Better than MagicJack? NO PC REQUIRED VoIP calling $29.95 X 3 + s/h

MJ was a gamble, but I could afford to eat $40 up front if it didn't work (it has been unreliable for me). If MJ was more stable, I'd have a cheap and reliable second landline number in addition to Vonage, which has been trouble free for me.

But here we have a $100 up front (okay, over 3 months due to payment plan) for a new VoIP provider that nobody has heard of.

I think those who have the cash to throw around need to try it out and let us average struggling from paycheck-to-paycheck people know if it works.

I wouldn't pay for 2 years of anything up front in this environment
if they fold up and go bankrupt --- the consumer might be entitled to zero
I have serious problems with that

perhaps they could answer what kind of insurance they provide for this ... if they have an answer, then someone can update the thread

How about some FACTS - courtesy of dslreports - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22773621-netTalk-tk6000

It seems to be a reasonable offer. My current setup is the unlocked Linksys PAP2 device ($35 on eBay, recommended), and if I counted only US calls I'd pay about $2/month with one of Betamax's services (e.g. voipraider.com). Over three years that brings me to $35+$72 = $108, so about the same as nettalk.

Advantages of nettalk: hopefully foolproof installation, VoIP knowledge not needed, actual customer service. Advantages of PAP2+provider: freedom to change providers at any time, pay-as-you-go as opposed to upfront, great international rates (as far as I understand nettalk does not offer international calls at all so you'd need to use some dialaround scheme), open SIP standard will always be around so no ties to a particular company.

Speaking of OOMA, my perception is that they want to position themselves as the Neiman Marcus of VoIP with flawless service for a slightly higher cost. Gotta love having all of these options...

One more thought... How much cheaper than $20 investment and $20 a year can you get? Admitted, I have computer on 24 hr. anyway, and it is an efficient one. If your provider speed is slow is when it doesn't work as well. I have AT&T Express DSL and local line. Saved $60 month minimum switching from AT&T Long Distance. Give Magic Jack a try, it is returnable to Radio Shack and other retailers. Don't buy online.

deshwasi said: if i knew ooma will be around for 3 yrs i will give them the $200 instead of these guys.

Buy it at Costco and get a lifetime warranty.

The concept of MJ is great -- unfortunately, since it relies upon the computer, it's prone to trouble. Personally, mine worked fine until upgrading to Windows7 RC. Afterwards, it started chopping (think: Max Headroom), and much of the time doesn't work at all. Granted, this is the fault of my particular combination of hardware/software -- nevertheless, my MJ isn't working. A strictly ethernet connection would be devoid of all such troubles.

May have to give it a try. Hope it has QoS, at least as an option.

For those who haven't read that far, note that it gets its power via USB connection -- either from an included AC adapter, or via your computer with a free driver (32 bit XP and Vista only so far). Note that it's for POWER ONLY.

looks like a hacked MJ

check out OOMA at Fry's or Costco

Ads, product and video look like MJ.
They just found a way to put the pc in the little box.
Probably is, makes no diff to me.

I'm happy with ViaTalk, no reason to explore other options. 18 months = $199. Thats fine with me, as I don't use anything but a prepaid cell phone otherwise (I talk maybe 2 hours a month on the phone, honestly)

does it support calling a fax or modem?

Well, all very interesting. I've been using MJ since Sunrocket disappeared. It's imperfect but it's generally ok. It took them a couple of years to get it working with no problem but that's true of all voip services. Nettalk will probably be the same. But, now, with JMJ, I pay $12.00 per year (~$60 for five years.) Yes, I think they'll still be here.

Ill stick with Google Voice

JIDX said: Ill stick with Google Voice

If you could explain how google voice would be a replacement product for this one, I'd be all ears to listen.

Having said that, if you moozy over to dslreports forums (search google for "tk6000 scam", it is the first result) and read a little, it is not very pretty. Yes there is a factor of getting rid of the PC from the MJ calling scheme for an additional $20 subsidized over 3 years and after all $100 is not too much to risk. About the same that I lost on sunrocket crap anyways. But the elusiveness of information, their sales reps not answering simple questions like which area codes and exchanges available to set up, making me worry a tad bit. I think I'll sit this one out and stick with my MJ and turned on PC for a year, maybe two. If this nettalk dudes stick around, then I'd be willing to take the plunge. Right now, they sound more of a fly-by-night operation in my never so humble opinion.

Well at least they don't have stupid pets named Net and Talk

UPdownLoAD said: FrugalFreak said: UPdownLoAD said: Sanjoelo said: UPdownLoAD said: OK, I think this product may be better than MagicJack:


What would you base this on? Any supporting facts?

Sure, in my OP:

-No PC required, which will save on power!! (bye, ThinClient!)
-"Unlimited" calling, unlike MagicJack's "Free" calling (1 hr limit on calls).
-Actual 1-800 number to call for support

LandOfTheFreebies said: UPdownLoAD said: MagicJack is $39.95 + $6.95 for 1 year + $19.95/year. That's $86.80 cost for 3 years, but requires a PC to be on to be able to be used.Doesn't MagicJack include 1st full year of service with purchase their USB thing ?

I clarified the math in the first post for you

$39.99(dongle) + $0 (first year service since it's free) + $59.99 for 5 more years of service. $99.99 for 6 years of service. The right math! and you can catch mj on sale like I did for $35 or even $29 at RS I think.

versus

3 years of calling for a total of $99.80

You math is still not correct.

$39.95 is for the first year and the dongle. You have shipping involved if you order from them directly or tax involved if you get it from RadioShack. Yes, you can catch deals, and I even did for my MagicJack.

The add 5 years for $59.99 is a good deal, but many people still have been purchasing 1 year at a time because of the unknown. So it's hard to compare this apples to apples and who knows, they may offer a similar promotion on this later down the line. MagicJack didn't offer the 5 year add-on until recently anyway.

If you leave your PC on 24/7 anyway, than MJ may be a better deal. If you put it in standby or don't leave it on 24/7, you must consider the power dedicated to a PC to leave it on 24/7 for equal comparison. In my case, I purchased a ThinClient for around $60 on eBay. I have to figure that into my MJ cost, plus the extra 20w of power being used ONLY to power my MagicJack.

RE:
r tax involved if you get it from RadioShack

Are you speaking for me.....
Please do not, I pay them no sales tax.

yesidonoitall said: MYSELF, I DO NOT CARE HOW IT WORKS...
BUT WHERE IS THE LINK OR FAQ'S TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE A NUMBER FOR MY AREA. At this time we do not have a list of available area codes due to the fact that we are somewhat limited in numbers till a bit later in the future.

http://forum.nettalk.com/viewforum.php?f=17

Aitchly said: yesidonoitall said: JIDX said: Ill stick with Google Voice


You cannot make call with google voice.

You can call your google voice number and make a call from inside the system (one button push if on speed dial). And, google voice is free for the first month and the second and the third . . . and there is not much worry of Google going out of business. And it transcribes your messages into an email. And it offers free SMS.

I have a few google numbers, but I do not get the out calling feature or why I would need/use it.