Talk:MagicJack

MagicJack
Note, this article was a redirect to Dan Borislow. I've created a stub article here based on an earlier version because the article Dan Borislow does not seem to be the right venue for information on this topic, and the redirect seemed to be causing some confusion. --Zippy (talk) 10:49, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

We need more info about the history of when the devices became for sale, info on the versions of the software upgrades, such as the fix for windows Vista and most recently the "Mac Upgrade Beta". Also info on changes on the hardware since it's initial release, link to popular magicjack forums and hack sites, where innovation and alternate uses of the hardware is being discussed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.106.176.232 (talk) 13:26, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

✅ -- How does it look now? -- AstroU (talk) 01:04, 18 December 2014 (UTC)

Idk Oshane111 (talk) 16:38, 17 March 2016 (UTC)

Criticism?
Has the worst customer service department. You cannot get help online or by phone. Rude customer reps who will cut you off if they cannot answer your questions. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.163.25.246 (talk) 22:18, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

Sorry I'm not a Wikipedia expert but the Criticism section of this article seems very strange to me. A large section of it reads like a cut and pasted FAQ entry written by MagicJack. Shouldn't most of the Criticism section be devoted to actual criticisms and possibly a brief summarized rebuttal rather than vice versa? Drew Blood (talk) 14:52, 23 December 2008 (UTC)


 * That text looks to have been copied directly from http://uninstallmagicjack.com, a possible copyright violation. It's been removed and that site added as a link in the external link.--Rtphokie (talk) 15:42, 23 December 2008 (UTC)


 * This article needs development. I have bought the product but am not using it because of multiple serious problems I have found with it. Unfortunately, I can not find much information about it to cite. &mdash;  Who 123 16:59, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

Still not much to cite since MJ is mum on the subject so, here is what I added:

Text of magicJack refund letter I received. Specific call-blocking examples I've experienced & confirmed with others (I live in a "blocked" area and call landline using MJ daily to see if it's unblocked). Listed dslreport.com magicJack forum as resource for a list of blocked areas as it is best I've found.Jwichman (talk) 09:16, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Can't use your letter as it would be considered Original Research. Also, web forums are not valid references as per WP:ELNO -- ErnestVoice (User) (Talk) 02:56, 10 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Web Cite MTRTC exchange with permission (Ruth-Ann).
 * Referencing a page in the phonebook does not prove the claim made in the article (Blocking of numbers). For this claim (or any) to be included, it would need a 3rd party reference from a credible source. -- ErnestVoice (User) (Talk) 17:07, 10 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Work on replacements for WP:ELNO & WP:NOR content.
 * Replace WP:NOR MJ email with 1 or more WP:PRIMARY as inline citations being careful of WP:BLPPRIMARY?
 * Yes, now IF you can find a transcript of a similar letter being used in a reliable 3rd party source, then please include it as a reference.-- ErnestVoice (User) (Talk) 17:07, 10 December 2010 (UTC)

"*What to do for large compiled list of blocked exchanges (maintained by WP:PRIMARY) not WP:NOR and verified by a second WP:PRIMARY? Triple, but not Tertiary source verification can be done by any MJ user. Can get verifications and cite inline as WP:PRIMARY from a sampling of any number of persons.Jwichman (talk) 11:25, 10 December 2010 (UTC)
 * If this compiled list was generated from your own experience or from the experience of others on web forums and the like, then it would be considered Original Research and cannot be used. If the source is from what Wikipedia considers an invalid external link, WP:ELNO, then it should not be used. The only way that this claim can included is through valid 3rd party sources (that actually add validity to the claim). I believe that this will be a difficult task for you to find these sources as I have looked for some as well and cannot find a decent source that will describe the claim in question. I have gone through the specific section and have tagged all the content that would need to be verified (as stated above). -- ErnestVoice (User) (Talk) 17:07, 10 December 2010 (UTC)

Supported Platforms
Can we get a list of supported platforms? It would be very useful. Valcumine (talk) 21:36, 13 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, it's about time. A source : http://www.magicjack.com/6/faq/ --Jerome Potts (talk) 03:37, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

defamation lawsuit: MagicJack vs BoingBoing
No opinion on whether this should be referenced in the criticism section but links are here if anyone's interested.


 * post discussing the case
 * legal documents pertaining to the case

210.56.81.203 (talk) 16:49, 23 February 2010 (UTC)


 * I've already added it to the section. It is relevant in so far as MagicJack is seeking to misuse the court system to stifle criticism. It well deserves the concomitant Streisand Effect. --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:21, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

October, 2010, Merger with the Dan Borislow Page
The article Dan Borislow can be maintained, I suppose, but it is better to keep things according to Wikipedia rules. The new article will be called Magic Jack. Information about its founder and his contributions to Magic Jack can be added to the header bearing his name. Benefits: Simpler and without notability or COI issues. I hope you support this edit. COYW (talk) 22:49, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

Kanawha county commission investigation
Apparently, magicjack is under investigation (or will be shortly) for not paying 911 fees in Kanawha county, West Virginia. Charleston Gazette via electronista via Engadget

173.24.183.93 (talk) 00:32, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Caller ID issues
I have uncovered an issue that affects caller ID and calls with the Magic Jack Line to a POTS line that has call intercept feature. Calls made from the MJ line do not pass the name of the subscriber, only the number. But the wrong "call Type' is being passed on the SS7 signal to the lec: it causes caller ID on the called party's phone to say" Unknown Number" instead of " unavailable" . If the called party has lec "call Intercept"feature, the magic jack caller will be forced to say thier name before the call goes through. We need a Telco subject matter expert to put this in the article.

milepost53@verizon.net Jay M. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Milepost53 (talk • contribs) 00:06, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

Voice Clipping
It hs come to my attention that if a person makes a call via the MJ at the same time they are burning a DVD or CD, their voice will be subject to an intermitent "clipping" or drop-off for about 2-4 seconds. Magic Jack tech support suggests not using your burner while on a call. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Milepost53 (talk • contribs) 20:51, 8 February 2011 (UTC)

It's NOT JUST when using anything on the computer. i have had all windows closed when using MJ, and the call quality is ALWAYS clipped> I cannot hold a conversation on MJ to save my life. So I let both of mine expire, and good riddance! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.49.173.89 (talk) 01:05, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

Mmm Oshane111 (talk) 16:39, 17 March 2016 (UTC)

magicJack-Plus still requires user's Router & ISP
Added note at end of lead paragraph. The magicJack website proclaims that "With the magicJack-Plus you no longer need a computer." HOWEVER, the user still needs to "Plug the provided Ethernet cable into the user's Router" and implied ISP. This has confused friends and is not clear, possibly deceptive. Please remove if I'm wrong. HalFonts (talk) 03:09, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks. Yes, probably good to have that clarification. I shortened it a bit and made it parenthetic. TimidGuy (talk) 11:57, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

Parking text here while I look for sources
The following commentary added last month isn't sourced and doesn't use encyclopedic style. Am pasting here and will look for sources.

As of February 28, 2012, Magic Jack did not make it possible for a customer to keep an existing local number when changing to a different provider. In addition, it is impossible to speak with anyone at MagicJack, all contact having to be made via online "chats' with chat line staff that is usually not in the United States. They generally seem incompetent and read canned responses to questions or problems which are usually not resolved. Comcast has reported that requests for the release of a number by Magic jack go unheeded, and customers who desire to keep a number when closing out a Magicjack account are forced to accept a new number. Furthermore, uninstalling Magic Jack from your computer is extremely difficult if not impossible.  Repeated attempts to remove it from Programs using Uninstall, are invariably unsuccessful with the program reappearing on the screen along with tenacious advertising pop-ups.

TimidGuy (talk) 12:26, 10 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Our daughter signed up in 2014 and kept her old phone #, FYI. -- AstroU (talk) 01:07, 18 December 2014 (UTC)

Parking more text here
This sort of commentary isn't appropriate to Wikipedia without its being sourced:

As of Feb 29, 2012, uninstalling Magic Jack from your computer is extremely difficult if not impossible. Repeated attempts to remove it from "Programs" or "Add/Remove Programs" using Uninstall, are invariably unsuccessful with the program reappearing on the screen along with tenacious advertising pop-ups. MagicJack does not respond to complaints about the uninstall problem.

I've found a source for customer service issues and will be adding that. Will also look for a source for this. TimidGuy (talk) 11:18, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

Storing here until we can decide how/whether to integrate into the aritlce
This text seemed out of place in the lead:

"In January 2010, MagicJack announced that it plans to sell an inexpensive femtocell that will allow any GSM cell phone to make calls over its VoIP network without service from a traditional cellular provider. As of August 2010, the project is on hold until a supporting partner is found to 'get around legal restrictions on the use of licensed spectrum.'"

I'm going to replace it with some info about MagicJack Plus. TimidGuy (talk) 10:52, 15 March 2012 (UTC)

And this unsourced material used inappropriate style. "But if you need help it can not be received by phone service in person, only by computer chat. And if you buy the 5 year service and want to upgrade, you have to forfeit your existing service that your have to do so. It cannot be transfered and no returns after 30 days." The part about chat can go in the article, since I've seen it mentioned in sources. But the other part doesn't make sense to me. TimidGuy (talk) 10:57, 12 May 2012 (UTC)

lawsuits sourced to court documents
I've removed material sourced to court documents. The general sense that I've gotten in Wikipedia is that unless a lawsuit is covered by secondary sources, it shouldn't be included in this article. Court documents are considered primary sources. TimidGuy (talk) 18:48, 23 September 2012 (UTC)


 * Seeing as my edit was reverted, I've posted about this on the Reliable Sources Noticeboard. TimidGuy (talk) 09:59, 29 September 2012 (UTC)

scammers
Apparently, offshore scammers use this device extensively to make it look like they are calling from the victim's local area. How come there's nothing about that in the article? Shouldn't it be under the "Criticism" section? There's a story about it in this Florida newspaper, not very well written, but it's clear that MagicJack is a big part of the problem. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-06-08/news/fl-hollywood-house-scam-20120605_1_area-code-magicjack-phone-number

Theonemacduff (talk) 04:41, 9 July 2013 (UTC)


 * Likely it's not mentioned in the article is because no one has thought to add it. The only reason I can see not to include it is that it will simply give more people the idea that this sort of scam is possible. TimidGuy (talk) 10:51, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

MagicJack on WikiBooks
Here are some helpful tips for MagicJack users: •  Sbmeirow  •  Talk  • 10:58, 7 February 2015 (UTC)
 * https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/MagicJack
 * https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/MagicJack/Support_Resources
 * https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/MagicJack/Support_Resources/FAQ

Extremely misleading article
MJ will unilaterally terminate service if a subscriber makes too many calls, so this nonsense about "unlimited calls" must be removed immediately. This happened to me after I made about 400 calls in one month, not an inordinate number for a business. Don't be tricked by these fraudsters! Autodidact1 (talk) 21:40, 27 February 2017 (UTC)