MexConnect.com Forums: Specific Focus: Technical Mexico: Magic Jack: Page 3

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joaquinx

Jun 5, 2009, 8:28 PM

Post #51 of 57 (3267 views)

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Re: [Carron] Magic Jack vs. Skype - cell phones

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We checked out several Skype plans. There is one for unlimited calls to 30 countries for a flat rate of $9.99 per month. But Mexico is not one of the countries.

We chose the pre-pay plan for $10. We simply pay $10 more when we use that up. So far after 3 weeks and lots of calls, we still have about $7 left!! At this rate, it may be 2010 before we need to up more money.

Skype has a Unlimited Mexico plan for 5.95 usd a month. Free calls to the US and Canada and discounted calls to landlines and cell phones in Mexico.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Ustlach

Jun 7, 2009, 5:24 PM

Post #52 of 57 (3232 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Magic Jack

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I just received my third and final notice from Skype that I had lost the balance of my calling funds, because I have not used Skype and my funds for over 180 days. I posted here a while back about the technical difficulty I was having with Skype. They acknowledge the problem, said a fix was in the works, but it apparently never occurred. Skype has no way to refund unused funds.

When my Skype option went away, six months ago, due to the problem I have described, I got busy and investigated Vonage and MagicJack. I had to do it while I was NoB on a short trip and consequently was a little rushed. Since the Vonage sounded like a better, but much more expensive option, and the Magic Jack was so cheap, I got both. And I am not unhappy now that I did. I leave the Vonage hardware here in my house in Mexico and I take the MagicJack with me when I go NoB, which I do fairly often. Then I can call my own Vonage number here using my MagicJack from a motel, hotel, relative's house, wherever, and talk to my partner, for nothing.

Vonage is expensive, for me. $24 a month. MagicJack was really cheap to get started. About $20 as I recall. I will have to renew when the year is up. I understand that is about $20.

All three systems, Skype, Vonage, and MagicJack require as much Mexican bandwidth as they can get. My calls sometimes break up and become unintelligible on the other end, but not as much now as they used to. We did upgrade our internet bandwidth a while back and ever since the calls have been better.

I have friends elsewhere in Mexico who call me on their MagicJack systems at my Vonage number, and vice versa. MagicJack has to be plugged in, the software up and running on your computer, for it to function, receiving or making calls. Vonage plugs in directly to the internet modem and does not require any special software on your computer. Your computer can be off or completely detached. Like Vonage MagicJack has a nice voicemail feature that emails me that I have had a missed call. My Vonage doodad also indicates that I have had a missed call and shows the number when it can.

I really liked Skype, even though I was using a mic and headphones. It was cheap to call out. I never did get into the rest of the options, being able to receive calls, etc. Vonage just has the feel of a regular home phone, and MagicJack is a close second, were it not for having to have the computer up and running in order to make and receive calls.

I have decided to keep both Vonage and MagicJack, so I can call home for nothing when I am NoB.

I have never tried to use Vonage nor MagicJack to call a Mexican phone, or vice versa.

johanson / Moderator

Jun 7, 2009, 7:19 PM

Post #53 of 57 (3220 views)

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Re: [Ustlach] Magic Jack

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You wrote "I have decided to keep both Vonage and MagicJack, so I can call home for nothing when I am NoB.
I have never tried to use Vonage nor MagicJack to call a Mexican phone, or vice versa"

Me neither, but what I have done in Ajijic, was when my next door neighbor's Telmex # was busy for a very long time, used my VoIP phone which happens to be a www.IconnectHere.com brand to phone my neighbor across the street in Ajijic on his US numbered VoIP phone (I'm not sure what brand they have). It turned out his land line was off the hook. Surprisingly each of us could hear the other fairly well. Vonage is by the far the best advertized VoIP service, but is not always the highest rated in areas where bandwidths especially upload speeds are so slow like they often are in many parts of Mexico

So I bet calling a Mexican landline using your VoIP phone although sometimes expensive would usually work OK, if you have a fast enough upload speed. Remember the telephone company which offers DSL offers a reasonable download speed but a much slower upload speed, perhaps to keep you from using VoIP, their competition. Their upload speed is 1/8th of their download speed. The local cable company lakeside offers upload speeds that are 1/3 not 1/8 the download speeds.

Thanks for the great information.

husker

Jun 8, 2009, 10:48 AM

Post #54 of 57 (3195 views)

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Re: [johanson] Magic Jack

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My skype has worked you well, I have called Mexico at least once a week for 6 months or longer with no problems. Just like using the phone, I have a skype phone that plugs in to the usb. While in Mexico I made several calls NOB including a conference call for a staff meeting that lasted 45 min with out interuption ..clear as a bell.

BajaGringo

Jun 8, 2009, 6:20 PM

Post #55 of 57 (3175 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Magic Jack

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I tried it and talked to a number of folks here in Baja that used it and most of us seemed to agree that it was OK, but nothing really all that great. We all experienced different levels of problems with MJ and it didn't seem to perform as well as many of the other options out there today...

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joaquinx

Jun 8, 2009, 8:40 PM

Post #56 of 57 (3166 views)

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Re: [husker] Magic Jack

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I've had Skype for two years without complaint. I have Mexico Unlimited (5.95usd a month) so calls to the US are free and calls to landlines and cell phones are discounted. Calls to the US are clear, however, calls to Mexico Telcel and Telmex are a little on the unclear side. I believe that this is due to the local IPS provider in Mexico and their connection from the Internet to the telephone companies. I believe that Skype has connections is Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara where they make the connection from the Internet to the phone lines. So my calls from my house in Xalapa to friends on the other side of town go to Mexico City(?) and then via landline or cell to my friend across town. Sometimes they're great and sometimes not. I also have Skype on my iPod Touch, but I need a wifi connection to connect.
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My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Oscar2

Jun 9, 2009, 1:19 PM

Post #57 of 57 (3138 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Magic Jack

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As I understand it, its only FREE use in Mexico or any other place else, is to make calls within, and/or too the US or Canada phone numbers. In fact we just got off the phone with my son calling from Switzerland. We were elated to speak to him for about 35 minutes FREE. My son has called us from 4 European countries with 8 more to go, using MJ and a small laptop with WiFi. Thus far, he’s done it successfully. Do you actually own MJ or did you use some one else’s unsuccessfully? Are you also using Skype or Vonage to make these comparisons or, as you mentioned, drawing from others usage and opinions? If you do own MJ, maybe your just in a bad communication area…don’t know.

International calling from some parts of Europe to the US is $2.25 per minute. On the MJ Platinum plan, I pay $12 and change, annually for six years, (.03cents a day) that’s it. One international call for six minutes is $13.50. I anticipate talking to my son for at least an hour or more while he’s traveling and at the 1 hour rate it equates to a minimum of a $135 savings. This would buy me more that 12 years service with MJ. Again, go figure. I talk as long as I want, and if the connection isn’t that good or could be better we’ll try later, why not, I’m retired and anything I have to say these days isn’t so important it can’t be put on hold for a bit. In essence, it’s dirt cheap and I’m enjoying, warts and all.

Which system are you using now to call the US and Canada, and what is your price comparisons? I know you’re well familiar with this phrase: “its not for everyone, you have to try it for awhile and see if you like it or not.” For a one-time $20.00 fee, why not, I doubt that it will put a crease in anyone’s budget.

Let me know how it works once you get it and use it extensively. I even can send fax’s on mine. Plus one of my home phone lines bill was about $40-$50 a month, its now down to about $12-$15 a month. Yes, I must admit, this isn’t to hard to take either, in fact its Sweet!

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