Early Retirement Extreme Forums

Early Retirement Extreme Forums » DIY Skills Questions

1. 

   Bingeworker
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Nov '11
   Posts: 48

   I hate my utility company (Bell Canada) with a passion. I probably pay around $600 a year for the phone package they have me signed up for (I think they have increased this on me without notice, but I'm not at home to check old bills right now).

   I am thinking of switching to Magic Jack internet phone, that costs $20-$30 a year to use a phone with your internet connection. My brother has it and it's mediocre, but since I hate the phone anyway, and it has voice mail that sends wav files to your e-mail, it might be good for me (I am always travelling).

   If anyone has any real-life first or second hand experience with this, would love to hear about it.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   palmera
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Aug '11
   Posts: 270

   My boyfriend lives in Central America and has a Magic Jack phone with a U.S. phone number (his home city's area code). What's great is he can call me here in Canada for free even though it's supposed to be free to the U.S. only.

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   BennKar
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Dec '10
   Posts: 145

   I have been using it since March, and with a prepaid cell phone as backup. You're right, the performance is spotty at times, but usually its fine. If you're the type that needs to be talking to people on the phone everyday it might not be for you. If you're like me and rarely talk on the phone anyway, the savings is fabulous compared to the minor inconvenience. And you could always sign up for Skype (also free) as a backup communication method if the person on the other end has a computer.

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   Hoplite
   

   Master
   Joined: Dec '10
   Posts: 489

   Some additional thoughts from a previous thread:

   http://forum.earlyretirementextreme.com/topic.php?id=1316

   I think the consensus is mixed quality, plus you have to keep your computer on while talking. Still not a bad deal though.

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   Bingeworker
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Nov '11
   Posts: 48

   Ah, I hadn't seen that old thread, was looking in the wrong forum. There's a newer Magic Jack that interacts directly with the modem and you don't have to keep your computer on. I've never tried it, just was reading about it yesterday.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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