I had heard about Magic Jack internet phone service and consumer guru Clark Howard www.clarkhoward.com has given it rave reviews.
He has used it for years and loves the $19.95 per YEAR price for unlimited local and long distance calls.
Clark does not accept payment for his endorsements. So, if he says that it’s great, it’s because he believes it.
I have purchased it and have been using it for 6 months and I love it !! It’s great for me since I needed an additional line. And it might be great if you do not have a landline and would like the security of having one in case you misplace your cell phone, don’t want to pay for unlimited cell minutes, or have other issues. It’s also portable – take it with you . Read the details on their website www.magicjack.com
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/february/shopping/infomercial-products/magic-jack/infomercial-products-magic-jack.htm
The claim
The claim
Magic Jack, a VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) phone device and service, "makes your monthly phone bill disappear," an online ad says. "Save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars" and get "no more poor reception." You plug Magic Jack into a computer's USB port, plug the line cord of your own phone into the other end of the USB adapter, and Magic Jack uses the Internet to make and receive calls. You need broadband Internet access, and the computer has to be on for you to make or receive a call. If it's off, messages go to voice mail. The charge: $39.95 for the device includes one year of local and long distance calling; then $19.95 per year. Details are at www.magicjack.com .
The check
One of our electronics experts made dozens of calls over several days, sometimes while downloading files or playing online computer games.
Bottom line
Shazam! Calls connected, and voice quality was clear, though not as clear as on a good corded phone on a regular line. When our tester downloaded a big file while playing an online game and making a call, there was some interference. But if you can live with a few limitations, it's a great deal. Vonage VoIP service can cost $216 a year; Skype, $95, and you must buy a Skype phone. Bottom line
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Need a second phone line? How about a dedicated business line for your home-based enterprise? A cheap way to make calls while traveling the world? Look no further than the MagicJack, quite possibly the coolest gizmo of 2007.
All you do is plug the little guy into a USB port. It automatically installs its own software: a nifty little dialer/address-book app. (During the initial setup, you get to choose your own local number for inbound calls.) Now just plug any corded or cordless handset into the MagicJack's standard RJ-11 jack and presto, you've got a dial tone. And voice mail. And three-way calling, caller ID, etc. You can also use a headset if you're traveling and don't want to schlep that bulky old Princess phone.
The MagicJack costs $40, which includes a year's worth of unlimited local and long-distance calls. (Free international calls to other MagicJack users, too.) After that, you'll pay just $20 per year. I've tried this thing, and let me tell you: It rocks. It's way easier to use than Skype, way cheaper than Vonage, and way cool to boot.
