Here's my review of the MagicJack After One year!

[devinmccloud]

If you are looking for a cheap landline and you already have a cable internet connection you might want to try the magic jack! The magicjack is cheap way to get free calling through out the us and internationally using your cable connection.

Setup: Although the company says you can use your personal pc for the best results you need to use a separate PC or a thin client. I don't recommend using your personal computer at all. It's best to build a low cost PC or do what I did...found one someone threw away. Now days you can pick up a cheap PC off craigslist for $50.

Requirements:
1: 1 pc with Windows XP
2: 1 cable internet connection
3: Cost $20/year for the device
4: one time fee of $20 for the MagicJack device
5: one landline phone
6: 256 mb of ram

Pros:
1: free calls anywhere in the us
2: international call for pennies a minute
3: call waiting
4: voice mail
5: call forwarding to your cell phone
6: easy setup
7: Caller ID
8: $20 a year for service/$59 for 5 years
9: state phone numbers

Cons:
1: Some calls are choppy requiring you to call them back to clear the line
2: Some calls just get dropped requiring you to call back
3: Having to find additional equipment
4: Having a PC on 24 hr a day
5: electricity costs for running pc
6: technical support from company
7: reliability
8: Call Waiting - No info on caller calling or there number - you just here the beeping

Other issues:
1: When the callers battery is low(issues)
2: Some Cisco phone systems for corporate offices

Summary: One thing worth mentioning is if you are not technically savvy, you should not attempt such a project. Magicjacks online support is below par. Personally, I've never needed to call them but a lot of others have. It's true you get what you pay for, but if you can withstand the occasional dropped call or fuzzy connection it is worth the $20 dollars you spend for the service a year. I found a 1.2 Duron AMD on the berm during spring clean up week here in my home town and this is sufficient to run the connection. It has 512 mb of memory and almost all the services have been turned off on the pc. It is only used to servicing the voip phone connection. I use a Vtech 5.7 ghz cordless phone bought at Walmart for $19. I don't pay for electricity in my apt. so that is one advantage for me. I got rid of my $50 a month Verizon cell phone contract and saved$580/year using the magicjack . All in all, I am pretty happy with the product after nearly one year of using it!