For $40 (plus $20 per year), MagicJack's USB VoIP dongle will let you make free unlimited telephone-to-telephone calls, but this week the company's announced MagicTalk, a piece of software for internet-connected phones and computers that will waive even those upfront costs. The
Associated Press tracked down one of our favorite
ruthless salesmen, MagicJack CEO Dan Borislow, who described a service much like Google Voice and Skype, number portability and all -- except it adds the whole allowing-free-calls-to-regular-ol-telephones bit by charging the companies that carry incoming calls. The service will reportedly be available on Windows and Mac next week, with iOS, Blackberry and Android by October, but
speaking of promises, Borislow said plans for the company's
legally-ambiguous femtocell are now on hold -- the device can't legitimately muster up enough power without a cellular carrier on board.
In other news, NetTalk announced last week that its pair of
competing VoIP boxes now support free video calls. We imagine the timing (and naming) of MagicJack's new service isn't making 'em feel too good.
posted August 15th 2010 1:19PM
I think I'd rather take the MagicFemto over this cruddy VoIP software.
Why, oh why do the carriers have to be so greedy that they can't just do this themselves?
@dragonfli
... like the bible says... you can't worship two masters (God or money).. you will love one and hate the other... so it's obvious which one most companies worship... that's why everything in this world is about money and making profits.
@SBMfromLA
That's what companies do, make profits. What's the point in them existing if they don't make money? There would be no companies if there was nothing in it for them.
@dragonfli
Since Skype has screwed over the Android platform by not releasing a true VoIP service, I'm actually looking forward to trying this out.
@Plazmic Flame You said it buddy. The exclusivity bullshit between Skype and Verizon Android phones is pretty annoying for us non Verizon people.
Like clockwork I'm sure Skype will release their Android client for all Android 2.x+ devices as soon as an alternative tries to come along.
@MisterWarmth An alternative already tried to come along, Fring. They just bullied them and forced them to remove Skype functionality from their product.
@gophergun Actually you can use the app "Nimbuzz" from the marketplace to make skype calls.
@SBMfromLA
Because god doesn't exist?
@dsgorham
No you money-worshipper. There is a God, when your time comes you will know and will cry for mercy, just wait. =]
@SBMfromLA thats true. but these companies aren't about to chage...
@dragonfli
Why does the "Puff the Magic Dragon" song come into my head everytime I hear about MagicJack! Ugggh! Thanks Engadget!
@SBMfromLA
That's a GREAT idea! Instead of being in business for money, be in business for God! Oh wait! I can name a few churches that already do that... and they make a shitload of MONEY!
@Plazmic Flame
why not just use Symbian. Symbian uses Qt, and Skype is originally done in Qt as well. Its downloadable from their site, or you can use the N900, which has almost every known VOIP service built right in.
Don't complain about features missing that are available elsewhere for years. If Skype is important, go with one of their supported platforms. Simple as taht.
*Waive*
@JesusFreak
maybe they are doing the wave. Maybe they are waving. Maybe I should waive my hand when I say hello.
Who knows?
I think I'll keep using Google Voice, thanks.
waive
"Yeah so do you wanna maybe grab lunch today and hang out? Uh... Hello?? .... Hello?? ... Are you there? Hello? Damn, I think I accidentally turned my Magic Jack Off..."
Typo: You don't "wave" costs, you "waive" them.
@RLee You can wave those fees goodbye.
well that nice leave out gud ol WiMo 6.5 out of the loop
@xtian63 Well the winpho 7 is coming!
@arash Ah i forgot, it doesnt have socket at first, but thats coming too! it looks like everything is coming
Can't wait to see the spyware attached to this...
haha!!! Time to finally dump google voice for good!!
Its Magic, Jack
Stay away from magic jack. They listen in to your conversations and study it for marketing/advertising purposes. Next thing you know, youll be getting emails, mails about what you were talking about. i read all of this somewhere, just do a quick google. Some guy tried to sue them but he was paid to hush hush about it.
@(Unverified)
You are an idiot if you believe such BS.
@(Unverified) Umm, what do you think Google does?
slow news day?
Why bother with a Mac version?
MajicTalk was in the news like four days ago...not news.
Excellent, bring it on. Its free, its good!
-----------------
[blog]: http://www.howcanbedone.com
The free Magic-Jack-Off can`t be far behind ?
i'm not sure i understand this, w/the magictalk program does your puter become the phone via the phone jack by passing the magicjack device?
I've never trusted the magic jack, anything advertised on "as seen on tv" infomercials, I dont want
really? Magic fricken jack has number portability before google voice does? That's embarrassing.
That's not $40 plus $20 per year, that is $20 plus $20 per yeagodr (you basically pay $40 at the beginning and then $20 each next year.) I know it, because I use magicJack instead of a Verizon land-line.
A good and very cheap service. There is a plugin suppressing on-screen "soft-phone", so that only your regular phones call. The only two drawbacks are: 1) you need a constantly working computer, 2) after rebooting computer by Windows upgrades magicJack does not start its service, you'll need to reboot your PC manually.
L-st t----- I tr-- to talk to -omeone ----- Magic Jack, i- -ounded -ike -is.
No thanks.
The problem is that it works like crap. I bought one of these, the quality was terrible and hardly worked. Also the software really feels like you are installing spyware on the computer, I know it's not but it just feels that way. I've switched over to using Skype and a usb to pots adapter and even though there is a monthly fee for Skypeout, at least it works really well.
@rsmith4321 I'd never even bother with something advertised on late night TV. I haven't heard anything good about Majic Jack...even the name sounds silly.
We use Skype video to talk with my son in Korea and it's almost like he's in the room with us. PC on his end, Linux on mine. When a better cross platform solution becomes available, I'll evaluate it. Skype also has Skype Out, which is working great for him, forwarding his US phone number to Korea.
Thank you Apple for changing the cell phone industry!
@MacWins10
For about 12 months before getting squashed by Android.
I would gladly have paid MagicJack $40 upfront and $20 a month to stop airing those G#*@D$+! advertisements every 12.5 minutes. Here's hoping they will shut the F12 up already.
they need to make a PCIe X1 card
"except it adds the whole allowing-free-calls-to-regular-ol-telephones bit by charging the companies that carry incoming calls."
So you're essentially making collect calls with this service?
Crappy voip. Voice quality was terrible. Used it and dumped it. Not sure why google is holding back on gizmo 5. That will make Skype sit up on android platform.
Sad it doesn't work for mobile phones. Because, nobody have old phones anymore :)
I got Magic Jack over a year ago and added 5years for $60 = $100 total for 6 years of service. I still have my land line and only use MJ for long distance via separate client computer. The voice quality is as good as my land line, never a dropped call or static. I have no need for a cellphone unlike the rest of the world, but if i did it would be a prepaid type. Overall i consider my MJ set-up a pretty good investment.
If only the call quality didn't suck