MagicJackGO vs MagicJackPlus 2014

So I went to the site and noticed apparently today there is a new device called "GO" and it comes with 1 year of service. Why would they make a Plus 2014 and a GO or are these the same things re-branded?

I actually have the 1st (Desktop Only Version), 2nd (Direct Connect RJ45 to Router), and 3rd Generation (Wi-Fi Connect to Router) Dongles on hand. I remember having to buy a HP Compaq t5710 Thin Client Computer, do a Firmware Update to save OS that boots-up with the 1st Generation Dongle attached and use it without the Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor (all 3 removed) just because it was quiet (no Fans) and used very little electricity. Then, MJ
would push a Dongle Update every now and then which stops the Thin Client from completing the connections until you put on the Mouse, Keyboard & Monitor back on to see what was changed - THEN resave the firmware changes all over again until MJ pushes another update. I used the Thin Client because I didn't want to have a Soft Dial Pad popping up on my regular desktop activities AND my desktop uses lots of power - driving up the electric bills if I wanted to keep it on to make/receive MJ calls.

Then, the 2nd Generation showed up claiming the Dongle now has its own mini computer inside (the Dongle) and can be connected directly to the back of the router via RJ45 (Cat5e Cable). Great, I can put away the Thin Client, but I ended up installing a Mechanical Timer on the USB Power Adapter to shut the Dongle OFF for 30 minutes (set for 1AM to 1:30AM) because I would lose my dial tone every 24 hours for unknown reasons and rebooting the MJ Dongle always solved the problem (no matter what Brand Name router I was using).

Then, the 3rd Generation Dongle arrived boasting the use of a Wi-Fi connection without using a direct connection to the back of my router (real estate was fully populated back there and adding Ethernet Switches helped only a little). BUT! The little LIGHT would show up flashing on the dongle 2-3 times each day (no dial-tone) requiring rebooting each time. Using the DMZ on the Router to dedicate it to the MJ Dongle helped a lot but still had to reboot often.

Got fed up with it and set the FREE Call Forwarding FEATURE to ring my Cell Phone OR my re-instated Land-Line until MAGICJACK PEOPLE decided to remove the FREE call forwarding feature WITHOUT NOTICE. That means they changed the Terms Of Use contract after I had already prepaid for the 5 additional years.

Pulled out the MJ devices and bought NetTalk Dongles which did not quit on me as often as the MJ devices (maybe once each week, but I had to reboot the router first and then start up the NetTalk Dongle afterwards).

Although, I have the 1st Generation MJ Dongle still active (total of 6 years prepaid), I left the MJ Dongle unplugged and downloaded the MJ App on my (real cheap) China Built 3G Smartphone (Android 4.2.1) to use the MJ Services.

What is really confusing to me is WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT
(besides the exterior Dongle case) with the 4th Generation MagicJack Device? I already get the bragged about services that are available on the prior Generation Dongles. (Never tried the Conference Call Number.) What I do notice is that the yearly price is now $35 a YEAR. It was $19.95 plus oddball fees per year when pre-purchasing the 5 added years plan. What I think is being sneaky about the KEEP YOUR EXISTING PHONE NUMBER is that there is a $10 charge for RENEWING that ported number EACH YEAR even though all you see in the advertisements is; ONE TIME CHARGE of $10 for porting.

So, Here's what happened (HISTORY) with me. Call Forwarding was taken away during the Contract Period. Suddenly, my Ported Number(s) are now being charged additional $10 each year. I actually have a fear of buying their 4th Generation Device because of their past history. It was "DAN" who was always referred to in the unofficial MagicJack Forums when everyone had a gripe with magicJack. They still do NOT have a real live phone support you can call to TALK to CUSTOMER SERVICE. Only a Chat Session which has improved this year, but I am guessing it's because of the roll-out of the 4th Generation Devices.

I am going to just sit back and see what the MJ People will change on their new Customers because I know that their History equals their Future! My suggestion: Do your own research before investing in any VoIP Company. (Here's a hint: What ever happened to Sky-Rocket VoIP?)

If not, will the GO work without a computer and any rumors of a comparison in quality?

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/04/2014

    Only difference is conference calling. I think $35 a month might be a little more than the other adaptor.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12/04/2014

    AS best as I can tell from the magicJack site, the magicJackGO is merely the newest generation of the product. If it helps, think of it as "magicJack2015".

    By all appearances, the company is going back to the original plan which included one-year of service in the $59.95 initial purchase price for minimally-updated hardware.

    The complete details can be read at the following page:
    »www.magicjack.com/magicJackGO.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12/04/2014

    I think the new MagicJackGo is trying to lure BUSINESS owners. With the previous MagicJacks they said for residential use only, and they would deactivate if there was overuse. I would like to find the small print of the limitations of "unlimited" calling for the Go. I know the "unlimited" calling for previous MagicJacks was indeed limited, as noted in the small print.... don't know about for the Go. Too many questions, too few answers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12/04/2014

    "Only difference is conference calling."

    I always find it funny when people have no idea because the product hasn't even been released yet they claim to know what the differences are, without even having the product. Appleguy you sure thats the ONLY difference? If so please show me the ULR that states what you said that the ONLY difference is that it is conference calling, I bet you can't. Well obviously there is a design difference, and i would assume a hardware difference as well, since the 2014 had sd card slots and the magicjackgo doesn't.

    I on the other hand did in fact get a hold of magic jack customer service and asked them if the new magic jack had new hardware or if it was just repackaged.
    They "said" it was new hardware, which is what i expected to hear, but ill be honest i have a hard time "trusting" their customer service people, since they rarely ever seem to really know whats going on...I did figure I have 30 day money back gaurentee as well, so i decided to order it and test it.

    Now will it be better than the older versions (mj + 2012 or mj + 2014) I have no idea but i don't "claim" to know either. I just know i have 30 days to test it and send it back if it sucks like the 2014 magic jack plus did.

    All i know is the magic jack + 2012 works the best for me out of the two mentioned above, so im still running the 2012 version over my 2014. MY 2014 sits in my drawer collecting dust.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12/04/2014

    You get what you pay for, and MJ is at the bottom of all the VoIP Providers. There are a lot of inexpensive VoIP Providers out there that give 100% better service, especially Techs that frequent this site should know better.

    ReplyDelete

thanks we have copies of XRUMER and ScrapeBox

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