Keith Kim’s Blog

VoIP, the winner is…

Posted by Keith under Cool Apps

MagicJack! Yup, a few % of people have some issues with setting it up and conflicts with some software such as Nero, etc. But it works extremely well for me. I have Verizon DSL (3Mb/768Kb), Vista Home Premium and it installed smoothly and works well. I did sometimes get static noise, but after playing around with my router setting for VoIP, and then no more of that. Also adjusting sound and mic volume improved things a lot.

$40 for the 1st year, and $20 per year after that, unlimited calls to US/Canada. With your own phone number, voice mail (.wav file in your email inbox) — I don’t think anyone can beat that.

MagicJack is nothing special for its technology. It seems to me, it’s all about the business — they outsourced the h/w and s/w. And instead of installation s/w on CD and use of headset, the USB device has s/w on it (as a USB drive), and the device hooks up to a regular phone. That’s very smart. Saving cost in development, and simple USB device for both s/w and headset probably save a lot of support cost. So, this company didn’t invent anything, and there is no innovation. But executing the business plan and they had a great strategy, connections, deals, marketing, etc.

…and I get this phone very cheap. I think that’s an art of business. (Techies, think of “art of programming”)

Try it. You won’t regret for $40 investment. But when you “order” 30-day trial, pay $3-$4 for expedite shipping. Otherwise it would take a long time, (like, 25 days for an example), and then you would only have 5 days for trial. I actually read some complaints about it, so I chose the expedite shipping and got the package in a few days.

I just hope the company stays in business for several years or more, and keep the price low. How about supporting conference call, and may be video conferencing as well? Hack, just throw a fax option. Then it’s a total communication solution for home and small business.