I’ve been looking into MagicJack, mainly because Clark Howard recommends it so damn much. But I don’t like how you have to have the USB dongle in the computer at all times when you use it. We only have laptops in our apartment, so I’d like a VoIP service that can plug right into my router.
Cheap is good, and MagicJack is cheap alright, $40 for a year of unlimited local and long distance. Is there anything else out there comparable?
No Vonage recommends, please, if it’s still $25 a month.
Skype is relatively inexpensive, becoming extremely popular, and I’m pretty happy with it.
You can opt to have a SkypeIn number and receive calls from outside the Skype network for a minimal fee, or you can just use the in-network VoIP. And you get voicemail. The service (with the exception of a major hiccup recently) is very reliable from my experience.
Plus you can get wireless VoIP phones that plug right into the router with extensions for other room that only require an electrical outlets. This means you don’t even have to have your PC on to make/receive calls.
What I really want is a service that will work with my current phone, with the adapter plugging into my router.
Or is that asking too much? Most of the hits on google are ads and fake review sites. It’s hard to find any real information.
I have used a few & for what you describe, I like Vonage.
It appears by buying some adapter you can do that with Skype, the monthly charge is about 3/month if you are using it for outgoing only, but more if you want an incoming number also, I can’t find the rate but I seem to remember $12/month.
Here is one such adapter, or at least it appears to do what you ask:
http://www.vosky.com/modules/product/prodetial.php?c_id=2&p_id=13
Whoops, that seems to be USB also. I know there are skype phones that can be used w/o a computer, but I haven’t found one that allows you to use your own phone AND plug into the router.
I don’t have any adaptor. But we pay $60/year for SkypeIn phone number and that includes calls out and voicemail. We could purchase a VoIP phone that would plug into the router, but we are still just using our PCs. VoIP phones run from $90-$160 on their website, but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. I’m looking at this Phillips cordless model that just went on sale.
But if you aren’t interested in Skype, I think Vonage is probably your best bet, although considerably more expensive if it’s $25/mo.