Skype...

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by Tspringer

The magic jack does not require that you use a regular phone, it just gives you that option. For use on the boat I plan to use the magic jack computer dialer in conjunction with my bluetooth headset.


Terry

Now we're talking! I better check this out in more detail. Thanks for the update!

[hatteras]

I saw a commercial about Magic Jack. I think I'll check it out & drop the AT&T ripoff

I signed up for Skype when that woman, Capt Heather S/V Flight of Years was "going " to sail around the world by herself. That was a trip-

[Huntermoo]

skype will work well with the ericsson w25. good range on 3g carriers. try these guys Ericsson W25 Fixed Wireless Terminal, 3G Fixed Wireless Terminal, EDGE, UTMS, 3G, Gateway, HSDPA uses hsdpa speeds

[Maren]

Originally Posted by Tspringer

Skype is goner...as is Vonage. Check this out:
...
Magic Jack. Its a tiny little gizmo that plugs into a USB port. Then you plug any regular telephone into the gizmo, and use the phone like normal. Its $19 per year for free calls, outbound and inbound anywhere inside the US and Canada. They give you a local phone number with 911 service, voicemail, call forwarding... all the toys and such. For international calls there are charges but its very cheap compared to anything else I have seen. Calls from the Bahamas back to the states are $0.08 per minute.

Ok, let me see if I have this right. My options are:

1) I'm in the US or Canada, at a marina, and plugged into a landline phone that I found (... somewhere)

2) Cell phone (with fees outside the US). Range about 12 miles offshore (to say nothing about data packages for GRIBs, etc)

3) Skype or some other VOIP program which is frequently available at internet cafes and compliments a cell phone.

I bought one and have been using it. It works and sounds just like any regular land line. It has a bandwidth footprint supposedly much smaller than Skype or Vonage.

Well, good. I hope it works well and fulfills your needs. Out of interest, will it also send files, send SMS text messages?

[Sunspot Baby]

We have used Skype for 3 years. That compared with increasing availability of Wi-Fi has helped us keep in touch while cruising.

There is no one answer (at least within my budget) but it is an important part.

George