The Magic Jack Internet Phone is my VoIP phone service of choice

The Magic Jack Internet Phone is one of today’s m ost innovative VoIP phone systems that is designed by its inventor (Dan Borislow) to save you; the consumer, money on your monthly phone bill. This smart VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service will give you unlimited local and long distance phone calls without a monthly phone bill.

I must admit I was skeptical in the beginning; could the Magic Jack Internet Phone be legit? I couldn’t quite get my mind around the fact that I was supposed to replace my expensive land line that cost me well over $700.00 a year with this VoIP phone service that will only cost$19.95 a year.

Magic Jack Internet Phone uses the internet like any other VoIP phone systems which lets you make free local and long distance calls. The main difference in the Magic Jack Internet Phone and other internet phone service providers is that the MagicJack plugs into your computer and not your modem.

The first thing I thought was that this was one of those too good to be true things? I felt what was the risk, it was only $40.00 to give to give this new internet phone service a try plus it had a 30 day free trial where I could send it back for a refund if I wanted to.

The first thing I noticed besides that there was a normal dial tone, was that the Magic Jack Internet Phone sound quality was remarkable on my first call I made.

The Magic Jack Internet Phone simply plugs into your computer and then you plug in any standard phone into the back of it like you would plug it into any standard RJ11 wall jack. Most VoIP phone systems plug into your modem

When you first plug the Magic Jack internet phone unit into your computer a program from within the unit will bring up a window with instructions to get you started. It only takes minutes to setup your account and choose a phone number.

I knew that this is now the technology age and with products such as Vonage and Skype that helped pave the way for other VoIP phone systems like the Magic Jack Internet Phone. This internet phone service had what the others didn’t though; and that was free VoIP phone service for a once annual fee of less than twenty bucks.

My Magic Jack Internet Phone came in about a week

I received my Magic Jack Internet Phone in about a  week and from the time I opened the package, plugged it into one of my open USB ports and followed the onscreen instructions to set up my account, choose a area code and phone number. I did all of this in less than 15 minutes.

I unplugged my regular phone from the wall mount it has been plugged into for years and plugged it into the back of the Magic Jack dongle. I picked up the headset, put it to my ear and heard the same old dial tone I have always heard, I was astonished.

My First VoIP Phone Call

I called my mother in Idaho Falls and talked for almost two hours. After hanging up I realized that I had just made my first free long distance phone call and I didn’t notice any significant difference. Talking without having to worry about how long I have been talking.

The call was as clear as it would have been with my old landline. Call clarity as with all VoIP phone systems is not always perfect. I have experienced a low echo of myself talking or choppy like a cell phone will sometimes be. This (choppy) I found with VoIP phone systems like the Magic Jack Internet Phone that run software on your computer, is usually because it is processing something during the phone call.

Any small imperfections that may occur is really nothing, especially considering the MagicJack Price, i can live with a little glitch once and a while.

Other causes of poor internet phone service call quality

These things don't happen enough to concern me, if it is too bad I will hang up and call again. I have found that the choppiness of a call is always been because of heavy internet usage from one of my other computers in the house. Someone is downloading or watching a movie or playing an online game.

A computer that is bogged down with malware and spyware also can affect call quality.

Important Notes:

1.   When VoIP phone systems like the Magic Jack Internet Phone and Vonage say unlimited calling, it’s not quite unlimited. If you go way out of what they consider normal use they may charge you extra or discontinue your service. As long as you don't abuse it you should never have a problem.

It is called excessive use and you can find it mentioned - line 6 of the TOS (Terms of Service) of their website. You agree to this when you puchase and setup your Magic Jack internet phone account.

2.   The 30 day free trial begins when you order of the Magic Jack Internet Phone; not when it arrives, so the window to return it is fairly small so don’t delay if you want to return it.

3.   Also when you purchase the Magic Jack Internet Phone with a credit or debit card the amount may come out of your account that day, don’t worry your money is not gone just on hold until the 30 day trial is up. If you return it before the 30 day trial is up the money reappears.

The Bottom Line

Magic Jack Internet Phone works and works quit well. I have had mine for over 3 years and have never not been to make a call, local or long distance.

My calls have always gone through and during those times when you are on hold for 10, 15 or more minutes, well it doesn't help the wait but it is sure nice not having to worry about being charged a long distance fee as the minutes pass by.

The call quality is much better than my cell phone, and I get all the features like call waiting, voice mail, caller ID and so on plus I save over $700.00 a year.

So unless you have something against saving yourself a bunch of money you owe it to yourself to give the Magic Jack Internet Phone a try.

           CBS News Report - Company Behind Magic Jack