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Not only does MagicJack only cost $19.95 per year, but it's also free! (according to the commercials)
Not only does MagicJack only cost $19.95 per year, but it's also free! (according to the commercials)
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It is a pretty good item. We have owned one for I believe 3 years now. We do not even own a landline phone any longer, just use the MagicJack.
It does have limitations as mentioned in the article. Additionally their support is not the best however they do \"try\" to assist.
one of the most annoying limitations is that when a call comes in it pops up and there is now way to disable that.
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My father in law did the same thing, even ported his home number to it. However, all problems seemed to get resolved by \"reinstalling\" the software. he eventually put it on an old laptop running in a cabinet, and had to tell it to stop checking for updates, and remove his antivirus software.
As scary as that is, it works well for him now.
No, he didn't port his home telephone number to MagicJack because they don't do that. If they did, I would have already switched. What service did he switch to?
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I have a friend who signed up for it. He lives in the western part of Massachusetts. The best they could do for giving him a number was one that is in the Newton, MA exchange pool-- about 130 miles east of where he lives.
I think the whole thing is set up like a big Ponzi scheme. They're collecting $20 a pop from their \"250,000 new subscribers this month alone!\" to pay off the operating expenses being generated by their previous subscribers who aren't paying into the system any longer until next year. How long can they sustain that kind of business model? I also wonder what their churn rate is.
What? MagicJack is basically free, they're just charging you for the number every year. I mean, it uses the bandwidth that you already pay for, all MagicJack the company does is route the calls. I'm sure they are raking in money from its use, because they also sell ads and aggregate data about their subscribers.
They've been around for around 3 years now and are only getting more popular.
It bothers me a little bit when they started selling their product with infomercials. To me that seems so sketchy and as to say \"no one else is interested in carrying our product\" that I almost always avoid them. It took me years to try Oxiclean, and while that is a good exception, most infomercial stuff seems really crappy.
Not supporting the product, but I think that this is available in the Big Boxes(tm). I seem to recall seeing \"Available at Bestwallmarget\" banners at the bottom of their advertisements.
That, and Billy Mays actually wore me down to try it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-190860-100x100.png\")
Yea- how did he have all that energy?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-948267-100x100.png\")
Cocaine.
Suprisingly its actually a really good product, I just wish they didn't do so many sketchy things with their software. Otherwise the service is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which is a standard that is used by many other VoIP services (including Vonage). The quality is excellent and it always rings when called (of course, the PC needs to be on). My Mac is always on, so this is not an issue. For $20 per year it cannot be beat.
i use the magic jack and it does a great job for my needs. i have bad reception on my cell at home so i only use it to call out when i am home. i use google voice so i get my missed calls via email.
The link to the CR article doesn't work because it has two \"H's\" in the http part of the link.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1148718-100x100.png\")
Apparently they use the HYPER hypertext transfer protocol.
I have seen articles on the internet of people using low powered PCs (nettops) to run the magic jack and software. This eliminates the need to keep your main power hungry PC on all of the time and offloads the software and potential malware problem to a computer that will never actually be used. A good solution overall.
Yeah, I have tried that with a $40 \"thin client\" PC I got off ebay. Wanted to set this up to replace my home voice line and toss the whole thing in a closet and be done with it. The thin client PC works with MJ but the incoming voice stuttered a bit with mine, with a sort of gap or dropout every four or five seconds. It seemed to be a limitation of the low-power PC and I was never able to resolve it. Using MJ with a regular desktop works fine so I went with that route.
My conclusion was that a thin client PC might be OK if you don't make a lot of calls or don't care about the voice quality, or if one of the higher powered thin clients is used. Not all of them are the same. The better ones go for close to $100.
By comparison, a used desktop with higher power -but more power consumption- can also go for about the same cash.
I use TC's in a corporate environment and know well the group you're talking about as I'm one of them.
Lower end thin clients are pretty low processors(600-800mhz) and fairly low end machines.
Look for something closer to a netbook processor(1.6ghz). HP T5730/5740 are good options. Most costly like you said, but no maintenance and the write filter stops viruses or malware dead.
XP/Windows Embedded is a different beast from XP/Vista/Win7 and is much more designed for minimal use. It's almost impossible to get a last infection on a thin client.
MJ replaced my phone lines and as long as I'm not clogging up my network/net connection too bad I have absolutely no issues.
I have it running on my home theater PC, which is on all the time anyway. The software seems to be pretty stable on Vista, believe it or not.
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I travel a lot internationally, always with my MagicJack and a microphone. I make calls to home with my MJ from my hotel room. It keeps me sane on long business trips, between that and the Slingbox, it's a sanity saver.
Note also that the Magicjack prevents your computer from sleeping as part of its operation, so you should be aware of the increased energy cost of installing this. My solution was to dedicate an old but functional laptop to the purpose, and close the lid and keep it running in an almost idle state. This also circumvents the malware being installed on any important machine.
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My parents had a Magic Jack for approximately a year, and tossed the thing. They live in a semi-rural area, but have Qwest DSL at 320kbps download. They used it for local, state-to-state (Washington to Texas) and international (US to Europe) calls. When my wife used it to speak with her family in Texas her call would drop at least once every 10-15 minutes. International had even more drops. The icing on the cake? Customer service and technical support were non-existent. Shame on Consumer Reports for giving props to this product.
Just a simple search shows the issue with MagicJack: Terrible customer service. Last I read a phone company that didn't even have a phone number to call. In addition their claim that you get unlimited calling isnt accurate. I've read many reports of folks having their service cut off for using their service too much.
I researched buying this product extensively and decided with the large numbers of complaints it wasn't worth it.
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If you're worried about installing their potentially sketchy software, install Sandboxie (http://www.sandboxie.com). Then, install their software within the sandbox. If they're up to no good, let them eat the cat shit in the sandbox while the rest of your computer is fine.
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Now looking again at your username, seems appropriate that I am the one responding to you :)
Good suggestion, but it doesn't work on 64-bit vista or win7. Maybe you could run it on a virtual machine instead?
LOL. \"It ain't easy being white...\"
The beta builds may include 64-bit support for Vista and 7. I'm not sure, as I haven't tried them. They're available on the same download page. As a work around, they do suggest running it in XP Mode in Windows 7.
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You know, there just HAS to be a 64-bit problems / bitch forum. GO THERE.
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Yeah, but... google \"Magic Jack complaints\" -- I'm steering clear of this one. Then again, I don't skype, either.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1524317-100x100.png\")
Yeah, but google Mercedes Complaints or Breathing Complaints and I'll bet you'll find negative stuff about those too. Just because people bitch about it doesn't mean it is a bad thing. In my experience, the people who bitch the loudest are usually the people who didn't read the manual and expect the product to do something it wasn't designed to do. Find me one product that doesn't have a hate section and I'll buy it. Even the Bible has haters, so nothing is perfect.
My only complaint with the MagicJack is the mentioned issue of cutting out when downloading something. That isn't just for your computer either. If anyone on your network is downloading something then it gets choppy. So your brother on his wireless upstairs will kill your phone call on another computer. This can also cause problems at hotels when the guy next door is busy downloading porn and you are trying to make a call.
The only other beef I had was that you can't deactivate the voicemail. I had reason to need more rings than the maximum rings before voicemail picks up and they couldn't do anything to disable it. It is all part and parcel I guess.
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So far that is one issue that I have not dealt with. I have a roommate that uses his laptop nightly and I also run Netflix nightly and I can use my phone with no issues. Also, I have not had any invasive software or spyware. I use Stopzilla, Spybot, Spyware Doctor and McAfee and they clean up my PC daily and my MJ has not yet been affected.
So at least I got that going for me, which is nice.
My brother has a Magic Jack at an Army base in Iraq right now. He has a local phone number he can call anyone from right from his room with his laptop. The quality of the call ranges from 'good' to 'so laggy it's impossible to have a real conversation.' I attribute the bad quality more to his internet connection than anything, because at times it takes him 5 minutes to upload a small photo to email. However, Magic Jack does come with it's own voicemail, so we can leave him messages at anytime. It's been well worth the $40 I paid for it.
So, how much extra in your electricity bill would you be paying to keep your phone working?
How much would you like to pay?
If you order in the next 10 minutes, we'll double the spyware!
Magic jack is crap compared to Ooma. I have had the ooma since last October and I have loved it. It is a separate device that just connects to your broadband connection or to your router. You can do it either way. And it is 1 dollar a month after the first year or 13 dollars a month with premium features which are really nice. www.ooma.com The device is 250 to start up on, but I swear by it. The device looks like an answering machine, and you do not need a dedicated anything besides internet.
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I've been using MagicJack for 2 years, running it off a thinclient after my laptop died, but almost always on its own dedicated server as such.
Ooma sounds nice, but it, like Magicjack seem like unsupportable business models. If Magicjack went belly up a month after my $19.95 renewal, I still wouldn't have much to complain about. I'd not be happy if Ooma went offline soon after I bought the equipment. Much as folks who bought SunRocket devices found out.
Yeah I've had a MJ since April of 2008. It works very good but be forewarned, it is not perfect. My advice is if you're not good with electronics and you're not industrious, do not get one because it'll only frustrate you.
Pros:
1. No monthly phone bill
2. Reception is clearer than my Comcast Digital (I'm not kidding, I no longer have to turn up my phone to 10 to hear someone talk).
3. No long distance call throughout the States and Canada.
Cons:
1. Sometimes my PC updates and shuts off by itself therefore no incoming calls but the messages ARE saved within my voice mail. This may have been due to my old 10 gb HD and some other issues.
2. Sometimes when hitting the \"ON\" button on my phone, it takes a few seconds for the dial tone to start. Sometimes the dial tone does not begin at all so I have to turn off the phone and hit the ON button again.
3. Sometimes with my phone, if I dial too quickly, the number doesn't finish dialing through my MJ so nothing will happen to the dialed number because I dialed too fast.
4. There are some other quirks such as:
a. A metallic sounding voice that a friend of mine heard while I was talking.
b. Sometimes after someone would answer after I dialed a number, they could not hear me. Had to redial again.
c. After updating, it takes time for the PC to upload the sys again so I could make calls.
d. You have to leave your PC on 24/7 to receive calls, although your phone message are saved just the same when it is off.
These are really minor annoyances considering that I do not a pay phone bill anymore. Some of these issues may be occurring because I use my ten-year old e-Machine but it has a 120 watt ps and the cost is minimal to keep it on daily. Last month I updated it with a 20 gig HD and I use it exclusively as my home phone and it works much better with a bigger HD. I have another PC with a 600 watt ps but to use that it would negate the savings in using my MJ so I put up with the annoyances.
Almost imposable to get ahold of anybody real.
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My neighbors have this. They say they can barely hear me talking (nobody else says this), and everything I hear from them is on a delay of 3 seconds or so. I'll pass, thanks.
?
This is great if you
a) Don't care about reliability
b) Don't care about spyware
c) Don't care about paying for your computer to be on 24/7 OR don't mind waiting for your computer to boot in order to make a call.
I personally think there's better ways to save money than to give up reliable phone service and spend my time screwing around with something like this. Just my not so humble opinion.
I re-programmed my old SunRocket gizmo to work with CallWithUs. $5/month, free incoming, 1.2 cents per minute outgoing. Best quality VOIP I've ever used. And the best part is, there are no added/hidden charges. Also, no credit/debit card needed. Just replenish with PayPal or Google payments. They email you when you're low.
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Absolutely agree with comments regarding bad quality and especially spyware ... Consumer Reports, please reconsider! I was looking into it for my dad, and the reviews back from DSLReports were NOT pleasing. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/magicjack -- and these guys really know their stuff, they lived through the SunRocket fiasco together.
Skype is less expensive that Magic Jack after the first year and you don't have to worry about spyware.
If you're going to go with VOIP to POTS that requires the PC being on, use Skype.
I don't think anybody has brought up the words \"unsustainable business model\" yet. The only way the company can make money is when they're adding new customers. As soon as they saturate their market, they're finished. mark my words. It's basically a voip ponzi scheme.
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My wife and I have been using MagicJack for a little over a year and it works quite well, all things considered. I run SETI@home and Einstein@home on my file server, where the MJ is connected to, so the server stays on all the time anyway. I just bought a Core i7-based server to replace my old one, so having MJ running alongside the other apps doesn't cause any slowdowns at all. The only catch is what a previous poster said earlier: the MJ performance degrades if you're accessing the internet at the same time and you have a slower broadband connection (3 Mbps or less). The audio on the MJ cuts in and out, and it stops cutting in and out if you suspend your online activity while using MJ. All in all, I'd much rather spend $20 per year, rather than almost $30 per month for a regular phone line. Two things I do like about MJ that I couldn't have with a regular phone line are:
1. If I can't get to the phone before it goes to voicemail, I get an email notifying me with an audio file of the voicemail, so I can get my voicemail from any computer with internet access.
2. I can take MJ, my notebook and a phone with me when I travel and if I have internet where I am staying, I can still make and take calls as if I am home WITHOUT having to burn up cell phone minutes.
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My mother has this, she hates it. So many dropped calls she went back to using her ATT cell phone exclusivel because it's better than magic jack worked for her :(
wow, guess I shoud proofread a little better. should have been exclusively.
\"A few extra caveats about the MagicJack—
(1) You can't use your current phone number (though the company says they're working on it) and you should check if you can use MagicJack with your area code.
(2) MagicJack is ad supported, and its end user license agreement states it \"may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads.\" (Thanks, Paul)
(3) In case of power outages, we recommend keeping on hand a corded land-line phone or at least a cell phone for emergency calls\"
No thanks. Especially #2...no way.
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I just run MagicJack as a service which avoids at least the silly GUI annoying you with ads. Though from my experience the ads are mostly for MagicJack. I haven't actually seen a real advertisment in their GUI yet to be honest.
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As a MagicJack user for nearly a year, and a computer repairman, I would like to shed some light on some unfortunate misconceptions that many people seem to have about MJ.
First, it does not contain any spyware, malware, or anything else. Scan your computer with the security software of your choice, plug in a MJ, and scan again... nothing. It does not, nor has it ever come with malware of any sort. The reason people claim it does is because it says in the TOS that they will use the phone numbers you dial into the MJ to decide which ads to show inside of your MJ interface, next to the caller ID. It does not pay any attention to anything else you use your computer for, and it does not display ads anywhere else on your computer. The ads are only visible when the MJ interface is open (which happens when the phone rings [caller ID] and when you're placing a call). You know who else using information this way? Google, Bing, Yahoo, Altavista, Lycos, [the list is endless]... Why do you think that if you type \"Borders\" into Google, you get ads for Barnes & Noble and Amazon on the side? The information isn't sold to anyone or used anywhere else, it's just used for providing relevant ads inside the interface that you put the information into. On a side note, I've never received an ad for anything but extended MJ service. Maybe that's because I don't call Dominoes on that phone.
Next, I'd like to address the whole \"uninstall\" question. You know why you can't uninstall it? Because it was never installed in the first place! The MagicJack itself is two things: A USB sound card converted to a telephone jack, and a U3 flash drive containing the MJ software. The software runs off of the device itself. That's why you can't start up the software without plugging the unit in. Sure, it does leave traces behind, but those are smaller than most programs leave even after you've run an uninstall. In case you don't believe me, connect your MJ into a computer until you've received an update to the MJ software. Then go plug it into another computer. It won't need to redownload the update, because the wiftware that was updated is not on the computer -- it's on the device itself.
Now, I do have a couple of complaints about the service (mostly poor sound quality, but I believe it's my internet connection -- it's worked everywhere else I've used it), but all things told, it was well worth my $40. Oh, and they're not free; they're free to try, if you like them you have to pay or else send it back.
Cheers!
Okay now I have a friend with this and YES to the price savings, but twice out of 30 conversations, be aware that if her internet speed slows down, she starts sounding like an alien or really bad drugs are kicking in (apparently no buffering adjusting for internet speed.) No kidding. If the phone call is important or critical, don't count on Magic Jack-up, use the cell phone. You have been warned...
But yes, a phenomenal way to save money and piss AT&T off.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1090612-100x100.png\")
Just a though - what better way to spread malware/spyware that makes a lot of PCs
into potential robot slaves for a denial of service attack on some poor unsuspecting
big website?
Sure some calls will be clear with Magic Jack, some will be *awful*, probably much more
than a good cell or good landline (even remote handset) . This technology is very dependent
on the quality and configuration of your broadband connection and the same goes for whoever
you are speaking with.
Press 1 for Magic Jack FAIL.
When I was looking to cancel my $40+/mo. AT&T landline i researched the options including MagicJack and Skype. After reading all the problems customers had with MJ and their support I went with Skype and have never looked back. I pay less than $8/mo. for high quality Skype service with a phone number, video calling, call forward and emailed voicemail.
I set up an old dedicated machine to a a $20 DLink USB to phone attachment to use my cordless and answering machine and leave it on 24/7. I setup the PC with XP to auto login and start skype and have never had a problem with the PC not being on after an update restart. Call quality is even better than my old land line after speaking with people i regularly call after i switched. They would ask if i changed phone service because my calls were so clear. I have not had a single call quality issue even with Internet use or downloads on another machine going on in the background.
The only annoyance is i have to dial numbers like this ##001-1(areacode)-555-5555#. I just set up all my regular numbers like that on speed dial and no problem. Luckily I'm a techie so I don't care, but for a normal person this might suck.
Anyways, like another poster said, MJ will be around till no more customers sign up. After that, watch out. I like my Skype.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-83382-100x100.png\")
I just got done renewing my first year of owning the magicjack. It's a great long distance line and 2nd line in a broadband enabled home (cellular in basement doesn't get good coverage but a MJ fits the bill just fine). So far to date I haven't seen any spyware installed in relation to magicjack (and I run avg- a more pickier virus/spyware checker of the bunch least in my opinion) and so far with all the systems in my house the MJ software hasn't set off any spyware alarms yet. TRue the software has no uninstaller, but so far as far as crapware/spyware I haven't found it yet.
If there is a specific spyware/crapware component can you tell me what to scan for?
Well, what everybody forgets or overlooks is that if you want to use Magic Jack, you are giving up your privacy. They explicitly say in their agreement that they make money selling the numbers you call and you agree to let them do it.
This is the biz of the 21st century. Selling peoples personal info. That is why the proliferation and success of all the social network websites.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-95687-100x100.png\")
The only people I've heard of having problems with Magic Jack are those that are trying to do one of those telemarketing work from home scams with it.
My only other objection is the way their software works with your computer. You're better off using Skype IMO which costs $30/yr for unlimited outbound ($60 if you want a local phone number) Whenever Google does a more widespread rollout of Google Voice and integrates Gizmo5 MagicJack's days may be numbered.
I just wish MagicJack would start allowing us to port over our telephone numbers! I have 3 MagicJack's. Two are in my businesses and one for a fax in my home. Using it for a fax line has not worked so well with the transmission so I have just added another 2nd Fax line from Vonage. My business partner forwards all his MagicJack calls to his cellphone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1528273-100x100.png\")
It's available at Radio Shack.
It's $19.95. If it doesn't work for you, throw it away or put it on Ebay. I've had it on an old Dell for a couple years and use it all the time. I've crashed the computer, had trojans and viruses, removed them and Magic Jack still boots no problem.
But for $19.95 do NOT expect tech support.
FTW.
This service is absolutely no substitute for regular phone service, as no VOIP type service is.
I have one landline, and two cell phone accounts.
1. All of them have much better quality audio than any Internet based phone. No odd echoes, dropouts, lag, etc. Never.
2. Internet phone will FAIL if any ONE of FOUR factors fail: Electricity Outage, Internet Modem/DSL failure, Computer failure or ISP Services Outage.
Cell and landlines need only their connection (phone line or cell tower) to work, and those have NEVER failed me. Internet goes down on occasion.
3. Internet phone consumes extra power in the form of a full-time computer. My other phones use no extra energy other than a small amount to charge cell phones.
4. Internet Phones cannot connect to emergency services.
So other than paying less money for a service that sounds worse, is less reliable, and uses more energy, can someone point out what is so great about it?
I just had a very bad experience with Magic Jack. I was a happy MJ customer for ten months, having purchased an additional 5-Years of service. A problem popped up requiring tech support's help. Problem was solved. A couple of days later, I discovered I had been suspended for \"excessive use\" in \"accordance with their terms and conditions.\" I reread their T&Cs and noted that there is no clear definition of the number of minutes allowed by MJ...merely, \"....20 times MJ's AVERAGE customer use.\" No one at MJ would tell me what that means...what the \"average customer usage actually is.\" I was completely banned forever. I noted to a tech rep that it is difficult to comply without a firm definition of their average customer's usage and asked for clarification. I purchased another MJ...another $40 investment, aside from the original $40 plus a 5-Yr. Plan at $60, changed my name and info...after discussion with a tech rep. The screen, by the way, stated that I should \"click\" on a tab in order to have service reestablished....when I did that, it was a sales pitch for purchasing another 5-year plan...intimating that all my woes would be resolved by giving them another $60 or up to $109 for their super scooby Plan. The tech rep stated that it is a good thing I did not buy another Plan because I would have forfeited that as well. So, upon querying the tech rep about buying another MJ and using new data, and using it only once or twice a day for ten minutes, would I become \"unsuspended.\" She indicated that would be okay. Well, I did spend the extra $40 and, upon signing in, discovered they had utilized my IP number and the second MJ was banned. The following day, my 22 year old son tried to call his uncle on his own MJ and found that they had banned him, too. He, of course, fails to understand how he is banned because of \"my sin\" of excessive use. I am trying to warn all who have MJs because you will probably like it for awhile, then one day find that they have determined you overuse your MJ. Never forget that they determine what you should use....you don't. You cannot comply with an unwritten number of minutes. It is even more of a scam operation when, AFTER banning, they intimate purchasing a 5-year plan will reestablish your service. Then, anyone else in your home is banned because they are into your IP....or Router. Altogether, my son and I lost $180. My advice to you is to avoid these buzzards at all cost. Others tell me Skype is specific on its terms and conditions...so, if MJ was legitimate they could easily provide specific minutes considered excess usage as well. Oh...and, by the way, MJ does not allow \"banned\" customers to write a comment on their website. Those who have something to say about MJ that may be negative must go to another site to comment. As such, poor souls who review the Magic Jack site are given only one or two minor negative comments are duped by the MJ company. If you want to know about Magic Jack, read all sites....not just the MJ site. These guys are scam artists in the first degree, and it is a shame. I used to enjoy using my MJ...until they decided I asked the tech reps one too many questions about their terms and conditions. Avoid at all cost.
The real issue is that MagicJack requires invasive software including flavors of spyware to be installed. And it's beyond the capability of an average computer user to subsequently remove all these pieces of software should they choose to discontinue service. Setting aside the spyware angle, the up-front software is said to not have any uninstallation option. Anywhere. I'm more than slightly alarmed Consumer Reports gives it a pass with that being the case.
MagicJack doesn't install any malware/spyware. It does have an annoying GUI that pops up whenever a call is initiated or received. This is a real pain when playing games as the GUI grabs focus. Heck the product won't even load without the dongle unless you know how to grab the appropriate files and such and create the shortcut properly.
As for the ads, oddly enough despite the annoying GUI, it only has ever shown ads to renew your subscription for MagicJack. I've never seen anything remotely close to targetted ads, or even an actual ad that wasn't from MagicJack.
It was a tad annoying when they removed the ability to use other ATA devices on their system a few months ago.
*Citation please. My extremely computer-savvy father-in-law uses it and has never mentioned spyware/malware.
The claims of spyware included with the MJ application are false. Regular scans of a system with MJ installed on it with a number of different a/v and spyware detection softwares do not turn up a single instance of malicious software. The only thing the software does is show ads for MJ's own services. Those that say the MJ software contains spy/mal-ware are usually parroting unsubstantiated claims by someone else on the internets.
Agreed, and the consumerist, a site that will bash many products because they are not transparent with their terms of service, fails to even mention this fact is disturbing.
I concur - I'm surprised/alarmed that CR gave it a thumbs up given the malware it is bundled with. Maybe it would be safe to run on a dedicated/isolated computer - but if you were going to go that route you'd be better off with an Ooma phone appliance, they sell them for $250 for lifetime service and it doesn't require a computer (it's a standalone appliance). They don't mention, however, that 'lifetime' refers to the life of the company, not the user or product. It remains to be seen if their business model is solid.