Okay, I have had my MJ for almost a year and use it mainly for long distance during the day or when traveling abroad. I am not a techie so if anyone who uses a MJ with a headset could advise me as what to purchase, I would be appreciative. When we travel out of the country I have been bringing a small princess phone in my laptop case. It has worked as we just returned from Mexico and where our cell phones did not work or at least would only roam($$$) and was able to call my friends, family and office. It would sure be easier just to carry a headset. I am using a Toshiba laptop about 4 years old when traveling. Thanks

Finally got one and am very happy with it. We will be canceling home phone & using this as the # for vendors, etc. Only downside was not being able to keep #.

this was the first trip that I used it and I just brought a cheap wallmart phone ,
its a little bigger than you would want to carry with you,

I will look for a smaller phone for the next time....

Rally

I used mine this past month in Thailand as well and was quite pleased with the results. Worked fine just using my netbook's microphone and speakers.

I Love MagicJack
 

I've been using MagicJack as my sole landline service at home for a few months, now, and I've been very happy with it. However, it's really proven itself recently.

Mrs. PTravel has had to go to China because her father is very ill. I gave her my little Asus Aspire One and a MagicJack to take with her (I can't get her to take her regular laptop -- she thinks it's too big and heavy). We've been calling each other twice a day for the last two weeks or so using the MagicJacks, and it's worked out great. The calls are free (or, more accurately, included within the $20/year charge). As far as MagicJack is concerned hers in China is simply local to mine -- I dial area code and 7 digit number and it rings in her hotel room. The same in reverse -- she just dials my area code and 7-digit number and the call comes to my home. Voice quality is great -- the limiting factor is the cheap earphone and microphone I gave her. If she had a better headset/mike combination, or used a regular phone with the MagicJack, as I do at home, call quality is as good as any land line.

As I recently posted in another thread, mine worked great as well on a trip last month to SE Asia. I only used my Asus EEE 1000HE's built-in microphone and speakers, and the person on the other end said I sounded fine. I know that some people have reported having problems with the MagicJack, but thus far my experience has been terrific.

Don't forget the cost of in-room Internet service. Interesting that there's no blocking of MJ in China, I thought I read someone that they block Skype, maybe they'll snag MJ if it gets a foothold in their market.

Internet is free at Mrs. PTravel's hotel and, in any event, when I travel I always buy internet access.

I don't know about Skype, but I've used MagicJack sporadically in China before (once or twice in Shanghai) -- no blocking.

Lots of people use Skype in China.

Question re: Magicjack 5 year renewals
 

Late December of 2008 I spoke to a client that stated that she was on a Magicjack phone line and that she was quite pleased with it. Then she told me that she had just signed up for 5 years for $50. I was impressed.

So I finaly bought a Magicjack, got a decent local number, and got it working pretty good after a few tuneups to the volume settings. Not a bad solution for providing a second line for use while working from home 2 days each week.

BTW, my cost was $31 delivered through ebay. The first year of service is included.

Magicjack seems to be offering 5 years for $60.

Does the 5 year for $50 plan ever get offered anymore? Or is the $60 offer as good as it gets now?

There is a good unofficial Magicjack forum here:

http://magicjacksupport.com/

Also dslreports.com (voip section) has an active Magicjack subgroup. If you don't get the answer here, you might want to try there.

A friend of mine raved to me about MagicJack this weekend, and that in addition to your review makes me want to buy it - it's been a year and half since your review; do you have any reservations, or have any other products come out since then that excel Magic Jack?

The only complaint I hear is that their customer service stinks. When I need my MagicJack, it works fine, but I'm also not using it 24/7 as my primary home phone service.

I use my landline rarely - probably once per month - and the bill is coming to $60+ per month. !! So while I want to keep the number, I am unwilling to continue shelling out that kind of money, not if Magic Jack works this well, for about $4 per month. :) ^

I have four MJs, two of which are in continuous use, 24/7, as primary phone service. They've been working great for more than a year and a half. However, when you say "customer service stinks," you are being very politely and understating the case by half. Just assume there is no customer service -- picture an Indian Call Center accessible only by on-line chat.