-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Dcomf54j+axcT3f0/rj8CuZq3I1cbTlkEVGJ2Djr8Ljhk94Y1PaD+lSggs+XTD47
 Zp7Md5BzonVw/swQiMuZcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001084048-04-000029.txt : 20040826
<SEC-HEADER>0001084048-04-000029.hdr.sgml : 20040826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040826180552
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001084048-04-000029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040826
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040826

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KALVIN GREGGORY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198453

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25965
		FILM NUMBER:		04999932

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		244 MADISON AVE.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10016

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			J2 GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084048
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEGRAPH & OTHER MESSAGE COMMUNICATIONS [4822]
		IRS NUMBER:				510371142
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6922 HOLLYWOOD BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900 5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90028
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3238609200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6922 HOLLYWOOD BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90028

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JFAX COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990413
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084048</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>J2 GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCOM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198453</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KALVIN GREGGORY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 6922 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90028</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>970</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>342</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>970</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47562</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchased under the Issuer's 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and exempt from short-swing profit recovery provision of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Emplyee stock option granted for services rendered, no value placed on services rendered.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Greggory Kalvin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----