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October 19, 2009

3jam – Simplify Your Life with One Phone Number

ss-3jam

It’s not uncommon for people to have multiple phone numbers these days. Between home phones, cell phones, office lines, and Skype, explaining to friends and coworkers the best place to reach you—and then remembering to check multiple voicemail boxes—can quickly dissolve into a confusing mess. 3jam is hoping to change all that.

3jam is a service that aims to simplify your life by giving you one central number that can ring on multiple phones. Not just that, but the service also offers an online interface for managing voicemail and an “SMS to Email” service that allows you to receive and respond to text messages through email. For large families or small companies, 3jam also has a number of group services, like voicemail sharing, easy-to-access call histories, group texting, and call forwarding.

What separates 3jam from its competitors, like Google Voice, is the ability to receive calls directly through Skype, AOL, or Yahoo Messenger, in addition to landlines or cell phones. We especially like that users are able to port their current phone numbers to 3jam with ease, allowing you to cancel your current home phone service without the fear of losing your number. These exclusive features make 3jam a service that has yet to be duplicated anywhere else, which is why we’d recommend it to anyone looking for a way to make communication easier.

Practical Uses:

  • Receive phone calls through Skype or IM while sitting at your computer
  • Read transcribed voicemails quickly online
  • Text message your entire study group at once to let them know you’ll be late

Insider Tips:

  • Get a 3jam virtual number based on your area code
  • Import your contacts to the 3jam address book from Gmail and other email services
  • Download the 3jam app to get group texting and threaded SMS on your phone
  • Get a separate group number for contacting multiple club members or coworkers at the same time

What we liked:

  • Ability to forward incoming calls to Skype
  • Porting existing phone number is simple
  • The interface is clear and easy to use
  • Eases communication barriers for large groups

What we didn’t like:

  • Doesn’t offer advanced features like call filtering
  • Monthly service fee

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: September 2006
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA
  • Founded by: Andy Jagoe and Enlai Chu
  • Web site: www.3jam.com

Costs:

  • Plans start at $4.99 per month

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