[Telecom] Re: Any user reviews of the Magic Jack?
Fred Atkinson
It sounds good. However, I don't like the idea of having a device that
ties up my computer when it could be a separate device on my home network.
Has Magic Jack thought of selling a stand-alone device that would take an
IP address from your home/office router and do the same thing [without tying
up the resources on your home/office computer]? It could use their network
and achieve the same end. I'd gladly pay a bit more for the device up front
to get the twenty dollar per year rate for service.
Regards,
Fred
John Levine
>take an IP address from your home/office router and do the same thing
>[without tying up the resources on your home/office computer]? It
>could use their network and achieve the same end. I'd gladly pay a
>bit more for the device up front to get the twenty dollar per year
>rate for service.
That's what all the regular VoIP providers do. They give you a box
which has an ethernet plug on one side and an RJ-11 on the other, or
in some cases they sell you a router with the VoIP box built in.
Lingo has a $7/mo plan with free incoming calls, free outgoing to
US/Canada toll-free numbers and other Lingo customers, and about 3 cpm
for most other calls. I like them, I used that plan when I was
running a small business for which I needed a real phone number that
rang and I could answer.
R's,
John
David Clayton
>> Has Magic Jack thought of selling a stand-alone device that would
>>take an IP address from your home/office router and do the same thing
>>[without tying up the resources on your home/office computer]? It could
>>use their network and achieve the same end. I'd gladly pay a bit more
>>for the device up front to get the twenty dollar per year rate for
>>service.
>
> That's what all the regular VoIP providers do. They give you a box
> which has an ethernet plug on one side and an RJ-11 on the other, or in
> some cases they sell you a router with the VoIP box built in.
.........
Anything that just plugs into a 'net connection without QoS at the local
congestion point - usually the last router/modem - is not going to
provide decent VoIP on a link with any sort of high utilization.
Many people are starting to use VoIP and are getting it wrong by not
having a QoS device managing their traffic, and this can lead to a lot of
disappointment with the technology.
--
Regards, David.
David Clayton
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Knowledge is a measure of how many answers you have, intelligence is a
measure of how many questions you have.
T
says...
MagicJack provides all the features you mention. If it's really that big
a drag buy a cheapo laptop (used or refurbed) and plug the MagicJack
into that and thence to your phone system of choice.
Fred Atkinson
> > would take an IP address from your home/office router and do the
> > same thing [without tying up the resources on your home/office
> > computer]? It could use their network and achieve the same end.
> > I'd gladly pay a bit more for the device up front to get the
> > twenty dollar per year rate for service.
> That's what all the regular VoIP providers do. They give you a box
> which has an ethernet plug on one side and an RJ-11 on the other, or
> in some cases they sell you a router with the VoIP box built in.
I realize that. But do you know of any of them that offer it for
twenty dollars per year? That's why I'd prefer to use their network
but with a standalone device rather than having to tie up cycles on my
PC. As I previously said, I'd gladly pay an extra one time charge for
the hardware.
> Lingo has a $7/mo plan with free incoming calls, free outgoing to
> US/Canada toll-free numbers and other Lingo customers, and about 3
> cpm for most other calls. I like them, I used that plan when I was
> running a small business for which I needed a real phone number that
> rang and I could answer.
Sounds good. Maybe I'll look into them.
In the meantime, I wish Magic Jack would consider my idea.
Regards,
Fred
www.Queensbridge.us
> Lingo has a $7/mo plan with free incoming calls, free outgoing to
> US/Canada toll-free numbers and other Lingo customers, and about 3 cpm
> for most other calls.
I use OneSuite, [which has] no monthly charge, and [I] never pay more
then 3CPM. Since I use my regular POTS all incoming calls are free,
[and] I don't have to leave a computer on.
OneSuite is as low as 1.9CPM to USA-Canada: [it] works as [a] prepaid
phone card, [and a] PIN [is] not needed for calls from home or [a]
cell phone.
John Levine
>> which has an ethernet plug on one side and an RJ-11 on the other, or
>> in some cases they sell you a router with the VoIP box built in.
>
> I realize that. But do you know of any of them that offer it for
>twenty dollars per year? That's why I'd prefer to use their network
>but with a standalone device rather than having to tie up cycles on my
>PC. As I previously said, I'd gladly pay an extra one time charge for
>the hardware.
I don't know of anyone else who assigns you a phone number cheaper
than Lingo. If you're willing to tie up your PC and accept their ads
(see the terms of service), the price for Magic Jack is hard to beat.
R's,
John
John Levine
>> US/Canada toll-free numbers and other Lingo customers, and about 3 cpm
>> for most other calls.
>
>I use OneSuite, [which has] no monthly charge, and [I] never pay more
>then 3CPM. Since I use my regular POTS all incoming calls are free,
>[and] I don't have to leave a computer on.
You're comparing apples and oranges.
Onesuite's main offering is a calling card that you use for outbound
calls in connection with an existing phone, or over the net via a
softphone that runs on your PC. It's a perfectly decent calling card,
but 3cpm is not particular cheap these days. It happens to be the
same price Lingo charges for outbound calls on its $7 plan.
If you want incoming phone service from Onesuite, they have something
called SuiteAdvantage for $3/mo extra, but that ties up your PC since
you have to be running their softphone to accept calls. I'd use the
Magicjack dongle instead.
R's,
John
har...@hallikainen.com
> Onesuite's main offering is a calling card that you use for outbound
> calls in connection with an existing phone, or over the net via a
> softphone that runs on your PC. It's a perfectly decent calling card,
> but 3cpm is not particular cheap these days. It happens to be the
> same price Lingo charges for outbound calls on its $7 plan.
What is the current compensation rate carriers have to pay the carrier
that terminates the call? It seems that this is going to be a limiting
factor on long distance, unless the long distance carrier also
terminates the call (which is why net calling is typically free).
Harold
John Levine
>that terminates the call? It seems that this is going to be a limiting
>factor on long distance, unless the long distance carrier also
>terminates the call (which is why net calling is typically free).
For the major telcos, it is now very low, a small fraction of a cent
per minute. There's still rural LECs who get multi-cent payments, but
give or take the occasional "free" international forwarding or
conference service, their share of the traffic is tiny.
It's pretty common to find flat rate long distance plans from telcos
for $20/mo, or the equivalent bundled into an overall plan. You can
easily find prepaid calling cards charging 1cpm or less.
R's,
John
***** Moderator's Note *****
My son regularly uses a pay phone to call me from his school, using
prepaid phone cards. I have yet to find one that doesn't add a
surcharge - as much as 75 cents in one case - for any pay phone call,
so keep in mind that most advertised prices assume you're calling from
a non-public phone.
Bill Horne
Temporary Moderator
Please put [Telecom] at the end of your subject line, or I may never
see your post! Thanks!
We have a new address for email submissions: telecomdigestmoderator
atsign telecom-digest.org. This is only for those who submit posts via
email: if you use a newsreader or a web interface to contribute to the
digest, you don't need to change anything.
John Levine
>prepaid phone cards. I have yet to find one that doesn't add a
>surcharge - as much as 75 cents in one case - for any pay phone call,
In the US, the payphone provider gets paid something like 50 cents for
every 800 call, so I'm not surprised.
I have a card with no surcharge, but you have to buy it in Canada. If
you're ever in the frozen north, drop by a Loblaws (also known as
Canadian Superstore and some other things) and get a Presidents Choice
calling card. It's C$.04 per minute. Once you have one you can
recharge it from anywhere over the net.
If he has access to a phone that can make local calls, you might look
for a local access phone card, since those are cheaper and don't have
a payphone surcharge.
R's,
John
***** Moderator's Note *****
I invite responses from Canadian readers who are interested in
starting a cottage industry. I'll be your first customer.
My son's school insists that all calls be made on the payphone, and
when I offered to install a private line for his use, they said they
were going to set one up for all the students to use "soon", but
somehow that hasn't happened. I suspect they're too busy counting the
receipts from their pay phone business.
Joseph Singer
<<For the major telcos, it is now very low, a small fraction of a cent
per minute. There's still rural LECs who get multi-cent payments, but
give or take the occasional "free" international forwarding or
conference service, their share of the traffic is tiny.
It's pretty common to find flat rate long distance plans from telcos
for $20/mo, or the equivalent bundled into an overall plan. You can
easily find prepaid calling cards charging 1cpm or less.>>
The problem is with those "1cpm" calling cards is that they have lots
of "gotchas" if you use 'em. Many have per call connection charges
sometimes as much as 50 cents. And many of them hang on various fees
such as weekly "maintenance" fees as well as other fees. You'll see
these low rate calling cards advertised in convenience stores
especially with imigrant population users. Below the "low rate"
featured there will be a laundry list of conditions and fees that help
to negate any real savings you could possibly have. As mentioned they
will also charge exorbitant amounts for public phone access if only
because they can (same rationalization that the mobile operators
charge 20 cents per message for text messages if you are calling á
la carte and don't have a messaging plan.
Stephen
> >> Lingo has a $7/mo plan with free incoming calls, free outgoing to
> >> US/Canada toll-free numbers and other Lingo customers, and about 3 cpm
> >> for most other calls.
>
> >then 3CPM. Since I use my regular POTS all incoming calls are free,
> >[and] I don't have to leave a computer on.
>
> You're comparing apples and oranges.
>
> Onesuite's main offering is a calling card that you use for outbound
> calls in connection with an existing phone, or over the net via a
> softphone that runs on your PC. It's a perfectly decent calling card,
> but 3cpm is not particular cheap these days. It happens to be the
> same price Lingo charges for outbound calls on its $7 plan.
>
> called SuiteAdvantage for $3/mo extra, but that ties up your PC since
> you have to be running their softphone to accept calls. I'd use the
> Magicjack dongle instead.
>
> R's,
> John
Actually, Onesuite prepaid calling card rates via local access numbers
across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
lot of] calls.
About their SuiteAdvantage: yes, you use softphone in your PC, which
only consumes about 14 MB of RAM (it doesn't use [many] PC resources),
and, like MagicJack, you also need a PC to use it, but SuiteAdvantage
can [also] be set up (though Onesuite [won't] give support) on a
regular ATA device (Grandstream, Linksys, etc) so you can leave your
PC turned off and still use their VoIP service. On MagicJack, there's
no way you can use it without a PC, and that's really a drawback,
especially if you are trying to save money (the very reason you are
using voip) [because] you need your PC to be on 24/7.
John Levine
>across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
>number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
>difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
>lot of] calls.
If you make a lot of calls, why not get a flat rate VoIP plan? Lingo
has one under $20/mo if you pay a year at a time.
>and, like MagicJack, you also need a PC to use it, but SuiteAdvantage
>can [also] be set up (though Onesuite [won't] give support) on a
>regular ATA device (Grandstream, Linksys, etc) so you can leave your
>PC turned off and still use their VoIP service.
There's lots of services that will terminate a phone number on a SIP
device. That's not unusual either.
R's,
John
www.Queensbridge.us
> Actually, Onesuite prepaid calling card rates via local access numbers
> across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
> number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
> difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
> lot of] calls.
I usually use the toll free number for OneSuite access as local access
calls here in NYC are billed at 11¢ with tax.
If I were to know that my OneSuite LDX call would [were to?] be long
talk-length I would use local access # and then get the 2.5CPM.
Otherwise it is cheaper to pay 2.9CPM for =<3 minutes.
I usually use OneSuite for my LOCAL calls here in NYC unless I am
calling totally free [of cost] via GrandCentral.com
Stephen
> >Actually,Onesuiteprepaid calling card rates via local access numbers
> >across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
> >number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
> >difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
> >lot of] calls.
>
> If you make a lot of calls, why not get a flat rate VoIP plan? Lingo
> has one under $20/mo if you pay a year at a time.
I don't want to get another yearly plan, or even [a] monthly plan: I
once did, and fell victim to SunRocket's sudden closure, losing 7
months of unused service in the process. At the same time, my calling
habits are perfect for pay as you go plans like Onesuite, and [I like]
not worrying if I'm doing enough calls just to make my money's worth
on the plan.
> >and, like MagicJack, you also need a PC to use it, but SuiteAdvantage
> >can [also] be set up (thoughOnesuite[won't] give support) on a
> >regular ATA device (Grandstream, Linksys, etc) so you can leave your
> >PC turned off and still use their VoIP service.
>
> There's lots of services that will terminate a phone number on a SIP
> device. That's not unusual either.
I agree, but [I'm] not sure how many providers offer prepaid phone
card amd voip service in one account. Also, we are talking about Magic
Jack here so I just pointed out MJ disadvantage.
Stephen
wrote:> > Actually,Onesuiteprepaid calling card rates via local access numbers
> > across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
> > number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
> > difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
> > lot of] calls.
>
> calls here in NYC are billed at 11¢ with tax.
>
> talk-length I would use local access # and then get the 2.5CPM.
> Otherwise it is cheaper to pay 2.9CPM for =<3 minutes.
>
> calling totally free [of cost] via GrandCentral.com
Oh I didn't know Onesuite local access access in NYC are billed by
your local phone provider. Are you using this NYC numbers ->
6463529215, 6462173791
Anyhow if thats the case then you are doing a good job of maximizing
your savings.
www.Queensbridge.us
I don't know what number I'm using, but all local calls
are billed at 9¢ plus tax or c. 11¢
Stephen
wrote:
> On Jan 20, 12:35 am, Stephen <stephenco...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jan 19, 9:22 am, "www.Queensbridge.us" <NOTva...@Queensbridge.us>
> > wrote:
>
> > > On Jan 17, 10:43 am, Stephen <stephenco...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Actually,Onesuiteprepaid calling card rates via local access numbers
> > > > across the US [are] only 2.5 cents per minute [when] calling a US
> > > > number and only 1.9 cpm to Canada. The .5 cents and 1.1 cents
> > > > difference (versus the 3 cents you mentioned) adds up if you make [a
> > > > lot of] calls.
>
> > > I usually use the toll free number forOneSuiteaccess as local access
> > > calls here in NYC are billed at 11¢ with tax.
>
> > > If I were to know that myOneSuiteLDX call would [were to?] be long
> > > talk-length I would use local access # and then get the 2.5CPM.
> > > Otherwise it is cheaper to pay 2.9CPM for =<3 minutes.
>
> > > I usually useOneSuitefor my LOCAL calls here in NYC unless I am
> > > calling totally free [of cost] via GrandCentral.com
>
> > your local phone provider. Are you using this NYC numbers
> > ->6463529215,6462173791
>
> > Anyhow if thats the case then you are doing a good job of maximizing
> > your savings.
>
> I don't know what number I'm using, but all local calls
>
> - Show quoted text -
Wait a minute, 9 cents for all local calls? Or for all Onesuite local
numbers?
John Levine
>Wait a minute, 9 cents for all local calls? Or for all Onesuite local
>numbers?
In most of NYC (except Staten Island) local service uses message
units. Unless you have a calling bundle, all local calls are one
message unit, which is about 9 cents.
Before you complain about what a ripoff it is, the alternative is to
build the price of an average number of calls into the price. For
people who make relatively few local calls, it's a good deal. For
people who make a whole lot of local calls, there are in-state
bundles.
R's,
John