Magic Jack?

[Bushman]

Garth's post on using Magic Jack has me wondering about that HW.  Anyone have MJ Plus?  I  need an IP based telephony system and this likes it would work nicely.  Comments?

[Garth Bock]

I looked at MJ+ and it is nice that i can be either router based or direct connected. However you can't connect your entire house to it. MJ can only power one phone (get a wireless phone with multiple base stations). Nettalk ( http://www.nettalk.com/competition ) is its competitor and can handle up to three house phones and give more but when I checked available phone numbers there were barely any in my area (309). My MJ number is in a town about 10 miles from here which is fine. The only other one I would look at is Ooma but it is more expensive. One thing that surprised my friends is when I am out of town and connect up my MJ to my laptop via wifi and make phone calls. I was able to drop my cell plan down because of it.

[Bushman]

I need router based since there is a PBX where this is going.  Sounds like MJ+ might be the way to go.

[Garth Bock]

Here is a list of area codes for Nettalk and MJ

http://nettalktt.com/ProductsServices/NettalkAreaCodes/tabid/120/Default.aspx

http://www.magicjacknumbers.com/

Just be aware that you might not get a phone number in the town you are in. You might end up like I did with a number in a town 10 miles away but it is still a local call. The next town from there is long distance.

[Bushman]

Here is a list of area codes for Nettalk and MJ

http://nettalktt.com/ProductsServices/NettalkAreaCodes/tabid/120/Default.aspx

http://www.magicjacknumbers.com/

Just be aware that you might not get a phone number in the town you are in. You might end up like I did with a number in a town 10 miles away but it is still a local call. The next town from there is long distance.

What is the area code is the same but much farther away?  Still a local call?

[Garth Bock]

Even though my calls anywhere are basically free, there are some small towns here that are serviced by a small phone company and some that are under Illinois Bell. We are under Verizon/Frontier because we used to be the midwestern regional center for GTE (Generous Telephone). For a few years one of our outlying developments called Apollo Acres (yes it has Jupiter Drive, Lunar Way, Saturn Court..) was long distance. The Acres was only a mile outside our circle parkway (Blm/Normal has an oval shaped parkway around us). You could basically go over the parkway and be in a long distance area. Calls from Apollo Acres into Bloomington was long distance but not from Bloomington to Apollo Acres. So a call from any of those areas are long distance for some. I want my friends to be able to call my MJ number without calling long distance.

A buddy of mine uses his MJ to have his satellite dish system call its 800 number for updates so he doesn't care about LD charges.

[Bushman]

I think you have convinced me to try it.  The alternative s about $45 bucks a month vs currently free Internet (for VOIP).  If it works, I might even drop the land line where my weather station is  and save more!  Too bad in Canada you can't keep your current number though.

[kray1000]

Garth's post on using Magic Jack has me wondering about that HW.  Anyone have MJ Plus?  I  need an IP based telephony system and this likes it would work nicely.  Comments?

I ordered Magic Jack Plus a couple weeks ago but haven't had time to actually hook it up to my phone line.  My plan is to hook it up as Garth Bock suggested, directly to a wireless base with multiple handsets.  I'll report back when I get things set up.

[Bushman]

Cool - I look forward to your report.  They are sold out up here until the New Year, but as soon as they come on line I'll get the Plus.  It will be interesting to see what the local Telco says when I tell them I'm dropping the 45/month charge. 

[kray1000]

Cool - I look forward to your report.  They are sold out up here until the New Year, but as soon as they come on line I'll get the Plus.  It will be interesting to see what the local Telco says when I tell them I'm dropping the 45/month charge.  

Yeah, I'm planning to do the same thing.  I still have an axe to grind with my local phone company.  

I'm just not ready to give up the "landline", so I'm hoping this will work as a cheaper option.

[Bushman]

AS long as it works with my Sensaphone I'm golden.  Slightly rich, even.  Plus I get to scr3w the telephone company.

[dasman]

I have ooma!

You pay 199.00 for the box then only 3.45 a month for taxes.  According to their site if you disconnect the phone line in at the phone box, you can plug ooma to your wall so you can use the wall jacks!

They also have a premium package for 9.99 a month which has 911 service, an extra phone line, call forwarding, and a ton of other stuff.  I love it.  Don't miss ATT at all.  

The box either plugs directly to the router, or you can purchase a wireless adapter, and put the box anywhere.  I have the adapter and it works great.

Dave