magicJack presented by Leroy Clouser
Tuesday, July 29 at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation Hall, Huber Heights, Ohio No charge.    Please bring a friend.    Guests welcome. Please join us Tuesday, July 29, 2008 for this free presentation in Huber Heights Athletic Foundation Hall, Huber Heights, Ohio. We'll begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a friend. by Nancy Christolear, The DataBus editor

(Nearly) Free Long Distance Phone with magicJack

We're slowly getting a benefit from having broadband available. That is free/cheap long distance service. What used to cost an arm and a leg is now available for pennies. One of the few real benefits to come our way.

So what is magicJack? Well if you view the website you will see a video of the inventor's daughter introducing her new puppies as Magic and Jack. No it's not a puppy. It's a little USB device that turns your computer into a telephone over broadband. Unlike many VOIP solutions, magicJack uses your existing telephones. For a one time fee of $39.99, you will receive the little device to hook into your computer. You also receive a 10 digit telephone number that can receive free incoming calls from around the world, A license to use the magicJack to call the US and Canada for FREE during your first year of use, a USB optional extension cord, free local and long distance calling to US and Canada, and free International calling to US/Canada numbers when traveling outside of the US.

The magicJack service includes call waiting, caller-ID, 3-way calling, and call forwarding. International calls to another magicJack subscriber are free. Calls to land lines are cheap, for example, calls from the US to Germany are $0.02 a minute. Calls inside the US including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands are also free.

MagicJack was recently slammed by the web-zine BoingBoing. It seems that to keep prices down, magicJack has resorted to that perennial favorite, advertising. You receive targeted advertising for your area and interests on the soft phone on your computer. Another complaint was that customer service is only through on-line chat, there is no phone number and no live person to yell at when your magicJack doesn.t work.

Even so, magicJack was chosen as the Editor's Choice for PC Magazine. See www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2250246,00.asp and for the latest complaints, take a look at the discussion. I was impressed that the inventor reads the discussion and will answer his email on questions about the device.

So come to the general meeting on July 29th and learn about this amazing new device. After the meeting we will have pizza at C's just down the road.

C's Pizza has provided us with several gift certificates for our member-only raffle at the general meeting. We will probably try to distribute these over a couple of months.

Next Month: Recent Developments in HDTV - Part II, by Don Loose

Golden Oldies

Also, did you know that the DMA is approaching a third century? We didn't until Gary Turner mentioned it. And he should know since he's been here for most of that time.

So to celebrate, we are planning a Thirty Three and a Third party. Details are to be finalized but the plan is for a picnic, perhaps pot luck, with DMA providing the hotdogs and hamburgers. We'll be looking for folks to help with the planning committee so if you are interested, let Gary know.

HHAF Hall

Easy Access

Facility is wheelchair accessible.
RTA route 19 runs travels Brandt past Fishburg, one block from the building.

FREE Parking

Plenty of free parking is available at the facility.

Directions

HHAF Hall is one block West of Brandt Pike, just beyond the Huber Heights Post Office.

From I-70, take Brandt Pike (201) South to Fishburg.
From I-75, take Needmore East, then North on Brandt Pike(201) to Fishburg.
From Rte 35, take Woodman Drive North, then Right on Brandt Pike(201) to Fishburg. For your convenience, here's a Google map of 5367 Fishburg Road.

Pizza

After the meeting, we'll enjoy food, beverages, and conversation at C's Pizza, 5186 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights. From the meeting, go east on Fishburg about 0.2 miles to Brandt Pike, then south on Brandt about 0.8 miles to Ci's Pizza.

Reason for Changes

DMA Trustees have been struggling to provide adequate facilities for our monthly General Membership meetings. Both UD and WSU presented challenges. We have been searching for a location that is comfortable for our members, room enough for all attendees, offers free parking, equipped with audio, visual, and internet, and still affordable for the organization. HHAF Hall meets all qualifications. Apple-Dayton meets here regularly.

April was our trial month and it went well. We have reserved the Warrior Room for the coming year.

All are welcome. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m. Guests are always welcome.

Nancy Christolear, Editor
The DataBus
editor@dma.org

Check out previous DMA^® meetings.

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