to his computer, his free space in C Drice has been decreasing dramatically! It has decreased about 45 GB since then. NO programs or ANYTHING was installed. Also, he keeps cleaning all the temporary files. but doesnt seem to work :(
@statickeith http://www.diskspacefan.com/ Gives you a visual representation of what is taking up space on your hard drive, and how much. Tell your dad to use that and poke around to see what is taking up so much space.
Couldn't find anything with a quick Google search or I'd have left you a LMGTFY.com link :P
@statickeith shadowcopy
@voltaek SpaceSniffer displays your files in a better layout, and is completely free: http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/
@statickeith Delete shadowcopy that is not magic jack you are wrong! I believe your dad is using wimdows vista or windows 7! Just uncheck shadowcopy option. MAgic jack is good but only thing u gotta have the computer on all day , im lucky i have a low powered cpu .
This is awesome! I dont need to leave my comp on all the damn time. I'll be getting this. Thanks Engadget!
@Cheesus Crust : I have had the nettalk tk6000 for a few months now . i paid 100$ for lifetime of service. There were some issues (calls will not connect) initially most of which have been sorted out last month.. The last one month has been pretty remarkable.. At this time, I would definitely recommend this.
@Cheesus Crust That is exactly my issue with Magic Jack, I have it plugged into a laptop that serves as its host and a DVR box. It was the lowest power usage scenario for a box that is going to be left on all the time. Might have to look into this when my magic jack sub expires.
Hopefully their business practices and service quality don't initiate thousands of complaints to the BBB.
I had Magicjack for 2 years and moved to Ooma for $150 forever. Very happy with the Ooma service. Better call quality, much more reliable, and no Windows maintenence (just a tiny linux-driven box that also functions as an answering machine). Really trouble-free.
@greenmonkey oomas been well recd here too. 100 per year for some really great features (answering, forwarding, dual lines, etc). hope they stay afloat.
@greenmonkey
I don't understand why everybody in the country doesn't use OOMA. Buy the unit for about $200 and never pay a phone bill again! Easy as that. Call quality is good.
@greenmonkey
Me too. I'm a happy Ooma user. The blacklist is my absolute favorite feature.
I was thinking of replacing my magic jack but after reading their TOS I changed my Mind. You can't call anyone in Puerto Rico or other places for free.
From their TOS definitions 1 (c) Calls within the United States do not include international calls, or calls to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and certain other locations within the North American Numbering Plan Area,
I have a magic jack as my primary line. No complaints at all. So far it has always worked as advertised. However, I do like how pretty much every other service offers some sort of device to eliminate the need for a computer. I hope magic jack follows suit and offers something similar for their customers.
Too bad that NetTalk doesn't offer number portability. That's a deal-breaker for us.
We've had the same phone number at the house for decades and we don't want to lose it, though we scarcely use it anymore, since everyone has their own cell number. The former wired-line number's been parked on T-Mobile's VOIP service since it was introduced a couple of years ago but T-Mo's $120 per year and they're rumored to be shutting down their VOIP biz.
@roebling
I thought the FCC required companies to allow you to keep your number? Or was that only for cell phones?
@ThreeDee912
Most VOIP providers don't port all numbers. Vonage, the best of that breed, ports all numbers. NetTalk doesn't port any:
http://faq.nettalk.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=132&nav=0,11
Is it better to do this or just get OOMA? It's getting a lot harder to find the legacy OOMA stuff (that didn't charge a yearly fee).
@htowngator
I wouldn't sweat the fee. The premium Ooma service is still only around $10 a month, and you get a boatload of features with that, including a second line and (my favorite feature) standard and user managed blacklists. (ie telemarketer calls your number, and all they here is a continuous ring. The call never reaches your phone. It is like sending them all to /dev/null ). Moving to Ooma was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Who is MagicTalk? ;-)
Also, anyone know the release date?
Ultimate long distance my arse. Other than the US and Canada, you still have to pay to call other countries. Wasn't voip suppose to eliminate that like ten year ago?
MagicJack -
Cheaper for the first year.
Cheaper each year after that.
Though, I would like MagicJack to come up with something like this to where it doesn't require the computer to be on.
@SCB
Actually, I'd tend to disagree with your math there... You should be reviewing this device (as with any electrical hardware by TCO - Total Cost of Ownership).
Approximated Total Cost of Ownership::
MagicJack
Year 1: ($40 [initial purchase]) + ((160 watts [computer left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $194.18
Year 2: $20 [service] + ((160 watts [computer left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $174.18
Year 3: $20 [service] + ((160 watts [computer left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $174.18
Year 4: $20 [service] + ((160 watts [computer left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $174.18
Year 5: $20 [service] + ((160 watts [computer left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $174.18
Total after 5 years: $194.18 + (4 * $174.18) = $890.90
NetTalk
Year 1: ($63 [initial purchase]) + ((5 watts [NT-Duo left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $67.82
Year 2: $30 [service] + ((5 watts [TK6000 left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $34.82
Year 3: $30 [service] + ((5 watts [TK6000 left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $34.82
Year 4: $30 [service] + ((5 watts [TK6000 left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $34.82
Year 5: $30 [service] + ((5 watts [TK6000 left on] * (8,760 hours per year) / 1000) * $0.11 [approx. cost per kwh]) = $34.82
Total after 5 years: $67.82 + (4 * $34.82) = $207.10
Thus, the way I see it... the NetTalk Duo costs approximately the same amount for 5 years of service as MagicJack does for the first 12 months of use!
Or to look at it a different way:
MagicJack Monthly cost over 60 months: $14.85 / month
NetTalk Monthly cost over 60 months: $3.45 / month
@clintec If you already leave your computer on all the time, your argument is irrelevant.
What I like about the NetTalk is that you don't have to be in front of your computer to use it -- I can stick it in my basement, plug it into the 9 jacks already run around my house and be done.
If it will let me set the number of rings before their voicemail kicks in or I don't know turn their damn voice service this certainly looks better than Magic Jack. That and the stand alone nature of not needing a computer in the middle is a huge bonus.
i will love to switch to Magicjack or Nettalk or even to Ooma but i have to still to Vonage....because of their free call to other countries( well not free but included in one price of 24.99) until i can get a cheaper services with free long distance to other countries-, i am stuck with Vonage for now. my family and i makes a lot of calls to Europe, we can talk forever and not worry about huge phone bill.
@zulu156 You should switch from Vonage to ViaTalk (http://snipr.com/zf96d)
Unlimited calling to the US and Canada is only $15.75/month and they also include 60 mins/month of international calling for free.
It looks like they're running their infrequent sale right now that gives you a second year for free, meaning the cost per month is only $7.88!
Additional calls to the UK are billed at 3.7c/min, but I use LocalPhone (http://snipr.com/zf99e) instead which only costs me 0.9c/min.
@zulu156 In your situation, you should use Ooma and Skype together. I am using Ooma for US calls and Skype for international calls. For Skype, both of you must have Skype phone, example I am using Nokia 5800. Or you can buy 2 Ooma phones, 1 in US and 1 in Europe but it's not portable like Skype.
@koolio Maybe I'm missing something but I don't really see the point in paying $200 for an Ooma and then paying another $15/month for Ooma Premier + Enhanced Voicemail to get the same features you get with ViaTalk (http://www.ooma.com/legal/rates)
Skype is a good solution if your other party also has Skype...and their computer is on...and you both don't mind having to buy either a Skype Adapter or a Skype Phone.
Maybe I AM missing something obvious here, or maybe it's just Horse-For-Courses :)
FYI to Engadget: I called their phone ordering line to find out about release date and they said they actually have them ready to go, no pre-order necessary.
Quick question as I don't know much about these services and I think it will be easier to post here than google. Do these services give you an incoming phone number or is it only for outgoing calls? Thanks!
@VerBeauty You get an incoming phone number
I would love someone to make one of these that is fully compatible with Windows Home Server.
@Cotay
I've never tried it but I don't see any reason why my MagicJack wouldn't install itself and run on my ASUS TS-Mini Home server. It runs WHS and uses only 27 watts and it's on all the time already.
I have had the TK6000 with the 99.00 UNLIMITED forever and I have never once had a problem with the service. It does however seem to end calls exactly at 2 hours talk time but all you need to do is redial the call. I love the service and the fact that I have it forever for 99.00 as long as they are still in business. I like this unit because it does not need to be plugged into a PC to make calls. It functions standalone directly connected to my FIOS router.