Ooma or magic jack???
 

Similar?
Is one any better than the other?
Personal experience?

We had to leave our computer on with magicJack. Ooma does not require Internet to be on for your computer. Got rid of magicJack and went to AT&T home cell service I can take it with me to any house small box less than 1" x 4" very happy.

We have the Magic Jack that plugs into your router, not your computer. It comes with a device to plug into the router. I can't remember prices, but it's no biggie. With the device, there's no need to leave a computer on. We have had zero problems with our Magic Jack, got a 352 telephone number, and NEVER get any telemarketing calls on it.

I have heard that there are better/cheaper VOIP systems around, but we are happy with what we have so continue on with it. We've had it for almost a decade. We pay about $40/year.

I'm not real familiar with magic jack. We've had Ooma for more than 2 years and have never had any problems with it. We subscribe to their premium service which sends all voice mails to our email so we don't miss any calls while traveling. If you go to amazon.com and read the reviews for each one you can get an idea of which is better suited to you.

We have used MagicJack for four years with no problems

We don't leave it plugged in, but just listen to any voicemail messages that come in and call back if needed

One big advantage is the absence of unsolicited calls

Ooma
 

We also chose the Ooma a couple of years ago after researching as you're doing. When Consumer Reports top rated it, that was enough for us.

We are very happy with it. It's not the same voice quality as you'd get in a telephone company land line, but not bad. The Ooma unit itself is like a voice mail answering machine and you can also hear the voice mails from your telephone and also your smartphone via an email.

We use ours wirelessly and place it in the house where it's convenient. Just connect it to WIFI like any other device, no need to plug into a router if you get the "Ooma Telo Air" model (although you can still plug it into your router instead if you'd like.) It has the black antenna you see and plugs directly into a USB port on the back.

After the initial purchase on Amazon, we tried the premium service for free as a trial and decided to keep that. (about $10.00/month) and the only thing we pay other than that is about $3 or $4 per month in taxes/fees.

It's very versatile and use it if we're up North or in The Villages. Just connect to WIFI and plug a phone into it. Same telephone number wherever you are.

OOma hands down. I know some have not had problems with MagicJack, but I have found it too subject to sporadic weaknesses in the cable signals. Their online interface is not user friendly. I had my parents on MJ and that was a nightmare. No problems at all with OOma.

What speed is your internet? I am thinking that the quality of the internet line is key to either system.

Ooma Speed Test Link
 

We have Magic Jack also
 

Agree with CFrance, NO problem and saved us a bundle, better than that, was able to cancel Comcast phone....Anything I can do to decrease Comcast bill, I'm all for it!

Could be, Indy. I have to admit we never use the online interface of MJ. We have a typical cordless phone with an answering machine and just use that. We have never experienced any drop in service with the MJ plugged into the router. We use Comcast internet and don't have any enhanced speed feature. Were your parents using a computer connection or a router connection?

I have to say, too, to the person who mentioned sound quality, ours is excellent. I never even think about it not being a traditional land line. In fact I've gotten our kids and out-of-town friends used to calling us on MJ instead of cell phone.

We use Skype for overseas and have trouble with that from time to time. Does Ooma have an overseas component?

Ooma
 

I have had Ooma for about five years. Never any issues. When I bought the box it was $200.00 now I see it is less. One thing that hasn't changed is the monthly charge $3.40 per month. I do not have the premium service but Ooma still sends me a message to My e-mai and smart phone that I had a call. It shows the time and number so if you want you can call back. Of course you can call remote and pick up Voice Mail.

Very good and trouble free. Onlt draw back a very slight delay in transmission. I have the same type of delay with cell phone calls.

Sailor, when you say a slight delay in transmission, do you mean when you are dialing, or when you are talking?

The reason I ask people to call on our Magic Jack instead of our cell phone is because the slight delay on the cell phone causes both people to start talking at the same time. Then both stop because they're interrupting the other, and then it's an Alphonse/Gaston dance from there. We don't get a delay on MJ.