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'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.

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.