UPDATED 9-21-2012
If you are interested in purchasing a VONAGE line, then go to the following link and choose the item titled "Order a DISCOUNTED VONAGE phone line with FREE MONTH" to receive a free email with special coupon:
Click here: www.ipiu.org/forums/sendmessage.php
Picture of an inexpensive portable phone that is plugged into a phone jack (either MagicJack or Vonage)If you order the MagicJack "Phone Jack" through IPIU, it will be mailed to you so that all you have to do is plug the phone jack into one of your USB ports on a computer.
Regular Phone Jack
(Your home phone wire plugs into the phone jack for dial tone)
VERSUS
Magic Jack "Phone Jack"
(Your home phone wire plugs into the phone jack of the Magic Jack for dial tone)
Then you plug the Magic Jack into your computer for dial tone.
Just like a regular phone jack which is traditionally installed by the phone company in your wall, the MagicJack phone jack looks the same. All you do is plug your home phone cable into the phone jack to get a dial tone.
When someone calls the number assigned to the MagicJack, the phone that is plugged into the MagicJack phone jack rings.
Magicjack is not a forwarded telephone line. It IS a phone line (jack) that is assigned a number in Denver, but because the phone is plugged into your computer, then it will ring anywhere your computer is physically located.
Vonage works the same way. Vonage includes a phone jack that is built into a small box which can be plugged into your internet cable connection. You simply plug your phone cable from the phone into the phone jack located in the Vonage Jack.
That is correct.If i also order a toll free number for my business, then I'd pay monthly for a toll free number on top of the Magic Jack phone line (in essence, both numbers would ring to the same line).
As an example, IPIU has a toll free number that is forwarded to 406-534-0251. If a member calls the toll free number, then it starts to ring on 406-534-0251. Or, if the member has free long distance, then they may choose to call IPIU directly at 406-534-0251, which saves IPIU the cost of 5 cents a minute.
But the number IPIU has (406-534-0251) can be either a Magic Jack phone jack or a Vonage Phone Jack. It does not make that much difference. IPIU uses a standard inexpensive portable phone (like the picture at the top of this topic), that plugs into a phone jack that is supplied by either Magic Jack or Vonage.
The toll free number would be "forwarded" to your assigned Magic Jack area code number. However, the Magic Jack number is not "forwarded". The line actually rings wherever the phone jack is physically located (namely plugged into your computer wherever your computer is located at the time.The Magic Jack would go in my home office and anyone who calls the area code number of the toll free number would then forward to my home office line.
The terms the phone company uses are:
- forward to (same as point to)
- rings to (actually rings on the phone jack that your phone is plugged into)
Vonage is going to cost from $240 to $336 each year for one (1) phone line, versus as low as $25 per year for each year of renewal of one MagicJack Line. However, you can get a free coupon for Vonage by emailing us at www.ipiu.org/forums/sendmessage.phpWith Vonage or PhonePower, I'm told I can just pick an area code number through them. Then I can add the toll free number (for the same monthly cost as through IPIU) and anyone who calls the number of toll free will go to my home office line. Is this compatible with IPIU and any legalities I have to abide by?
I suggest you try out a MagicJack before you invest an average of $300 a year for Vonage (which is typically not as portable to take with you as a MagicJack).
I would also suggest you get your toll free number through IPIU. They can provide you with a free setup and assignment of the toll free number, and then bill you $5 per month plus whatever 5 cent per minute your clients may use. Remember to ALWAYS advertise your Magic Jack area code and number first, and then your toll free number as a second line. Most people (not all) have free long distance.
In the 1980's, that would be correct. These days, IPIU will simply list the area code number on your future web site and business cards.I wasn't sure if the area code and phone number actually had to be hooked up in the area code office or not.
Not so. A Magic Jack number IS the phone number and IS the magic jack. It is not a cover line. A toll free number can be considered a cover line, because a toll free number does not come with a phone jack to get dial tone.Vonage told me no one has to be there to hook it up, so it seems to be that what Vonage and Phone Power offer isn't a "forwarder" line but more of a "cover" line that says you are calling one number when you are really calling another.
If you have IPIU completely set up your Magicjack, then they do all of the work and will mail you the phone jack. Once it is plugged into your computer, within a few minutes you will have dial tone to your number.
Yes, they do have a lot of features.Vonage and Phone Power seem to offer a lot of services and even though there is a monthly payment, it's not huge.
Update for January 2012: Magicjacks add-on applications now provide both call hunt and simulring. We provide support for these when a member purchases the MagicJack from IPIU. This feature would allow both your Magicjack to ring, as well as start ringing your unlisted cell number. Another application would allow your Magicjack to ring 1-4 rings, and then transfer the caller to another phone, such as your cell.
IPIU uses BOTH magicjacks and vonage lines. But when you are first starting out with a new business, we suggest you invest in a $25 per year phone service which comes with free voice mail, free call forwarding, free long distance, free caller ID, and free portability versus extra features that are subject to a lot of monthly taxes and $300 per year.
That is not to say that in a year or so when your business is thriving, you could upgrade to a full Vonage system, and then keep your MagicJack for "one the road" use, and call forward your MagicJack to your Vonage system.
Here is a video on MagicJack forwarding:
That is true for some customers who live in a low-quality internet connection area. MagicJack requires a broadband internet connection (not dial up). Although a MagicJack can work in a hotel wireless, the wireless speed is usually slower than a wired speed.In addition, the more I research Magic Jack- the more I find out what you mentioned above- that people have problems with it in certain areas (not just those using it either but also people calling in on it which would be my customers!).
And think about this: If a customer calls you from their cell phone, and their cell phone has a poor connection, then it does not matter if your magicjack has a good connection. I have asked people to call me back when they have a better cell connection.
And, if a customer calls you from their regular office line and your magicjack is plugged into your computer which is sitting inside your hotel room using the hotel's wireless connection, then the call may not be as good.
Here is a web speed link to click on to check your current web speed:
http://spdtst-dlls.tx.centurylink.net/
Utterly false. A multi-billion dollar company is not going to throw away their entire reputation by selling your unlisted phone number to advertisers for a few dimes. I have answered both vonage and magicjack, and I have never had an unsolicited caller call the number.I've also stumbled across reviews on Magic Jack stating they sell your phone numbers to advertisers, telemarketers, third party companies etc.
On the other hand, there are internet web crawler software programs that scour the billions of web sites capturing phone numbers. But to get a call from one of these is very, very rare.
There is also robo-calling, where computers call every number is numerical order with recorded messages, especially if you happen to live in a state where an election is going on.
I suggest you call your union rep at 406-534-0251 and judge for yourself how the phone quality is.
As always, IPIU is here to serve your progress and provide you with support.
Patricia