Magic jack

I thought about getting a Magic Jack until I read this:

http://broadband-nation.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-problems-with-magic-jack-is-majic.html

The first three points in this piece made me change my mind quickly. To wit:

In the TOS you agree that everything in your computer is fair game for them to know about, all web sites, email, and numbers called are there info.

There is no Un install for this program. Even if you stop using it, it gathers your information.

omg!
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/magic-jack-c219320.html

oddly i have no way to verify this because when i visit the magicjack web site, i am unable to find the terms of service. it appears that i can only see them if i begin the signup process, and i was not interested in going that far. i searched the "frequently asked questions" / knowledge base, and nothing came up for "terms".

i am not for installing a program that does not have an uninstaller, nor am i interested in becoming fodder for spyware.

because their web site does not readily make the terms of service available, i am not inspired to contact them in any way to ask for it, nor to give them the benefit of the doubt. this should be a link at the bottom of each page.

see sites like http://www.earthlink.net/ (policies and agreements )and http://www.skype.com/intl/en/ (privacy policy) for how i feel this should work.

i was able to search for the word "privacy" and got something indicating that magicjack would not sell customer numbers, but that's about it.

Yes I read all that and I have it installed on a desk top. Some of the popup collections can be blocked , not all. We use a laptop for any personal information like banking and shopping on line.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5447043/magicJack -TOS terms of service

Unless you are dilegent with your securiy settings just about every web browser and site you visit does the same thing.

thanks bombi.

that info should be freely available on the page www.magicjack.com as this is the web site for the product. it appears that you uploaded it to scribd for us to view, is that true?

the link as written looks like it goes to the actual site, but it resolves to another space, web4.talk4free.com - there is really no way to find this on the magicjack site by guessing. unless you sign up. they should fix that, in my opinion. people should have the chance to review this before signing up and installing the software, even for a free trial.

possibly an inadvertent oversight, but it should be straightened out so they don't look like they are holding onto that info until they "have" the customer's computer with this software.

i have to assume that the software has an uninstaller, that's another thing mentioned.

i'd be interested to know - were you able to get a 340 area code? and if not, is it a long distance call for, say, someone in the usvi or florida to call you?

Anita, presently there are no 340 aeea codes available. Accoring to the site more area codes will be available in the near future. All out going calls including long distance are included in the $19.95 per year charge. I opted for a Maine area code so my family can avoid LD charges. You can forward your calls to a cell phone or another number. From a conversation with a IT person, I was told that it can be removed, but not the conventional method. So far I haven' been inundated with adds or popups. There are a bunch of area codes to choose from. I am going to get one for my son in Oahu. We still may add Skype as well for the video function to talk and see our grandchild.