When I look at the stats and see the Google search terms for my blog, one of the biggest keyword phrases I see is “how to use MagicJack with call blocking or caller ID”. And I have good and bad news. Officially, MagicJack has caller ID and does not have call blocking. But there are some nifty free tricks you can easily do to have those features.
Since Caller ID is the easiest, let’s do it first. MagicJack essentially keeps a log of all incoming (and outgoing) calls. And basically you just need to label the numbers. Once the numbers are labeled, each time you receive a call from the number again, you will be able to identify the caller. So there you have “caller ID”. It’s easy, but a bit tricky. I think what people really want is the ability to identify “unknown people.” Guess what? If the caller has chosen to hide their number, you won’t be able to see it anyway. So let’s get back to where we started no matter what phone service you use.
But I understand where all this is leading; receiving calls from strangers makes you want something to block them. And again, the “regular” phone companies don’t actually provide this service as much as they used to. I remember in the 90’s I could get call blocking and then the phone companies seemed to have stopped offering it and started giving a “if the caller is harassing you, fill out a police report, send it to us and we will block the solution” number ” I don’t know why, but the phone companies just wouldn’t, or they wouldn’t without a substantial fee. Internet-based phone companies like MagicJack and Vonage don’t offer the service either. I’ve been with Vonage for a full five years and it doesn’t matter. how much we complained, they just wouldn’t.
To the rescue come a couple of internet solutions. The best solution to block calls is and (at the same time) It is not available. It used to be called Grand Central. They give you a phone number and link it to all your personal phone numbers. The phone number you are given acts as your first line of defense; You can then block incoming calls, redirect them to the number of your choice, or send them to voicemail. Again, it is free. But it is currently being rebuilt as “Google Voice”. I strongly urge MagicJack users, and indeed everyone, to sign up for an alert from Google to let them know when the service is back online. In March 2009 they announced that they were almost ready. And coupled with a service like MagicJack, which costs just $ 20 a year (or a dollar a month if you use it the way I do), it’s the most powerful and affordable phone / voicemail / texting combo you can get. .
Until Google Voice is available, I recommend that you get a free software called “PhoneTray”. It will work with your computer’s modem to act as a first line defense with incoming calls. Among the many functions that you can do for free, you can also block calls. So in just a few minutes you can have a system that will give you a lot of peace of mind.
