Will This Gadget Replace Your Landline? - Comments Page 2

@Sarah L,

Your relative may be able to get help from the federal lifeline website. There is now an Affordable Connectivity Program that helps low/no income Americans get a discount of up to $30.00/m0nth for Internet service. I am a retired and disabled senior citizen, and I get a $30.00/month discount on my Internet service here. If Internet service of any type is available where your relative lives,(s)he may be able to get help by going to https://www.fcc.gov/acp

I hope this helps,

Ernie

I have been using Magic Jack for 8 years and love it and love saving money. No more paying for a landline I didn't use that much. And their customer service is a great. After 5 years Magic Jack quit working and they told me different things to try and when decide it was the device is was speedily replaced with newer model. They are very knowledgeable about their product.

There is an alternative, NETTALK. A friend and I have had it for several years. I also sent one to family overseas complete with a local, to me, registered number. Same fees as mine, almost identical to Magic Jack. So I can call Europe (or wherever they are hooked up, and they can call me for the local fee (=$0.00). Another advantage is we can call with cell phone if out and for much less than a cell to cell would cost.
A few minor glitches over the years but otherwise a big saving.

This is not new information. VoIP gadgets have been around a very long time now.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, that's why I said this at the beginning of the article: "The MagicJack device has evolved considerably since its 2007 debut." VoIP was starting to gain popularity a few years before that.

To use this thing, you need power. A UPS will do for relatively short outages but we've had 2 lengthy outages in living memory. I wouldn't have wanted to be without a phone at those times. Before my husband died, we had quite a few 911 calls and I'm not sure I would have wanted to depend on the Magic Jack people to call 911 for me.

I have a Bell Canada landline and I think I'll stick with it.

I do not understand the popularity of MagicJack (or any voip). Don't 99% of the public (&world) have a "smart" phone with unlimited talk and text? Everybody, and I mean EveryBody I see everywhere is constantly pulling their smart phone out of their pocket to stare at it. Why would they need a MJ? Only old fogies like me who do not have a smart phone.

I have used MJ myself for years; I think it's great. I do have a flip phone for emergencies and to receive text messages so I can log on to my bank account. I would actually prefer just landlines and phone booths.

I've been using MJ since 2007. I have been keeping it for faxing. For everything else, I use Google Voice on my cellphones (both Android and iOS devices) and Chromebooks via their app, and any other device with a web browser. Just way too many other features that Google Voice has over MJ, except the ability to hard wire a device to a phone line. Google Voice is free. MJ and other VOIP providers are not.

Can a Canadian have a US number with MJ?