MagicJack blocks free conference calling, offers own service on clarkhoward.com

Yesterday a caller named Chad was upset that MagicJack had begun blocking him from using a free third party conference calling service. He was instead being told to use MagicJack's own free service.

Clark did some digging with MagicJack and the FCC and has a somewhat esoteric explanation for what happened.

Certain states offer small phone companies known as competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) a special deal that's little known. If your free conference calling service of choice is routed through a CLEC, the CLEC actually charges huge fees (known as termination charges) to your phone company. That's how they make the free service available to you.

The original thinking here was these termination charges would effectively help rural customers because they would incentivize companies to run phone lines in the countryside.

MagicJack is blocking other free conference calling numbers at this time so they don't get hit with the hefty bill for termination charges. That's why they set up their own free conference calling service as an alternative.

No word yet from the FCC about whether or not MagicJack's actions are legal.

If you find yourself in a similar situation to Chad, you have several options: You can either use another phone -- like a cell -- to call in to the conference call line of your choice; or you can have a friend patch you in on a conference call via 3-way calling; or you can consider using the free MagicJack conference call service.

What others are saying

If Companies are blocking third party conference calling services because they are being stuck with a huge bill than I am fine with it. MagicJack or any other company should not be required to pay for your call, even if it is supposedly "Free" for you. If it is that big a deal to get in on these calls than find another way to do it. Don't expect a free handout from your phone provider.
By Geoffrey @ 02/11/10 12:10:34 PMreport abuse
My experience with conference calling
In my experience with conference calling, there is normally a direct dial number into the conference call. I would think that using a direct dial instead of a 800 number would work. Why not try it this way, as you are not paying additional for the direct dial with the MagicJack.
By anonymous @ 01/11/10 01:10:54 PMreport abuse
Some people don't get it
Some people don't get it. they think that by MagicJack offering a free conferencing service, this fixes the issue. Well it doesn't.

I get invited to conference calls - I have no control over the service used. And I have to dial in using a long distance number that isn't supported by MagicJack. That's the issue.

If I were always the originator of the conference call, then MagicJack's solution would be fine. But I'm not.
By Bob @ 12/14/09 11:55:26 AMreport abuse
magic jack
The only bad thing about this service, it that you have to have your computer on all the time. I have tried it and did not like it for this reason. I have switched to Good2Chat.com works like my old phone service but much better. The customer service rocks. Also, they have a referral service for free phone service. I told 3 of my friends and now my phone service is 100% free, Cool!
By Woody @ 12/01/09 05:53:40 PMreport abuse
Magic Jack
I bought Magic Jack from Radio Shack and had absolutly the worst experience ever trying to just get it working. Their service dept. kept transferring me to someone else and eventually would just drop my call. I had friends who work with IBM and Microsoft try to deal with their service dept and they too spent countless hours with no satisfaction. This product should be taken off the market! I was lucky as Radio Shack took mine back with no questions asked. Makes one wonder how many others have done the same.
By R Gates @ 11/28/09 10:15:13 AMreport abuse
conference calling
ok!!! so they are blocking it. they set up one for you to use. for 20.00 a year learn to live with it. by the way i have two magic jacks and they work fine 98% of the time. the rest i can live with for the price
By pete katz @ 11/16/09 09:31:41 PMreport abuse
MagicJack great for those overseas
I like MagicJack if only for one reason. It allows me to place local calls to my sister in Germany since the number is here and the MagicJack is in her computer in Germany. It was simple enough for her to setup.

Also, you can use Skype, they have a comparable service to MagicJack, granted you have to use a headset with them.
By Surge @ 10/20/09 05:26:06 PMreport abuse
third party conference callign services
AT&T is now claiming to the FCC that google voice blocking of 3rd party conference call services is a violation of FCC rules and is justification for blocking google voice on iphone.
By Steve FInn @ 09/26/09 02:35:16 PMreport abuse
MagicJack
I would like to know if Clark endorsed MagicJack. I've had nothing but trouble from mine, and it's currently not working at all. I've spent countless hours, that I really can't spare, on their so called tech support chat line. I believe I've been ripped off. I can't get it to work, and when I asked for a phone number and name of the head of their tech support department, I was told they did not have a phone number, only chat. If searched the web and there is a YMAX Corp. that sells MagicJack (according to Wikipedia) and when I searched for that, I found a fraud reporting site, saying the same things I just said. Why is this device still on the market?
By Randy @ 09/22/09 10:07:07 PMreport abuse
Another alternative
Or, you can reconsider using magicjoke altogether
By speedway @ 09/08/09 08:18:05 AMreport abuse
Conferencing
The whole "free" conferencing idea is a simple enough solution for a two person conference when both parties have VOIP, as you likely have no long-distance charges. However, for companies that truly care about their image, an 800 number/toll-free option is much nicer to give to valued clients and prospects. When you look at Free Conference's offer, in particular, you'll find them to be at .10 a minute for that particular service. It's not really "free".
Very reputable alternatives exist. Hint-an option is in my profile, as my company offers this.

All the best!
Eric
By Eric @ 09/05/09 10:34:46 AMreport abuse
Free Conferencing Block
IDT Calling Cards block these calls as well.
By Kathy @ 09/03/09 02:04:53 PMreport abuse
Free Conferencing
I live in Windstream's network, pay for unlimited long dist, but my work conference calls are charged an extra 10cents/min. I'm looking for an easier way then 3-way or using my cell. I did not have this problem with Callvantage, but they are no longer an option after next month.
By Cindy @ 09/03/09 01:29:54 PMreport abuse
Why use the "Free" Conferencing?
These services are blocked by a lot of companies since it is very sleazy. The ability for Rural CLECs to charge higher rates for termination was not meant for this purpose. Most carriers terminate to each other for fractions of a penny and most of these sleazy gray shaded free to consumer services charge anywhere from .08 to .13 per minute. That is ridiculous and puts a lot of strain on carriers. Since a carrier can't pick and choose where calls go, this is highway robbery. I know free is fun, but it is not always worth it to make charlatans rich.
By Sean @ 09/03/09 11:52:42 AMreport abuse

If Companies are blocking third party conference calling services because they are being stuck with a huge bill than I am fine with it. MagicJack or any other company should not be required to pay for your call, even if it is supposedly "Free" for you. If it is that big a deal to get in on these calls than find another way to do it. Don't expect a free handout from your phone provider.

By Geoffrey @ 02/11/10 12:10:34 PMreport abuse

My experience with conference calling

In my experience with conference calling, there is normally a direct dial number into the conference call. I would think that using a direct dial instead of a 800 number would work. Why not try it this way, as you are not paying additional for the direct dial with the MagicJack.

By anonymous @ 01/11/10 01:10:54 PMreport abuse

Some people don't get it

Some people don't get it. they think that by MagicJack offering a free conferencing service, this fixes the issue. Well it doesn't.

I get invited to conference calls - I have no control over the service used. And I have to dial in using a long distance number that isn't supported by MagicJack. That's the issue.

If I were always the originator of the conference call, then MagicJack's solution would be fine. But I'm not.

By Bob @ 12/14/09 11:55:26 AMreport abuse

magic jack

The only bad thing about this service, it that you have to have your computer on all the time. I have tried it and did not like it for this reason. I have switched to Good2Chat.com works like my old phone service but much better. The customer service rocks. Also, they have a referral service for free phone service. I told 3 of my friends and now my phone service is 100% free, Cool!

By Woody @ 12/01/09 05:53:40 PMreport abuse

Magic Jack

I bought Magic Jack from Radio Shack and had absolutly the worst experience ever trying to just get it working. Their service dept. kept transferring me to someone else and eventually would just drop my call. I had friends who work with IBM and Microsoft try to deal with their service dept and they too spent countless hours with no satisfaction. This product should be taken off the market! I was lucky as Radio Shack took mine back with no questions asked. Makes one wonder how many others have done the same.

By R Gates @ 11/28/09 10:15:13 AMreport abuse

conference calling

ok!!! so they are blocking it. they set up one for you to use. for 20.00 a year learn to live with it. by the way i have two magic jacks and they work fine 98% of the time. the rest i can live with for the price

By pete katz @ 11/16/09 09:31:41 PMreport abuse

MagicJack great for those overseas

I like MagicJack if only for one reason. It allows me to place local calls to my sister in Germany since the number is here and the MagicJack is in her computer in Germany. It was simple enough for her to setup.

Also, you can use Skype, they have a comparable service to MagicJack, granted you have to use a headset with them.

By Surge @ 10/20/09 05:26:06 PMreport abuse

third party conference callign services

AT&T is now claiming to the FCC that google voice blocking of 3rd party conference call services is a violation of FCC rules and is justification for blocking google voice on iphone.

By Steve FInn @ 09/26/09 02:35:16 PMreport abuse

I would like to know if Clark endorsed MagicJack. I've had nothing but trouble from mine, and it's currently not working at all. I've spent countless hours, that I really can't spare, on their so called tech support chat line. I believe I've been ripped off. I can't get it to work, and when I asked for a phone number and name of the head of their tech support department, I was told they did not have a phone number, only chat. If searched the web and there is a YMAX Corp. that sells MagicJack (according to Wikipedia) and when I searched for that, I found a fraud reporting site, saying the same things I just said. Why is this device still on the market?

By Randy @ 09/22/09 10:07:07 PMreport abuse

Another alternative

Or, you can reconsider using magicjoke altogether

By speedway @ 09/08/09 08:18:05 AMreport abuse

Conferencing

The whole "free" conferencing idea is a simple enough solution for a two person conference when both parties have VOIP, as you likely have no long-distance charges. However, for companies that truly care about their image, an 800 number/toll-free option is much nicer to give to valued clients and prospects. When you look at Free Conference's offer, in particular, you'll find them to be at .10 a minute for that particular service. It's not really "free".
Very reputable alternatives exist. Hint-an option is in my profile, as my company offers this.

All the best!
Eric

By Eric @ 09/05/09 10:34:46 AMreport abuse

Free Conferencing Block

IDT Calling Cards block these calls as well.

By Kathy @ 09/03/09 02:04:53 PMreport abuse

Free Conferencing

I live in Windstream's network, pay for unlimited long dist, but my work conference calls are charged an extra 10cents/min. I'm looking for an easier way then 3-way or using my cell. I did not have this problem with Callvantage, but they are no longer an option after next month.

By Cindy @ 09/03/09 01:29:54 PMreport abuse

Why use the "Free" Conferencing?

These services are blocked by a lot of companies since it is very sleazy. The ability for Rural CLECs to charge higher rates for termination was not meant for this purpose. Most carriers terminate to each other for fractions of a penny and most of these sleazy gray shaded free to consumer services charge anywhere from .08 to .13 per minute. That is ridiculous and puts a lot of strain on carriers. Since a carrier can't pick and choose where calls go, this is highway robbery. I know free is fun, but it is not always worth it to make charlatans rich.

By Sean @ 09/03/09 11:52:42 AMreport abuse

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Sep 02, 2009 -- MagicJack blocks free conference calling, offers own service

What others are saying