The company behind the magicJack, the cheap Internet phone gadget that’s been heavily promoted on TV, has made a new version of the device that allows free calls from cellphones in the home, in a fashion that’s sure to draw protest from cellular carriers.
The new magicJack uses, without permission, radio frequencies for which cellular carriers have paid billions of dollars for exclusive licenses.
YMax, which is based in Palm Beach, Fla., said this week at the International Consumers Electronics Show that it plans to start selling the device in about four months for US$40, the same price as the original magicJack . As before, it will provide free calls to the U.S. and Canada for one year.
The device is, in essence, a very small cellular tower for the home.
Hello lawsuits.
The FCC owns the electomagnetic emissions in my brain!
My heart bleeds for the carriers … because, you know, they are such nice people. Frak’m, frak’m hard.
#13 so the FCC are the ones who have to go after Magneto?
I droped my landline and bought a MajicJack last spring. I am very satisfied with the way it operates and the voice quality. My experience suggests that the voice quality is comperable to landline and better than cel service. I plan to move the MagicJack to a 24/7 computer, however the majicJack system will E-mail you if a call is missed and if the caller leaves a voice mail. MajicJack attaches the voice mail as an mp3 to the E-mail. I thought that was downright cute.
I am just guessing that the new cel phone configured MajicJack will include a simplified cel tower type tranciever maybe with just a few cel channels and say 100yd operating range. If they allow you to leave several of those cel channels open for drive by guests, there could be some very interesting impacts om the big celco’s buisiness model.
nunyac
>> hhopper said, on January 9th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
>> Do the airwaves really “belong to the people?”
Owned by the public, regulated by the government is the technical status… like roads and parks.
So, you can’t to ANYTHING you want with radio waves — however I think the company can make a good argument that _non interfering_ use should be legal.
This is like the fact that you are allowed to broadcast on AM and FM commercial frequencies if it is only on your property. I do this constantly to extend my computer music to my FM radios around the house.
Is this device any different than the Femtocell devices that AT&T already provides to customers (and then charges the user extra for using his own bandwidth to make the call) ?
Ah AT&T can buy a zillion of these and use it to fill up the gaps in their “map!” Assuming this gives 3G coverage and capabilities.
Now if this goes to a lawsuit, this could set a president regarding low powered short ranged devices that don’t really disrupt cell tower services (though i can see how this could be used to do so). Cuz if they go down, then those little FM transmitters that you use to let your ipod play over your car stereo could be next!
now this can’t be completely free. you have to buy the device and pay at least an annual fee like magic jack already has (still super cheap).
So…why would anyone care to jump through all these hoops when Skype works on the iPhone/ipod touch over wi-fi now? Skype to Skype is free and Skype to phone is almost free. I don’t see any feature phone user plugging in this device and setting it all up, just to get free calls. People are lazy, and would want this to work everywhere. Dragging a device from place to place is not the answer. Maybe 10 years ago this would have been a winner, but not now.
I just used the majicJack, and it only raised my car 1 cm.
BTW, that picture looks a lot like my wife, when I met her 35 years ago. Now at 56, she still doesn’t look over 37… that was what a 25 year old (male acquaintance) thought her age was last week. (Sigh) Me… I look every bit my age of 56.
I bought a Magic Jack a year ago and use it everyday.The reason everyone isn’t using one are many.A broad band connection is needed.Your computer must be left on 24/7 for it to send and receive calls.One half of our country don’t have a clue about the electronics they use every day.The other half doesn’t use computers.I just paid 20 dollars for another year of service and recommend it to everyone who has broadband.I will buy a cellphone version if it works with my Tracfone.This is another bargain that has been overlooked by consumers.
I don’t really see any advantage this has over the regular magicJack, except for people who only have a cell phone. Even then, a usable quality wired phone can be had for under ten bucks these days and a cordless (not cellular — with a base station) phone for under twenty. Perhaps the benefit is in the feeling of “sticking it” to the cell carrier?
If I recall correctly, it’s legal to use a transmitter without a license as long as it emits less than one hundred milliwatts (that’s 1/10 of a watt).
# 25 Greg Allen:
“This is like the fact that you are allowed to broadcast on AM and FM commercial frequencies if it is only on your property. I do this constantly to extend my computer music to my FM radios around the house.”
I’d like to do that. What do you recommend?
#28 A macfan that think the world exists thanks to mac when it’s actually last to the party. Never fails, always pathetic.
This could force the FCC to defend its rancid practice of auctioning off pieces of the PUBLICLY OWNED RF spectrum to the highest bidder. Viva la MagicJack.
Does anyone know what has happened with CUPHONE?
Not the greatest VOIP but it suited my purposes.
@12 ECA Said “IS THIS THE GIRL THAT ELECTROCUTED HERSELF?? by using a charger connected cellphone in the tub??”
Not sure but if she gets that phone wet it won’t be covered under the warranty.
The magicJack could cause interference with other devices in close physical proximity, such as in an apartment or office, outside of its intended range.
Could employees bring the magicJack as a USB device into a workplace and get free calls and internet? This could be a security risk for IT administrators.
What about 3G? This just seems to work over GSM.
More and more phones have Wi-fi. This will lead into more “femtocells” in homes to communicate with phones via Wi-fi.
Quality of the device might be an issue because of strict FCC specs for transmission.
What’s the MagicJack SCAM? VOIP is free and easy, fine. We’re NOT talking VOIP. MagicJack claims to link your computer/phone to the PHONE SYSTEM. That is I can use this $20 a year product to talk all day to my brother on his land line (phone system)? How is that theoretically possible? I understand how I can use Skype or AIM to talk from computer to computer, but connecting to the phone system to connect to a land line causes the telco to charge SOMEONE. At $20 a month I’m obviously not paying. Is MagicJack hacking in illegally to the telcos? Is MagicJack paying the entire telco bill and making it back by selling your private information somehow? Bottom line, there stated public claims for this don’t make any economic sense at all. They should be losing about $35 a month on each and every one. Anyone?
# 12 That’s no cell phone. That the waterproof vibrator’s control.