Alternatives to majicJack

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Dan and Carol Neuschwanger March 23, 2012 at 3:44pm

Hi there, This is Dan and Carol. We are new to Boquete and this is my first reply on forum. We faced the same thing. Do you have a family member who with the aid of your credit card number call to renew your subscription. That is what we did with our daughters help and we are renewed for two years.

Aloha Carol
- Elizabeth Gerhardt > Dan and Carol Neuschwanger March 28, 2012 at 1:35pm
  
  I couldn't find the normal low price renewal so I waited a few days and it renewed automatically like always. Price rise specials were displayed for a few days; it kicks in next year.
Carol Gray March 19, 2012 at 11:19am

Hello John,

I believe that I have found both the problem and solution concerning the renewal of a MagicJack subscription that you and others are experiencing locally. I will keep this as non-technical as possible – so please, if you are a computer geek – relax – it doesn’t have to be complicated. When you log-in to renew your subscription, their computers recognizes your internet service provider is located in Panama. Generally, they will reject your credit card for security reasons, as a great deal of the internet fraud comes from sources off shore. To solve the problem, I used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service provider and connection that connects me to the internet through a server farm located in the U.S., and masks my real location in Panama. This service also allows me to access other sites that prevent foreign access (NetFlix, Hulu, MS WebTV, etc.), and it is encrypted for a higher level of security for financial transactions in the U.S. Anyway, my MagicJack service was immediately renewed when I used the VPN service. Otherwise, you will have to renew your subscription the next time you are in the U.S.

I hope this helps you and others having this problem.
- Peter Duthie > Carol Gray March 19, 2012 at 1:33pm
  
  I regularly use a VPN for the reasons Carol stated above. I can recommend either HMA (Hide My ASS) or Strong VPN. Very important security if you use your PC or smartphone at public WiFi access points. Either of these services can be run directly on your PC or phone, but they come with a cost. They also can be run on your router. Figure on spending about $8 a month or $80 for an annual subscription.
  
  A simpler and cheaper solution in your case probably is just to have someone stateside just renew your subscription and you either reiburse them or let them use your credit card.
George Papp March 18, 2012 at 6:59pm

We purchased a Vonage package in the states and it works great here in Boquete. All incoming calls are free and we have 750 minutes of outbound calls. Cost $20 per month and no contract.
Dennis Nutting March 18, 2012 at 4:41pm

John I have a magic jack here as well but have had nothing but problems with it. When I was back in the U.S. I purchased a Ooma system from Best Buy. Ooma has much better quality sound to it both on my end and on whoever I call in the U.S. It is much more expensive than the magic jack to start and you need to set it to a U.S. address and end up paying the U.S. taxes on it every month, which is around $3 but all the calls in the U.S. are free. The Ooma hooks directly into your router and doesn't need a computer to run like magic jack, but you will need a phone with it instead of a headset.
Carol Hurst March 18, 2012 at 12:23pm

I tried for 2 weeks to renew my magic jack. I had let the service expire - my mistake. I used the chat several times a day, and got NO resolution to the problem. They said my account was " under review with a higher department". And did not know any other information. I just wanted them to charge my credit card and send me the activation code. No go. I finally gave up and had a friend in the states buy me a new magic jack (with a new number), and buy the 5 year plan. She activated it in the states with my husband's email address (the first one was associated with mine), and mailed it to me. It works fine, and I do not have to worry about it for 5 years.
Lorrie Bowes March 18, 2012 at 12:21pm

You can call any phone anywhere in the world on Skype for like less than 3c a minute to Australia from Panama etc. etc. but of course you have to be on a computer.
- Lee Zeltzer > Lorrie Bowes March 18, 2012 at 4:59pm
  
  no, you can use a smart phone like an iphone and use skype via wifi
  - Keith Woolford > Lee Zeltzer March 18, 2012 at 11:00pm
    
    Don't even need WiFi. It actually works with 3G

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Alternatives to majicJack

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