Magic Jack vs Others... (part 1)

If you have not heard about MagicJack then definitely you do not use the Internet and do not watch TV.

MagicJack is a small gadget that is plugged into your computer and is used for making calls. The advertisement says that the device was developed to substitute your regular phone and enable you to get rid of $500 phone bills.

As long as it is used only via a computer, MagicJack is considered to be one of the representatives of VoIP communication options. Thus, the device is a rival not only for landline phones but as well for Skype, Vonage and other popular phone systems.

These three phone systems do have a lot in common in terms of the services provided. Similar features include the fact that you can make and receive calls to and from any number of the world. And here we ran out of the similarities.

 The differences are much more numerous and it is them which distinguish their market of demand and consumer audience.

First of all it is all about the equipment, software and generally the installation process.

Magic  Jack is a small portable device of 2 cubic inches (2'1'1). It is plugged into a USB port in your PC and the other outlet is designed for a landline phone wire. The software is as well required. The installation takes 5 to 10 minute. After the completing of hardware and software installation, a subscriber gets his personal phone number via email and the device is ready to me exploited. The only drawback of the device is that in order to be properly and constantly used, the subscriber has to keep it computer constantly on and the Magic Jack software has to be constantly running days and nights. Otherwise you won't be able to receive incoming calls to your land line phone device.

Vonage VoIP phone adapter also has two outlets to plug in the landline wire on the one side and the other site is to be connected to the modem and not the USB port of the computer and no software is required. It is the principal difference with the Magic Jack gadget. Unlike its rival, Vonage device features a small LCD display which depicts caller ID and call timer, call logs (missed/received/dialed) with up to 50 entries each, language selection, and built-in upstream bandwidth tester, and when not used, the line reads "Better Phone Service for Less". Vonage does not give you new personal phone number; you are able to use your current one.

Skype, unlike Vonage and Magic Jack is more about software than about devices. It is an absolutely free program which is downloaded to your computer. Skype is used to make calls to other Skype-registered users via the PC or to landline phone numbers. If you want to use the program instead of your regular phone, then you have to buy a phone number as well as a Skype-enabled phone, because a standard one will not work.

Another important criteria to review is the price (cost of the device, call (home and long distant) tariffs, and monthly/annual fees) and customer service support in terms of troubleshooting.

This is information to come...