MagicJack, Skype, other VoIP?

[Fulmar]

So for the last 5 years, my wife and I have lived without the use of a landline because we just used our cellphones.  Never had a problem getting by on that and it was much cheaper and more convenient.  Currently, our new apartment building gives us horrible cellphone reception and it makes it fairly difficult to to talk to anyone.  I move my phone 5 inches, I have 2 bars, move it back, 0 bars.  Very hit or miss.

I've thought about bundling telephone with my Charter internet for $30 a month.  Or a much cheaper option would be Skype at $3 a month, but it would be limited to being used at your computer.  Or one of the option neater options I saw was MagicJack, which is similar to Skype, but its a USB device that allows you to plug a phone into it.  This runs about $50 for the first year and $20 after that.

Anyone have any experience with Skype or MagicJack particularly?  I'm not too worried about occasional dropped calls or low quality as anything is better than what we have now.

[klingan]

Well i have used Skype for a couple of years now. My parents are down in South Africa, my brother in Luxebourg and some friends live in USA. (They all have skype to)

Nowdays i almost never have any dropped calls and I can barely notice that im using skype and not a ordinary landline.

There is also "skype out" wich is used to call landlines from your computer. Doesnt cost very much at all.

Never tried MagicJack.

[eagl]

I used skype when I was on the other side of the world from my wife for a year.  It's free for computer to computer calls, and calls to landlines (or renting your own skypeIn phone number) are cheap.

The best thing about skype is that it doesn't use the standard VOIP protocol, which makes it hard as hell for ISPs to arbitrarily block it.  South Korea is going to block standard VOIP across the entire country because the bigger VOIP companies were bypassing telecommunications laws.  But they won't be able to block skype, because it uses a proprietary protocol that does a great job working around firewalls and routers.

Last, there are some nifty skype "phones" that work like a regular phone so you don't have to be at your computer to use it.  You'll still need to be at your computer if you want to make video calls (also free with skype), but the skype handsets can be pretty much anywhere.  You just gotta find one you like and plug it in.  I always just used my computer, but some people like the skype handsets because they work like a regular phone.

[Fulmar]

I'm going to need an actual phone number so landlines/cells can call me.  Mainly for my wife's work.

[Ghosth]

I've seen the adds for MagicJack, something just seems "shady" about this setup.
If you want a good internet phone, I'd look at Vonage first.


I've used skype for at least 3 years. Good voice quality, and it does have several nice features.
But I don't use it to replace my phone, I have a landline & DSL so no advantage for me there, however skype can still be pretty handy.

A being able to control who is in your contact list, who can call you, send you message etc.
B being able to send someone text/url in chat can be very very handy, especially when your walking a squadie though a computer problem.

C Being able to send someone a file, be it a picture, or something larger.
D Being able to tell when my buddy's are online and likely to be flying.
(a quick text message will usually even tell me what arena)
E Tis free (and being on a very tight budget free is good)
F Latest version (running a beta version right now) is feature packed and stable.
G Skype will also work as a alternative to AH Vox, although trying to use both may have some sound quality issues.

I'm currently running version 4.0.0.176 and very happy with it.

If you want into my skype list email me, and I'll consider it.

[klingan]

I'm going to need an actual phone number so landlines/cells can call me.  Mainly for my wife's work.

I belive that you for a small amount of $, can get "skype in". That means that when someone calls your number they will come to your computer.

[Casca]

Got a MagicJack.  Has worked great for me as advertised.

[sluggish]

Magicjack is cheaper than that.  It cost $40 for the device and comes with the first year free and $20 every year after.  You have to have a good running computer.  If yours is bogged down with a bunch of applications running in the background and adware/spyware the performance will suck.  You have to leave the computer on all the time to receive calls.  Vonage is more expensive ($24.99 - around$30. after taxes) but it uses a router with a phone jack in it so it operates separately from your computer.  I would stay away from Charter; their customer service and technical know-how is horrible.  I get people every day who are having problems tell me that the Charter guy told them that there's something wrong with their phone and when I test it it works fine.

[ridley1]

Vonage works fine for me.
customer support is outstanding.

[xbrit]

With Vonage it depends on your area, we were told by them that it isn't available to us. We have used both Skype and Majicjack and prefer Majicjack, you may not get a phone number that corresponds to the area u reside in, we have a Chicago number but that's over 200 miles away.
As for the "shady" comment earlier, we have found nothing shady about it at all though we have only used it for about 6 months now.

[Fulmar]

From what I've read, MagicJack's EULA bothers me some.
"You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work ... Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads."

Though Skype isn't without its own criticism.  Currently I'm just trying the free version of Skype and testing it out.  If it works good I'll probably proceed with it as its $3 a month and get a phone number.  My computer is usually on most of the day as is.

May try Vonage if I'm not happy with Skype.

[sluggish]

With Vonage it depends on your area, we were told by them that it isn't available to us. We have used both Skype and Majicjack and prefer Majicjack, you may not get a phone number that corresponds to the area u reside in, we have a Chicago number but that's over 200 miles away.
As for the "shady" comment earlier, we have found nothing shady about it at all though we have only used it for about 6 months now.

Vonage will work anywhere in the world with a broadband connection.  What they mean by "not available" is the fact that you will not have a local phone number.

[BluTrain]

you may try this I've used it off and on for at work for several years now and it's been great.  You can find DID (Direct Inward Dial) numbers for as little as $4.00 USD a month with outbound service in the pennies per minute...Only thing stopping me from running one full time @ home is lack of a machine to run it on right now...always seems like there is something else to spend the money on...

Also - I can't seem to find one now but there is a phone set that plugs into your cable modem via your standard network switch and uses skype for inbound and outbound dialing....no computer needed with this option...

[eagl]

I'm going to need an actual phone number so landlines/cells can call me.  Mainly for my wife's work.

Skype does that, for a fairly low monthly fee.  It's like $5/month or something like that, with no per-minute fees when people call you.

[jigsaw]

I've had good luck with Vonage as well. Have yet to need to call their support since getting it about four years ago.