Magic Jack is not quite so magic.
I'm sure you've all seen the commercial for the new Magic Jack internet phone jack that gives you free calls right?
Don't be so quick to jump on it as a the bargain you've been looking for.
BoingBoing has pointed out a very interesting EULA agreement for the Magic Jack you might want to read very carefully before you buy this product.
It's actually a very evil agreement, and if any of you have already purchased this or were thinking about it, you need to get rid of it ASAP.
"You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work ... Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads."
...
"Any claims, legal proceeding or litigation arising in connection with the magicJack device or Software will be resolved by binding arbitration.... in Palm Beach, Florida."
These targeted ads will snoop in on your phone numbers and calls, to serve you the ads that they claim are needed to make magicJack work.
And by agreeing to use it, you sign away all of your legal rights to sue should your computer get screwed up or they defraud you.
I know the economy sucks, and everyone is looking for ways to save money on bills and all the other household items, but magicJack is NOT the way to go.
There should be some way that the telecommunications people can force scam companies like this to make it so that when consumers get to the point of sale on stuff like this, that it should have to go through some kind of authorize.net procedure so that the EULA pops up and the consumer has to read it all the way through and agree to the terms before they can enter their credit card.
The magicJack site doesn't make it easy for people to see the ToS or the Eula, you have to Google to find out where on the site it even is.
Comments
I surprised you're not more astute at what's going on in the world of internet advertising. The claims you make about MagicJacks 'evil' EULA is rather standard Terms of Service when you sign up for a service provided by an Internet company or telecom company. For example, if you sign up for Yahoo mail or Google (gmail) email, MSN,Hotmail etc you agree to very similar terms when you sign up = allowing each of the aforementioned to deliver relevant ads to you which are determined to be of interest to YOU based on what websites and activities to undertake while online! Evil or smart? You be the judge. Also, in the 'mobil' world in which we live, ppl will soon be served contextual ads on the PDA's, mobile phones, blackberry's etc...these ads will be delivered by the like of AT&T, Verizon Wireless etc...and the ads will be served based on your behavior in using these devices. Think it's time for you to accept your living in a 21st world driven by the power of the internet.
Posted by: Travis Hanson | July 14, 2008 10:26 AM