Quote :

"magicJack for free phone calls http://www.magicjack.com/ via http://www.everythingusb.com/magicjack_12100.html via http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2007/03/magicjack_for_free_phone_calls.html If you are tired of paying phone bills but don’t want to mess with VoIP services that require hardware and Skype just doesn’t cut it magicJack could be a great alternative. Currently magicJack is in beta, but the site promises the product will be live in April 2007 with lots more features. magicJack looks just like a USB flash drive with a phone jack on the rear. All you need to do is plug it into your USB port and the required software installs automatically to any PC. Once installed you are supposed to be able to plug in any phone (no need for dedicated USB phones) and call any landline or cellular number for free. The magicJack site says nothing about access charges, it only says you buy the magicJack and all calls are free. It will also provide caller ID, call forwarding, and call waiting as well as your own phone number that can be used from anywhere, including overseas. No pricing is available at this time."

3/13/2007 2:27:02 AM

cool

3/13/2007 7:49:13 AM

my thoughts exactly.

3/14/2007 4:21:46 PM

Buying the unit includes a 1yr subscription.

So yes, there are fees, who knows that they will charge for the service renewal.

3/14/2007 4:27:28 PM

im betting on standard cell subscription prices

[Edited on March 14, 2007 at 4:39 PM. Reason : though i guess they dont have to support all the hardware, so maybe landline prices]

3/14/2007 4:36:26 PM

I'm betting you don't have the first clue what you're talking about.

3/14/2007 4:39:50 PM

That's a pretty good substitute for a landline phone.

3/14/2007 5:09:23 PM

Quote :

"All you need to do is plug it into your USB port and the required software installs automatically to any PC"

... does this not scare anyone? even a little bit? ... i'm assuming it's similar to the U3, but still... who knows what crap they may try to embed in it

[Edited on March 14, 2007 at 6:01 PM. Reason : .]

3/14/2007 6:01:12 PM

Autorun never scared me

3/14/2007 6:13:51 PM

this is just a Cisco ATA or Linksys PAP Adapter in a cute usb package - nothing new

neither of the above mentioned devices are free of "voip mess", especially at home on a consumer circuit

3/14/2007 6:17:59 PM

^yep

3/14/2007 6:43:09 PM

Quote :

"Autorun never scared me"

i was referring to the concern for the general public, this would be a perfect device to have tracking/ad/spam/malware/rootkit in... especially with very little information around the company.

all privacy concerns aside, it would be a nice gadget to carry around with you and a laptop on international trips.

3/14/2007 7:39:05 PM

Quote :

"That's a pretty good substitute for a landline phone."

not as convenient as cellphones, but is still quite nice. while it is more convenient than a land line, you have to have special hardware to use it.

and el nacho, what is your prediction? no one will use the thing if it costs similar to or more than a cellphone, but im sure it'll cost a decent bit because of the novelty.

[Edited on March 14, 2007 at 7:57 PM. Reason : .]

3/14/2007 7:54:24 PM

^^yea I agree the potential is there, but no big box retailer is going to carry it, and the blog-o-sphere would rip it a new one in a heartbeat if they tried to pull anything like that.

This isn't a cell phone replacement guys. It would be AMAZINGLY useful for business travelers and small businesses in general.

Hell we run our business phone with Skype+ATA adapter and soon to be clearwire. It will save us almost $1200 a year over the cheapest business landline and business internet connection. Never had a single problem with signal quality or any of that jazz. Plus voicemail and call-backs are EASY AS HELL compared to a traditional system.

3/15/2007 2:04:56 AM

Quote :

"It would be AMAZINGLY useful for business travelers and small businesses in general."

Hell yes it would. I would love to have something like this for traveling in South America...

my company is also using the Skype + ATA right now and we are always keeping our eyes open for anything to help our communications globally... being small but operating all over the world can be pricey.

3/15/2007 12:58:21 PM

bttt per request

1/7/2009 1:21:53 PM

does anyone know if theres a way to grab the SIP info out of these things? I have a pap2 i'd like to setup at home. I need some kind of phone line other than my cell, but really only for the occasional inbound call. The magic jack requires you keep your comp on all the time which would kinda suck.

Does anyone have a cheap per month or per minute sip provider i should take a look at?

1/7/2009 1:42:58 PM

so it's the same as the vonage usb device? ooook.

1/7/2009 1:44:06 PM

has anyone used this? it's just a one-time $40 purchase and then free voip? no software to install?

1/7/2009 2:16:23 PM

Quote :

"does anyone know if theres a way to grab the SIP info out of these things?"

http://magicjackhacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/magicjack-sip-info.html

1/7/2009 2:35:48 PM

packet8 has been a great sip monthly setup for me. 15/month base or possibly 10 if you tell em its a fax line

1/7/2009 3:08:18 PM

Quote :

"has anyone used this? it's just a one-time $40 purchase and then free voip? no software to install?"

Have you not seen the commercials?

the first year is like $40 and includes the hardware, subsequent years cost something like $10 (not sure the exact price, but it's cheap).

1/7/2009 3:26:13 PM

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/04/14/magicjacks-eula-says.html

Quote :

""You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work ... Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads""

1/7/2009 3:26:58 PM

i got one because my apartment is in a deadzone for just about all cell phone providers. call quality is hit or miss as sometimes its great and othertimes it leaves much to be desired. doesn't work too well if you are downloading anything. i'd say its worth the $40, especially if your cell is in a dead zone.

1/7/2009 4:01:58 PM

im gonna give it a try. Once I get it i'll try one of those hacks to get the info and report back on how well it works with a pap2.

1/7/2009 4:09:07 PM

Quote :

""You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work ... Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads""

If I ever thought about using MagicJack, this has just stopped me.

1/7/2009 4:42:53 PM

I called iraq using one of these bad boys

my father broker's for this guy in the NE

1/7/2009 5:47:55 PM

step 1) sniff the SIP login info that your magicjack is using
step 2) get an ATA off of ebay (or set up an asterisk box)
step 3) configure the ATA to use your magicjack SIP connection
step 4) ...
step 5) profit


no adware, no anything

1/7/2009 7:00:03 PM

u got a wiki article to back up that accusation?

1/7/2009 7:03:48 PM

what accusation? it's in their ToS - http://www.magicjack.com/tos/

no doubt it's a good service, i just don't want their USB dongle

1/7/2009 7:07:41 PM

Got my dongle today. Setup was quick and the default software works (looks like its based off sjphone). I got a tool to grab the sip info out of memory from magicjackhacks and then put the info into xlite. Works fine. Now i need to find a hardphone and i'll hook up my ata.

1/26/2009 7:29:31 PM

paste an Invite, im curious

1/26/2009 7:32:13 PM

I dont think there are invites. Just go to magicjack.com and sign up for the free trial. They'll bill you for $40+shipping 30days after you get it. So if you dont want it return it before then and you're good.

1/26/2009 7:38:07 PM

stupid question: what's an ATA?

also, what use is the PAP2? i have one lying around from my early vonage days

[Edited on January 27, 2009 at 10:23 AM. Reason : .]

1/27/2009 10:22:42 AM

analog telephone adapter (PAP2, vonage router, sipura spa*,etc..) You plug them into your network and setup your sip account info on one of their phone ports. Then plug an analog phone into that port. Basicly is SIP voip -> standard analog phone.

Linksys/vonage PAP2's are Sipura SPA1001s. Until the last firmware relases the PAP2s could be unlocked if you knew the vonage passcodes and/or flashed them with the SPA1001 firmare. Its been fixed but i unlocked the one i have a few years ago.


If you haven't plugged your PAP 2 into the internet in a long time its possible you have a firmware old enough to unlock. If you want to try it go read up on it (google PAP2 unlock theres tons of info) and then give it a try. You'll want to put your pap2 onto your lan where you can reach it from your comp, but you dont want it to be able to hit the internet. If it gets out, it will update, and it will be useless. So read up, download the firmwares, get the codes, save it all, and then unplug yourself from the net before plugging in the ATA

[Edited on January 27, 2009 at 10:41 AM. Reason : .]

1/27/2009 10:38:38 AM

stupid question, then...does an unlocked PAP2 give me "free" voip? it hasn't been plugged into anything in 2-3 years, though i remember back in the day, i looked to unlock it (i don't recall that it was for any reason other than i could ), but that i had a firmware version that was otherwise locked down

i'm completely clueless (obviously) in this particular area, to educate me as to what i might be able to do with this thing

1/27/2009 2:06:12 PM

So if you do all of the above to unlock - you can make outgoing calls but what about incoming?

1/27/2009 2:21:23 PM

how does it use the sip protocol if it doesnt send an Invite?

1/27/2009 2:24:36 PM

Unlocking a PAP2 allows you to change voice settings. It doesn't give you free service. By default vonage locks those settings and provisions the device from its servers. If you're using vonage's service you would never change that because it would break your service. However, if you aren't with vonage but still own the hardware unlocking saves you from having to buy a new ATA.

To get phone out of an ATA you still need a service provider (vonage, packet8, magicjack, etc...). If you've ever used a softphone like x-lite its the same idea.

1/28/2009 9:32:39 AM

bttt

2/8/2009 8:29:30 PM

http://radinfo.blogspot.com/2009/02/magicjack-exposed.html

2/11/2009 12:21:23 PM

via ^, from http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/r20996377-The-real-deal-about-the-notso-Magic-Jack

Quote :

"The real deal about the not-so Magic Jack Let me start off by saying this is not flaming or spam, etc. This is just pointing out the not-so-obvious that is hidden deep within the TOS, and other 'gotcha's' that you won't realize until after you give up your $ and privacy! First: Here is the contact info for MagicJack: PO BOX 6785 West Palm Beach, FL 33405 Magic Jack Phone number: 281-404-1551 Billing MagicJack number: 561-594-2140 CAUTION: it looks like they track the number that calls and places you into a repeating loop if you call back a second time. so if you need to call a second time make sure its from a different number. Second: In the TOS you agree that everything in your computer is fair game for them to know about, all web sites, email, and numbers called are there info. You agree to have all of your information resold to third parties. There is no Un install for this program. Even if you stop using it, it gathers your information. You are put under high pressure to sign up and pay for 5 years. There is no published phone number, email address, or mailing address. All customer support is done via type in the box chat. There is no written warranty on the box. It breaks, you buy another to maintain your service. Computer must be left on to make or receive calls. Pop up window comes to front of screen anytime there is a call in or out call. MajicJack Spyware slows down your computer even when you are not using MagicJack Advertising is in the pop up box. And yes, you do save around $150 a year not using a real Voip company. At what little price people put on the information and security. So ask yourself, is it really worth it?"

2/11/2009 6:00:51 PM

ad supported service is ad supported.

altho, if you put it on your own sip device you never see any of that stuff.

2/12/2009 12:10:17 PM

seriously

what if you put it on your own SIP

do they know that you are making calls and they arent getting their precious datas?

hell, you can always install it in a vm

2/12/2009 1:03:43 PM

who the heck wants to run a VM just so they can make phone calls. what a waste of resources, not to mention you'd have to keep it open the entire time.

2/12/2009 1:39:45 PM

well if you cant uninstall program, a vm would be a great container

2/12/2009 3:08:40 PM

theres a tool on the magicjackhack site that removes the software for you. Its not a big deal.

2/12/2009 3:17:37 PM

oh ok then

didnt know that

2/12/2009 3:31:17 PM

http://www.download.com/MagicBlock/3000-2349_4-10838528.html

http://uninstallmagicjack.com/

[Edited on February 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM. Reason : .]

2/12/2009 4:31:36 PM