by Charlie Danger

Created on: November 08, 2009

How the Magic Jack Works

MagicJack is a USB device on one end with a phone jack on the other. It is used to connect any phone to your computer via the widely available USB allowing you to make phone calls through an internet connection. Using the magic jack is easy to do, plug it into the USB port of your computer and plug any phone into the opposite end of the USB device which is the Magic Jack. The magic jack comes with the software needed to allow you to use your plugged in phone as a VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone so no downloads are necessary. The main drawing cards of this device, the ones which make it a better choice than any other VoIP product out there are its ease of use (no downloads) and its familiar interface (any phone)

VoIP is a very simple concept yet at its core is very complex here is how it works in a nut shell. VoIP works like any recording software on a computer, where a voice is recorded as many tiny samples of sound, placed together to form a word or many words and stored as data on a hard drive, but here is where VOIP is different. Instead of storing this data the MagicJack first combines many of these tiny samplings of human speech into larger data packets before compressing them with what is referred to as a CODEC (compressor, decompressor), sending the data over the IP (internet protocol) network to the MagicJack routing center and sending it to phones in the form of a phone call. Obviously an internet connection is necessary for the MagicJack to operate at all and a high speed connection such as DSL, cable, WiFi or any broadband connection is preferred. The MagicJack operates just as Skype or Vonage.

Many people refer to the MagicJack as the "Skype Killer" or the "Vonage Kiler", this is due to its ease of use to set up and it's flat rate service fees.The first year of use will cost you $39.95 and $19.95 for each year after that. You get your own phone number just as you would any other phone or you can use your existing phone number if it is being used to completely replace your old home phone. The jack allows local and long distance, free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, free directory assistance, call forwarding, free three way calling, and 911. There are also two prepaid International packages which sell for $5 per year.

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