Practically free phone calls

After having a few problems with local phone companies and cell phone companies, mostly members of my household running up huge long distance bills, I started doing research on VoIP service, or Voice over Internet phone service. Although there's many out there, the one I settled on is not only very inexpensive but works great!

 It's called the Magic Jack. The basic requirements are a Windows based operating system, an empty USB port and a broadband internet connection. Oh, and a phone, of course! You simply plug in the jack to your computer, the phone into the jack, load the software and go.

I know, you're skeptical. What's the catch? Where's the hidden costs? How DOES it work?

Okay, here's the deal.  The website is http://www.magicjack.com if you want to check this out for yourself. They operate on a similar principal to a lot of other telephone companies, in that they are a CLEC. MagicJack has rented or leased telephone service from the mainstream phone companies in major areas, and is in turn selling that service to the consumer. I used to work for just such a CLEC called Birch Telecom, in case anyone is familiar with that one. Birch was a reseller of SWB telephone service and Bell South telephone service. It's as simple as that. The only real difference here is the phone calls don't travel over regular phone lines, but over the internet instead.

Costs are minimal. There is an initial downpayment of about $46, which covers the USB device (which is smaller than most cell phones) and first year of service, including phone number.  Yes, I said YEAR.  Not MONTH, not WEEK, but YEAR. 365 days of service. Thereafter, it's only $20 per YEAR. There's even a 30 day money back guarantee if you're not satisfied. They didn't even try to charge my credit card until after the 30 days were up.

When your service starts, you will have to install the software on your computer. It's a small program, but it does stay resident as long as you leave it. The phone numbers are limited on local areas, but if you're wanting to use it mainly for outbound calls, that's not a problem. Calls are unlimited for the duration of your service. There's even free voice mail so you don't have to worry about missing any calls! You can use the phone while surfing the net or playing a game, as long as you're connected to the internet.

Another great plus of this device is you can take it with you when you travel. With more hotels and motels offering free or low cost broadband service in-room, it's now possible to call all your friends and family and rub it in that you're on vacation and they're not, and still not cost a thing!

Check out their web site. They have numerous articles listed that give plenty of information and will no doubt answer any other questions you have about the MagicJack.

And no, I'm just a customer. I'm not an affiliate, I'm making no money off referrals. I'm just ecstatic at the thought of only paying $20/year for long distance, and figured y'all would like in on it too.