Ok, we've had Skype loaded since the summer of '06.  Loved the free service, paid about $16 US for '07 service and now in '08 it's $2 Euro per month which is about 3 dollars US.  Can't fault the quality.  Much better now than when I first signed on.

So I see an ad for the MagicJack and found it appealing (which is the true function of advertising) and thought I'd give it a shot.

My first experience was negative because as soon as the device loaded in there was no output from my sound card.  Near panic as I tryed to remember how to use "system restore" to get it working again. 

Fortunately (for MagicJack) I did find help from their "tech-support" screen.  Was told how to reset the control panel for my card and it began working again.  I've made a few calls with the new set up and got mostly a good report on quality.  My wife was skeptical as to why I would buy another gadget but then relented when I told her about the free incoming number.  Unfortunately, at this time it's not a local number!  While I was on the tech-support screen I asked about that and was told the company is expanding and eventually a local number would be available.  I did call the number  with my cell phone and it rang through ok.  Compares with Skype, I never got an incoming number (costs more) so for now the two services are very similar.

I've read on the internet where some people have had trouble with their MagicJack.  So far, I have not had a problem once I got past the issue with my sound card.  So here I am, having a standard house phone, Skype and MagicJack.  And Comcast is trying to entice us to switch to their digital voice service (it works outside the computer more like regular phone service)  Who will win the shake-out?  Could an upstart company like MagicJack dominate?  Can't say other than mine is working right now.  $20 a year for phone service is appealing, even if only for a second line.

It's a wonderful thing about the free-enterprise system, people can compete with different products to meet the needs and desires of the market.   Once the long term reliability issues are resolved I suspect we will always have more than one option for making outgoing calls.  Who will be the loser?  Regular phone company long distance service.  I've dropped having a long distance carrier a long time ago!