BasicTalk: Magic, or Smoke and Mirrors? - Comments Page 2

We have used the Obihai VOIP adapter for almost a year. The quality has been better than the Magic JackI tried month earlier. Obi has all the add ons I need. Call waiting, caller ID, waiting, etc. Thw Obi adapter is about $50. Using Google Voice (free) I pay only for 911 service at $12 a year.

We've had Ooma for most of a year, and so far the service has been fine, the billing accurate, and no surprises so far. Then again, we are low-volume phone users, make no international calls, and generally only use our home phone for convenience. We have a FAX machine that we run on a landline because despite the fact that Ooma insists they can handle FAX traffic we're more than a little skeptical.

Magic Jack Plus has the same restrictions as Basic Talk, if you use it to much they will not renew your service, they won't even answer your calls, they will just drop you. When they did not renew my service, I had to buy into netTalk, now I have to
limit my calls, hopefully I can renew my service with them after the year is over

Bob, thanks for the explanations. I was wondering if I had made a mistake by going with Ooma rather than something like Basic Talk. Now I see that my choice is just fine. I have roughly $130 invested in the one-time purchase price of the Ooma telco, a one-time fee of $39 to port my number, and a billing of $3.45 a month for federal taxes. At the present I've opted out of Ooma Premier. I'll stick with what I have. For the few times my phone rings, the $42 a year is just about right. Great article.

I use Net Talk. Cost $60 to set up and $30 a year. Had it now for 3 years. Saved about $900 over Century Link Phone Co.

I have had Magic Jack and now Plus for a few years now. No problems. I go to NY among other states to visit friends and I take it with me. Works great.

Unless they have changed magic jack I paid $69.00 dollars at walmart and that included my first year but I switched to satalite internet and magic jack is useless on it- so is basic talk .

We've been using Magic Jack for years. We upgraded to the Plus when it became available. I highly recommend it. When my computer went down recently, there was no interruption in my phone service. My wife is from South America. We've shipped 2 units down to her family. She talks to them every day for nothing! Magic Jack has saved me hundreds of dollars. Walmart sucks! (imo)

I use VOIPO. You pay upfront for a couple of years and the cost works out to about $5/month. You have complete control of your phone system. Block any number you want or re-direct a call from a specific number to another specific number. Complete on-line management. Use you own SIP device (such as a SIP App on your cell) without impacting your home service. (Both phones ring). And it was easy to set it up so all jacks in my home are wired as they were with AT&T. I even ported over my AT&T phone number. One word of caution if you currently have AT&T; when I ported my number over, AT&T disconnect my Uverse Internet as well. It was a battle that lasted a couple of weeks before Internet service was restored.

I signed up for the 30 day trial within 1hr they had charged my card for over a $100.00 ,It was cancelled right then so now OOVOO OR HANGOUT

I have used MagicJack for a couple of years and am really satisfied. I live in the Philippines so I am able to call the USA free. I have often travelled to countries other than the USA, so we have 2 Magicjacks so I can call the Philippines wherever I am.

I work for AAFES and MagicJack is used by many solders to call home. It is great for them if they know they are going to a place that has High Speed internet.

We purchased Ooma about 2 months ago and have been very happy ever since. Yes, there is an initial investment for the hardware ($150) and a $9.99 monthly charge for Premium services (it's worth it to my mind but it also works nicely without it) and then you are home free. We pay a little over $3.00 in local fees, which we would have to pay for any service.

I have not heard such call clarity since our ancient landline phone. It beat our Comcast phone by a mile and then some. People have asked me if we bought a new phone! And no, I don't work for Ooma. Just want people to know that if they make the investment for excellent VoIP quality, they will not be disappointed.

Going on 6 yrs with Magic Jack and 1 yr with MJ plus and no problem with either.

To Felipe "Magic Jack Plus has the same restrictions as Basic Talk, if you use it to much they will not renew your service, they won't even answer your calls, they will just drop you. When they did not renew my service, I had to buy into netTalk, now I have to
limit my calls, hopefully I can renew my service with them after the year is over."

I have not had this problem either. I love Magic Jack and the plus, and think I will stick with them til someone can do better.

If you're a Filipino, please read on..

Agree that magicJack+ is one of the best option if you're calling from USA/Canada. But if you're in other countries, you need another device. Considering that you want to call your parents in the Philippines, we're introducing a SIP-in-a-box phone adapter called MagicBox.PH. It doesn't need a PC/Laptop. It's reachable from landline/mobile in 37 countries or via iPhone/Android SIP app.

Since we're based in the Philippines, support is quicker, cheaper and more extensive (even with your Internet provider which is the most common cause of VoIP problems).

Visit http://facebook.com/MagicBox.PH or http://m.magicbox.ph for more details.

BasicTalk works like most VOIP. Had their parent company, Vonage, for several years but the prices kept going up. Switched to BasicTalk and still no dial tone. Their support is ignorant of MAC address proliferation - I believe the retail box I have was used before and they will not check for the "MAC" address someplace else (besides my account) in their system... anyway, based on Bob's review of MagicJack, that is my next stop. STAY away from Basic Talk... they are 'basically' screwed up.

Bob, you're right. for several years now, once a year I plunk down a small annual fee for the MJKs at two homes and never think about how much I talk, EVER. Anyone who goes for Basic Talk will pay $9.95 PLUS govt and regulatory fees, more like $13 or more per month. No comparison. Like some other commenters I tried Vonage, but the cost was always more than I planned for.

I have tried to get a relative of mine to drop Comcast phone service and get Magic Jack, but he doesn't want to "lose his land line". He's a pretty smart cookie but I can't convince him that they are both VOIP.

Can I use a fax machine with Majic Jack?

Yes, MJ+ works great with a fax machine.

Basic Talk looks good for somebody that needs a phone for just a few months...

I would like to submit that Basic Talk is neither magic nor smoke and mirrors, it is what it is. And this article is a huge vat of bu££ $#!+