by Michael Penner

Created on: January 14, 2009

If you use the internet to have a voice conversation, that conversation can be nearly free. SKYPE, TeamSpeak, AOL Instant Messenger, and others have provided this capability for years. But these services require a bit more tech knowledge than most people possess, and you have to sit at your computer to use them. In addition, most of us have our phone numbers stored inwellour phones, creating another barrier to daily use of such capabilities.

A device called magicJack by YMAX, Inc., blends the free calling of the Internet with the good ol' fashioned land line telephone. It's a convergence of the old and the new with stunning simplicity. Their website is www.magicjack.com. Go there to see all the features. There are some technical gotchas you can avoid, and I'll discuss these toward the end of the article.

What It Is-
The magicJack is a USB device with a phone jack in it. It is the size of a match box. It houses software which installs on your computer and transforms your computer into a digital communication interface between your land line and the internet. It is compatible with Windows XP / Vista, and Intel Macs. The technology is known as "Voice Over Internet Protocol", or "Voice over IP" or just plain VOIP. It works best with high-speed Internet such as cable or DSL, and with a high-speed USB port. If you connect magicJack to a computer which uses a wireless connection to the Internet, your audio quality will be degraded by clicks and pops as you speak. Otherwise, the audio quality is about the same as a 3-bar cell phone connection without the dropped calls. Not a bad trade-off for unlimited free calling within the US and Canada. If you connect to another magicJack user outside the US or Canada, the call is still free.

If you are considering Comcast Digital Voice, VONAGE, or other VOIP based services, you should carefully consider what the little upstart magicJack is offering.

Why It's Cool-
1. Your home phone can now give you free local and long distance calls within the US and Canada.

2. If you send a magicJack to a someone elsewhere in the world, and that person has Internet access, your phone calls are now free.

3. If you're a small business, using VOIP is a great way to reduce your telecomm costs. This device provides the perfect opportunity for you to jump in and test the waters.

4. It's extremely portable. It requires no external power plug and no batteries because it draws power through the USB port.

5. If your cell phone drops calls in your house, you should

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>