SLOAN RANGER
A 'home away from home' for North Americans
WANDA SLOAN
Usually in this space, you expect to find a review or six of PC software that's easy on the budget and useful at least some of the time. This week is a little different, and I'll start with an explanation, along with a warning.
First the explanation: This week, it's going to be (mostly) hardware, meaning if you're interested you'll need to dig into your wallet or get out your plastic.
Then the warning: This week, you won't be much interested in what follows unless you have some connections with North America.
A couple of weeks ago, a sharp-eyed Database reader (I repeat myself) spotted an interesting item in a screen shot I had taken of my own computer. He wrote to ask me for details on a device called MagicJack, and asked if it could be used and useful in Thailand. I've had other interest in MagicJack, so here is my take on it.
MagicJack is basically a USB device that looks like a pregnant USB drive, but actually is a bit of magic. Attach one end to your computer and plug an ordinary telephone into the other and instantly you have a US or Canadian telephone on your desk - anywhere. And by "anywhere" I specifically mean Thailand or just about anywhere else on Earth.
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| Setting up MagicJack is just about as easy as plugging the hardware device into a USB slot and waiting to fill in the automatic forms. You can also change your phone number later if you wish. |
This MagicJack telephone line works like any telephone around the home, and with any sort of Thai (say) telephone you want to plug into it. You can use a 300 baht el-cheapo from the market or a spiffy walk-around, wireless version from the mall - literally any touch-dial phone you want.
When you pick it up, you have a North American dial tone. The phone works exactly as if you were in Canada or the US. Dial the three-digit area code and the seven-digit number you want in those countries. Or anyone in those countries can call you exactly as if the phone were located inside one of those countries.
The MagicJack device - and company, located in Florida - is using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for all this. It is a private operation. The company has its own, dedicated servers.
In order to use the service, you have to subscribe for a year at a time. You get unlimited calling anywhere in North America, "all you can eat" as they say these days, for $20 a year. The MagicJack hardware itself costs another $20.
For anyone with family or a small business split between Thailand and the US or Canada, MagicJack is potentially a huge money saver. The convenience is obvious. Your son at a US university, your spouse on a business trip to Vancouver, your parents in Ohio, your sub-office in Los Angeles - just pick up the phone and call them, no charge beyond the $20 per year. Or they can call you, no difference.
How is the quality, how is the service, how dependable is it - asked the eagle-eyed reader who prompted this column. The answer is "very good, over the past few months - very good indeed."
The voice quality on the calls is generally good using either of the two main Bangkok Internet providers, True and ToT - and on both wired connections and Wi-Fi. It has been at least as good as mobile phones, meaning once in a while you get a bad line and you have to call back, which wastes about 10 seconds but costs no money.
Service is as good as any phone company, and in some ways better. For example, MagicJack immediately sends you an email every time someone leaves a message in your voice mail, so you'll know you got a call, even if you are away from the phone or turned the computer off.
In order to make or receive calls, the computer has to be on. The first time you use MagicJack, it automatically installs software to connect you, and this will start up with the computer automatically, unless you turn it off. You can switch computers easily, and I suppose you could even use MagicJack at an Internet cafe'.
Also on first use, MagicJack will help you choose a telephone number. Not all cities and area codes are available yet, but the company is working on that. In any case, since there are no long-distance calls within North America, the area code is not all that important.
You can and should get more information at http://www.magicjack.com but two more items from me: MagicJack will only send the device within North America. Amazon.com may (or may not) ship you a device with a one-year subscription, but you probably would be better having your family, business associate or friend order for you and then send it on to Thailand. MagicJack actually encourages this.
And here is the only software you might want to consider, because the MagicJack interface pops up every time you use your phone.
MagicBlock doesn't interfere with MagicJack or your calls, but it does prevent the program from popping up and taking over your work every time the phone rings with a call from North America. It is at vvisoft.com.
Email: wandasloan@gmail.com.
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