It's been a while since we've checked up on the magicJack, the $39.99 telecommunications device that slides into a notebook's USB port and allows chatters to make unlimited local and long-distance calls within the U.S. and Canada using a traditional landline phone or headset. In our magicJack review, we praised the device for its simple setup, very nice call quality, and amenities, but magicJack had promised additional features. Our mission was to find out if the company followed through. Promise #1: Mac Compatibility Before the End of 2007 At the time of our November 2007 review, magicJack was PC-only; Mac compatibility was set to arrive before the end of the year. Did magicJack live up to its promise? Well, technically, no. OS X compatibility was added in January 2008, but we're not going to split hairs over a few days; we're just happy to see the magicJack love spread to more operating systems. Promise #2: International Calling Before the End of 2007 Much like Mac compatibility, international dialing was slated to arrive before we said bye-bye to 2007. Did magicJack live up to its promise? Again, not quite. International dialing did arrive, but not until 2008. Still, we're happy that it's here, and this is how it works: You can call any other magicJack user anywhere in the world free of charge. If you're traveling abroad, you can place free calls to the U.S. or Canada. In fact, the only time that you have to reach for your wallet is when you're calling a non-magicJack international number; that requires the purchase of international minutes. Plus, if you're overseas and plan to call someone in the U.S. or Canada, or want to dial an international magicJack user, there's no need to use a country code. Promise #3: Ability to Port Existing Numbers to magicJack Before End of 2007 We're still waiting. A magicJack unit just arrived in our offices and we're eager to put the device through the paces. A question for the magicJack fans out there: What do you think of the new features?
