A new cheaper Internet telephone service launched mid 2007. Does it still cable internet connection the potential to be Internet Tutorial Vonage and Skype killer?
Some people love it .... some people hate it. There doesn't seem to be much opinion "in the middle".
Bottom line is the jury is still out....but stay tuned as it does look intriguing.
Just what is all the fuss about? Read on .....
The former CEO and founder of Tel-Save (Dan Borislow), which later became Talk America -- which as since been merged away -- was a pioneer in low-cost long-distance plans. He intends to Celcom Broadband Wireless the same for Internet calling with internet television he calls the MagicJack, which plugs into a computer's USB port and tmnet streamyx contact be used with any conventional phone.
The general premise for the big advantage of his system, other than price, is supposedly the ease of installation. Which Borislow says takes about 45 seconds. Word to the wise .... "your experience may vary".
These guys definitely are serious and did a lot of work upfront before release. They spent 2 years building a nationwide network of Internet gateways (including 31 session border controllers) AND spent the exhaustive and expensive time certifying themselves as a competitive local exchange carrier . But (and a BIG but) .... there continues to be a few glitches experienced by those brave souls currently using MagicJack.
Just peruse the comments at such places as DSLReports.com and you'll see the dichotomy of opinions. Issues with set-up, getting calls, call clarity, customer support, billing, and more are common. To be fair there are also folks who are absolutely in love with their Adsl Guide expereince. No problems whatsoever. Again .... "your experience may vary".
If you have specific issues or want specific information .... it's best to go to the Unoffical MajicJack Forum to get what you need. You'll find it at unofficialmagicjack.forum2u.org.
The consumer side of MagicJack goes like this: Usersplug the USB end of the 'jack' into their Internet-connected computer, and then plug a phone into the other end of the device. The device then boots a softphone onto the screen you then can pick up the phone and start dialing. The MagicJack cost $39.99 for a jack with a memory chip (for the softphone), or internet flowers for one without memory (you can alternatively download the client and keep it on your PC). Yearly subscriptions thereafter will cost $19.99. You can also opt for a "5 year pre-paid deal" for $100.
The business side of MagicJack seems to come from the subscription plans as well as interconnect fees paid to MagicJack's CLEC partner company (apparently called YMax Communications Corp.) whenever a MagicJack phone number is called. In my mind you'd have to sell a huge number of $20/year subscriptions to be financially viable. That would make me nervous as an investor or employee.
On the networking side, the MagicJack/YMax advantage is touted as coming from building a network that covers "80 percent of the U.S. population" with its gateways and SBCs. By connecting most of a call's distance over the Internet between its own gear, MagicJack is purported to have far superior call quality to other VoIP providers (or even PSTN calls routed over IP) , who must traverse multiple equipment types and transports that can introduce latency and degrade calls. Sounds good in theory....but the proof is "in the pudding" as they say.
Additional features embedded into the product, like call forwarding, are still being developed/tweeked. So .... MajicJack is essentially a work in progress. Not completely mature yet.
Now there may "appear" to be a huge market for value-priced VoIP-based telephony .... but I'd be wary as a newbie just due to the apparent condition of the so called industry leaders Vonage and Skype as revenue-challenged right now. This isn't exactly a strong revenue environment at the moment ..... so anything is going to carry pretty pay as you go mobile internet risk regardless of how well thought out and/or budget hotel I'd also be wary of the "5 year plan" offer being that MagicJack is still essentially just a start-up and has proven nothing yet.
The moral of the story here is to do your homework. It looks good. And some folks are very pleased. But .... there's enough unhappy users out there to make you stop and Dsl Report Test Make sure you know exactly what you're getting into .... and are prepared for any hiccups you may encounter. If you can weather the frustrations and issues you might face .... you may fall into the group who have a pleasant experience. If those issues and frustrations prove too much to handle .... you'll obviously become part of the MajicJack Haters Club. Which category you end up in .... is anybody's guess.
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.
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