What can you tell me about internet phone services like Vonage and MagicJack?
Vonage, Skype, MagicJack, Packet8 and others provide phone service utilizing your high speed Internet account and a protocol called Voice over IP (VoIP). Skype and MagicJack access the Internet through your computer. That means that the computer must be on in order to make and receive phone calls. Skype is a free program you install on the computer that allows you to make free local, long distance, and video calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world. Skype calls to landlines in the United States, Canada, and some foreign countries are 2 per minute. MagicJack is a device that plugs into any USB port on your computer, and then you plug a standard telephone into MagicJack. The upfront cost is $39.95 + S&H and includes the first year of service. After the first year the cost for local and long distance calls within the United States and Canada is $19.95 per year. Calls to foreign countries start at 2 per minute and vary from country to country. Vonage and Packet8 utilize a device th
