In late 2011, soon after it was introduced, I got the all-new Magic Jack Plus. The MJ+ enables you to use it with or without a computer. The original version required that your computer be on to use it, which can be quite an inconvenience. It’s still an amazing deal though.
In order to use the Magic Jack Plus without your computer, you must plug it into a router and an electric outlet. Since I had dropped my cable company phone service, which required that I return their modem, and their television service, I needed to buy a new modem to continue to use the only remaining service I had with them — internet! I found an attractive outdoor HDTV antenna to get television service for free! The lowest price I could find for the Winegard Free Vision FV-HD30 was at Amazon.
So I needed a new modem for my cable Internet service and a new router for my new Magic Jack Plus. After an absurd amount of research, I found the perfect solution: a modem/router combo! As you would expect, I’m always on the lookout for ways to save space and increase efficiency. Multipurpose devices like this one serve that end extremely well.
I bought the Zoom 5350 Cable Modem/Router Combo. I love it. It was easy to set up and I haven’t had a single problem. Being that it’s a DOCSIS 3.0 whereas the cable company’s loaner modem was a 2.0 it’s much faster.
I picked the Zoom 5350 because it had four Ethernet ports. I’d need to use one of them for my new MJ+ and one for my desktop computer. Its wireless capabilities, which I didn’t have before, allow me to further simplify my office space. I was now able to connect my laptop to the Internet without a cable and my wireless printer to both my desktop and laptop computers.
These changes have significantly reduced my monthly expenses. There were some upfront costs, but it has been very much worth it to me in more ways than just saving money. I love beating the system by getting off the grid, so to speak. Okay, back to the MJ.
After you connect the MJ+ to a router and electrical outlet it can be used just like any landline phone. As with the original MJ, you can take it with you when you travel, connect it to any computer, and make calls to the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands from anywhere in the world for free! Both MJ’s come with free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and directory assistance.
Here’s the current pricing as of August 2012. The cost for the device and one year of service is $69.95 for the MJ+ and $39.95 for the original MJ. The annual subscription renewal is the same for both and that’s $29.95. This can be reduced by purchasing a five-year package. If you add up your telephone bills for a 1-3 year period, you’ll see how much of an amazing deal this is.
I had a little bit of static and breaking up and a few dropped calls in the beginning. But I had just as much of that with my cable digital phone service.
Since I uploaded MJ+’s latest software I really haven’t had any of those problems. Because this is new technology, I’m willing to give the folks at MJ some leeway knowing that I’m saving money and that I’ll get the updates as they become available for free!
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I’m a happy MagicJacker. I can’t wait to make some free calls to family and friends from a Fijian beach using my tablet and the hotel’s free wireless internet service. 😀