Adding a business phone line

[mark123]

I've been considering adding a second phone line since my son likes to answer the main phone and interview perspective customers on the issues that Spongebob faces on a daily basis. The expense of adding a second line (setup fee, extra monthly cost and getting charged extra because it's a business) looked pretty steep. Normally, I'd probably use my cell phone but my carrier didn't have any local numbers (I'm switching carriers soon) which I didn't realize until I got my home phone bill. Well, I'm sure we've all seen the ads on tv for MagicJack. I saw one at walmart and figured if I don't like it I can return it there with no issues so I picked one up. So far I like it and I use it for the business and have put the number on my business cards. I also use it for long distance and plan to cancel the long distance service on my main line. I've read all the complaints online and they had initially turned me off to the product. I have the slowest DSL I've ever seen and the calls are clear, both ends can hear the conversation clearly but I understand that dialup is a no-go. I do have a fast computer using Vista that I built myself two years ago but I read that some older computers can have issues. I did not have to put in a credit card number to start the service as the first year of service is included in the purchase price. You have to have the computer on to make outgoing calls but if the computer is off the voicemail or forwarding still work so that's not a real issue to me. My favorite part is that you get any voicemail messages in your email. You can also forward the magicjack number to another number if you don't want to use the voice mail from the service. All in all, I like it. It makes sense to spend the $40 for the MagicJack and one year of service which is just the connection fee for a business line. I'll report if I have any troubles with it. Anyone else use MagicJack?

[swstout]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by mark123 I've been considering adding a second phone line since my son likes to answer the main phone and interview perspective customers on the issues that Spongebob faces on a daily basis. The expense of adding a second line (setup fee, extra monthly cost and getting charged extra because it's a business) looked pretty steep. Normally, I'd probably use my cell phone but my carrier didn't have any local numbers (I'm switching carriers soon) which I didn't realize until I got my home phone bill. Well, I'm sure we've all seen the ads on tv for MagicJack. I saw one at walmart and figured if I don't like it I can return it there with no issues so I picked one up. So far I like it and I use it for the business and have put the number on my business cards. I also use it for long distance and plan to cancel the long distance service on my main line. I've read all the complaints online and they had initially turned me off to the product. I have the slowest DSL I've ever seen and the calls are clear, both ends can hear the conversation clearly but I understand that dialup is a no-go. I do have a fast computer using Vista that I built myself two years ago but I read that some older computers can have issues. I did not have to put in a credit card number to start the service as the first year of service is included in the purchase price. You have to have the computer on to make outgoing calls but if the computer is off the voicemail or forwarding still work so that's not a real issue to me. My favorite part is that you get any voicemail messages in your email. You can also forward the magicjack number to another number if you don't want to use the voice mail from the service. All in all, I like it. It makes sense to spend the $40 for the MagicJack and one year of service which is just the connection fee for a business line. I'll report if I have any troubles with it. Anyone else use MagicJack? My In-Laws tried Magic Jack and had nothing but trouble with it so I didn't use it for my service. I insteas went with Vonage. Have 2 lines (with local numbers). Costs a little more but the service is great. For 24/7 service, I keep my computer on and have an uninteruptable power source fo it incase of power loss. It will keep it active for about 2 hours during power failures. WalMart carries them. Steve

__________________

we put a second residential line in our office...the business line was way too expensive and didn't have enough perks. Both phone lines with long distance packages costs about $80.00 for us. Never tried magic jack and I wouldn't let it control my business calls from what I have read.

[mark123]

Originally Posted by ritchiem

... Never tried magic jack and I wouldn't let it control my business calls from what I have read.

Yeah, I read the disgruntled customers as well. Are any of the articles recent? Many of the accusations seem unfounded at best and purposely inflamatory at worst.

[XtreemGreen]

Ive been running magic jack for almost a year without a hitch... As long as you have a good stable high speed connection, you shouldnt have problems..

[jasonw]

Att cell phone. Add a line for $9.95 per month. Sence we already have cell phones we can just do this. This is exactly what Iplan to do when the need for a business line rises which is coming very soon. I find it IMPOSSIBLE to take a day off when all your adds have your cell phone as your contact number. You can be on a beach in Cancun and still have to work.

[Little's]

I looked into MagicJack, but the closest area code I could get to my local area code was like 2 hours away, which meant that anyone wanting to call me would actually be calling long distance. So that doesnt work.

[mark123]

Originally Posted by Little's

I looked into MagicJack, but the closest area code I could get to my local area code was like 2 hours away, which meant that anyone wanting to call me would actually be calling long distance. So that doesnt work.

Yes, that is a big issue. I did check their site for my local area code. You can't look for the exchanges though. There are some exchanges in my area code that are long distance so I guess I rolled the dice a little bit.

Anyone considering magicjack should check the area code availability first.

[XtreemGreen]

Being in the Tampa Bay area... I guess I lucked out...I use my magic jack for the county I use to live in.. My home is 727 and the area I use to live in is 813..Works out well if you works in 2 diff area codes..

[picframer]

I have a business blackberry plan and we run everything off their BES software on a server here at the house, this way I get all my calls, emails, send images to clients at work if we need approval for something, mainly excavation, every team lead carries one, unlimited sms, email, I think the data is around 500 meg a month, we have 6 units and it runs around $300.00 a month all in.

Works well and we get a lot of business by the quick replies to email inquiries and customers rave at images they receive around noon on how a crew is doing, just an added touch that works well for us and the staff love the positive feedback they receive.