MajicJack is going to be hijacking wireless spectrum telco's paid billions for soon..

[bignateyk]

They are licensed, not owned, correct? Good note on the cell phone broadcast because I thought that would be the issue.

Correct, licensed but not owned. Same difference for this conversation though.

Alot of people think it's ridiculous that things like transmission frequencies can be licensed and sold.

The native americans also thought it was ridiculous that land could be bought and sold.

 

[vi edit]

Uhh. You could currently do that now with the existing Magic Jack, except instead of having to find an AT&T phone, you could use any home phone.

D'oh. That would be easier wouldn't it. But at least with a cell phone I probably have a better phone directory than with a traditional one.

 

[TuxDave]

As soon as somebody can prove the transmission leaves the home which is highly likely the FCC can smack them down because the cell providers can then claim they are creating noise/interference on the spectrum.

Back when in I was still in graduate school, I would say every telecommunication company would disagree with you. We were developing a concept where a tx/rx system would scan the airwaves to find frequencies that are not being used and then would broadcast to each other in that band. It would then jump frequency if it detected another user of that frequency. We thought no one would care but they were raising hell.

 

[spidey07]

Back when in I was still in graduate school, I would say every telecommunication company would disagree with you. We were developing a concept where a tx/rx system would scan the airwaves to find frequencies that are not being used and then would broadcast to each other in that band. It would then jump frequency if it detected another user of that frequency. We thought no one would care but they were raising hell.

I meant the FCC would smack down magic jack.

 

[slackerinabox]

D'oh. That would be easier wouldn't it. But at least with a cell phone I probably have a better phone directory than with a traditional one.

Actually, I love using google voice for the directory. I view my contacts in any browser and click CONNECT (to mobile/home/etc.) and it rings my home line and the other party- for free!

 

[darkxshade]

If the issue is in a gray area, certainly calling it magicjack doesn't help its case. 😛

Case in point: Piratebay

 

[Miramonti]

If you'll use Magic Jack and cell phone to save minutes on your cell phone account when at home, why not just use Magic Jack alone to originate the call?

 

[rivan]

i don't really care that magicjack is stealing from the telcos.. The telcos steal from me every month!

This. The prices charged for cell phone companies are highway robbery. I won't be shocked in the least if/when antitrust charges are brought against the likes of ATT/VZ/etc

 

[Viper GTS]

The air waves you are using to transmit between the cell phone and the majicjack are privately owned though (at least outside your home). Since it's a cell phone, it has to run on a pre-defined frequency defined by the spec (in this case GSM). That frequency is owned by the telco. They are probably gonna get owned in court because there is no way the energy is contained to within the home. Even if you transmit from the majicjack at low power, your cell phone will respond at normal power, which can be heard miles away.

Don't modern cell phones adjust their broadcast power based on proximity to a tower? That's why being in a low/no coverage area can murder your battery, your phone is screaming at full power trying to find somebody to talk to.

Of course the lowest power it's capable of doing is probably far in excess of what would be required to a femtocell in your home, but who cares?

Viper GTS

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I don't think the device will pass FCC inspection.

 

[BabaBooey]

i don't really care that magicjack is stealing from the telcos.. The telcos steal from me every month!

This.

 

[thescreensavers]

VZW my cricle + Google Voice = Free calls in the USA, and I don't use any minutes

 

[Parasitic]

What about encryption?

 

[DrPizza]

I don't think the device will pass FCC inspection.

That's just it though - (if I'm reading this right) the device is the part that connects to the computer. It doesn't broadcast a loud signal; probably comparable to the wireless transmitters on MP3's. The phone is what sends out the "loud" signal, and the phone has already been approved by the FCC.

 

[Motorheader]

I wonder how they handle the digital encryption?

Either way I think it's a great idea. Something skype or vonage may (should) have done if they weren't either flapping in the breeze (skype - Thanks eBay) or getting dragged to court by the re-assemblance of the borg (the Bells).

 

[SunnyD]

VZW my cricle + Google Voice = Free calls in the USA, and I don't use any minutes

But you still pay ~$50+?/month right?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

That's just it though - (if I'm reading this right) the device is the part that connects to the computer. It doesn't broadcast a loud signal; probably comparable to the wireless transmitters on MP3's. The phone is what sends out the "loud" signal, and the phone has already been approved by the FCC.

It still would have to go through FCC right?

 

[jersiq]

This. The prices charged for cell phone companies are highway robbery. I won't be shocked in the least if/when antitrust charges are brought against the likes of ATT/VZ/etc

Not to derail, but why would anti-trust charges be brought against a system that has inherent competition?
Don't confuse a monopoly with an oligopoly.