Well, I have been using Skype for years and I was very skeptical about the Magic Jack and the ads I saw on TV. Then a relative purchased one and then started telling me about. Well I’m a sucker for anything voip, so I took the plunge. The “Magic Jack” plunge anyway. I was quite impressed with the install of it, which was so totally easy, which probably makes it less flexible; but I was up and running with it in no time.
If you are unfamiliar with it, here goes:
This is a small device the size of a memory stick with a USB port on one end, and an RJ11 Telephone Socket style connector on the other end
that allows a fixed rate Low cost long distance USA/Canada wide calling plan
It requires a Windows XP or Vista PC
or an Intel based Macintosh but NO software installation required as it ‘runs’ from the device itself.
Here is their Site: http://www.magicjack.com which says you get 30 days free trial time, So if that’s True there’s nothing to lose but some time if you don’t like it. Then, it’s under $4 a month call anywhere in the USA/Canada… NOT BAD.
The call quality is fine, but it get a little squirrelly at times which is a lot like Skype. I have a 6MB Internet connection though but my relative has a 1mb and it does ok for the most part. It Self Installs (ie. plug it in and wait up to a minute for it to configure itself and you are in business…)
it will NOT work with older style non Intel MAC computers otherwise PC XP, Vista & Intel MACs work Fine
Pluses- If you try it and like it:
1) Dump your Long Distance Plan for Outgoing Calls on your land line. This DOES NOT affect anyone’s INCOMING calls at all.
2) Real Voicemail so when it is NOT connected it will collect and hold calls for you so when you ARE connected you can get them.
3) Connect any normal handset cordless or corded phone to the jack and it rings normally and is used in a nontechnical way. Computer & Internet need to be On and Up though, and may not work if the PC Goes to Sleep!
4) Use Anywhere. you can plug Magic Jack into ANYONE’s computer anywhere in the world, so long as they have fairly speedy Internet access- even say,
Europe to make free USA calls (But NO free calls to Europe itself, strangely : 
you could add it to your Laptop and go to a WIFI HotSpot and use it, say.
DOWN SIDES
1) NOT a local number- And you cannot pick one. People returning calls via. caller ID (which I often do) will get the ‘wrong’ number rather than your more reliable land-line for you or will not actually ‘know’ you as ‘you’ are.
2) This IS a so called VOIP solution BUT it is probably NOT compatible with anything else. You cannot for example put the account into a VOIP call box-
It HAS to be as far as I can tell, their special adapter in use to work right…
3) No Call Forwarding or any of those type of features.
4) This one is Obvious. It Requires a Computer.
Not as trivial as it sounds as your Internet Service, Power, Computer and cabling AND the Magic Jack system must ALL work and be on for ANY of this to work
so It is probably only useful for a roaming consultant or a call-out plan.
5) OH and finally- If you lose the unit, you just lost all the access and probably need to call to get it disabled, Also I doubt you could get the same number back, But it’s all a free trial then cheap. Try it eh? Let me know what your experience is!
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