zxcvbob wrote:
> Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>> I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to
>>> MagicJack, works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for
>>> AT&T.
>>
>> Before you waste the money on the Magic Jack, I suggest that you check
>> out
>> the various forums and articles that have sprung up with unsatisfied
>> customers.
>>
>> Be aware that they "astroturf". That's hiring professional reports to
>> post
>> messages on local mailing lists, bulletin boards, etc, with homey,
>> friendly,
>> "look what I found" messages, which are just advertisements.
>> One journalist as he called himself did that on a local mailing list,
>> and when I asked him some details told me to look at their website. I
>> asked what
>> his experience was and he told me the truth, they paid him to write the
>> article, and he never really used the thing, nor was it used in this
>> country.
>>
>> If you want to save money, there really are good VoIP companies out
>> there,
>> which have low volume plans (unlimited incoming calls and 500 minutes
>> a month to anywhere in the US) for under $15, I can recommend the one
>> I use
>> if you ask in email.
>>
>> Be aware that no matter what you buy, it requires a stable Internet
>> connection
>> with decent throughput. If you buy something like a MagicJack, which
>> plugs
>> into your computer, it requires that the computer be on all the time you
>> want to receive or make phone calls, and as it pops a "telephone" on the
>> screen, you may have trouble using it for other things while you or
>> someone else is "on the phone".
>>
>> The company I use has several options. I use both a "box" which lets me
>> connect telephones in my home, and a "softphone" which runs on my laptop,
>> so I can make calls if my laptop and I go out as long as I can find an
>> Internet connection. I can even call my own number and reach my home.
>>
>> Geoff.
>
>
> Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
> OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
> the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
> so of uninterruptible power supply.

Probably.
>
> I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
> per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.
>
> The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
> who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
> I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
> seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
> goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
> phones.
>
> Bob

Would be the same problem with MagicJack Bob, no power, no computer, no
phone.