MagicJack's Next Act: Disappearing Cell Phone Fees | Hacker News Reader

MagicJack's Next Act: Disappearing Cell Phone Fees

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32 pointsmshafrir12 comments

At the very least I hope these go to Market. This doesn't seem all that useful (at least not to me), but a USB device that can communicate via GSM sounds like it would be very fun to play with.

I want one of these, but open, so I can use my own VoIP SIP information and integrate with my pbx.

Does anyone actually have a good experience with MagicJack's service? The idea of this device is cool, but people I know who've tried the conventional MagicJack, and reviews I've read of it, are both in agreement that it sucks pretty badly.

Uh, Borislow said the device is legal because wireless spectrum licenses don't extend into the home. sounds a bit suspicious. If the cell carriers radio signals extend to the home, do they suddenly become unlicensed? I think not. Smacks of regulatory action upcoming.

Consider the illegal cellphone jammers. Those use licensed spectrum, yet they are illegal because they are not licensed.

Right. I think the legal limitations have more to do with signal propagation than whether or not it is in the home. Witness the FM transmitters used to listen to your MP3 player in the car or at home.

No, they're illegal because FCC regulations specifically ban any device that interferes with other transmissions, _especially_ transmissions over reserved frequencies. By the letter of the law, this is actually kind of a gray area, IMO. I think if it does get nailed down, it will only be because the cell phone companies retaliate against users because of some license agreement loop-hole. I'm not sure how the FCC actually stands on the issue of in-your-home, but as long as the device doesn't transmit a disruptive signal outside of the house, I think the MagicJack people are in the right here.

(full disclosure: I'm not a lawyer, but an amateur radio enthusiast - so I've read a fair bit about the issue)

Interesting point. I know there are exceptions to licensing for certain services--as is noted elsewhere in this thread the FM transmitters for mp3 players and the like, but I was under the impression that was specifically included by the regulations. What is interesting is whether that applies to any frequency.

My high school radio station's transmissions could only reach to the near side of the school parking lot, and I'm pretty sure that was to avoid having to deal with the FCC. Isn't this pretty much the same thing? If your transmission peters out at a small radius, I think the FCC doesn't get involved.

Yes, but what if they choose to use the frequencies that don't work in your home? Cover the town with non-overlapping coverage circles a specific frequency's range for each tower. There will be gaps where that frequency is not used and you won't be interfering. They can simply listen to see which frequencies are not covering your home.

No matter where you live there will be open frequencies because they need to have stagger the coverage.

Now I must apologize for this terrible explanation. It needs a picture and I don't have time to draw one.

It matters because public property is just that: owned by the people (govt). This includes airwaves, which gives the US govt the right to license it.

The airwaves in your home however are not public property. At least that is my understanding (IANAL).

Is listening illegal? Or just transmitting?

This will be interesting, no doubt.

Does it make a call to every cellphone in range?

That would be a cool way to spam.

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