So, I'm probably a Luddite for not knowing this, but I just used Google Voice (from my Gmail account) for the first time to call my brother and it works and sounds perfect. Americans & Canadians can call anywhere within the US and Canada for free.

So, given this technology, how the hell do the phone companies stay in business?

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So, I'm probably a Luddite for not knowing this, but I just used Google Voice (from my Gmail account) for the first time to call my brother and it works and sounds perfect. Americans & Canadians can call anywhere within the US and Canada for free.

So, given this technology, how the hell do the phone companies stay in business?

~String

would be funny to see u carry around a laptop even with bluetooth all day and open it to dial someone ^_^ or a PC with a really long extension cord

The answer is...the communication protocols are changing, the world is changing. My modest guess would be within the next 50 years communication protocols will be digital. A person will have an identity associated with their internet communications (Kind of like OpenID) that will link their standard communications, e-mails, texts, money...etc etc. Some people say it with a negative connotation and in a conspiratorial tone.

I'm for it. The phone companies which can convert their infrastructures from land-based wiring to digital communications are the ones which will succeed. The first time you see a home phone which is entirely based on a cell-phone design is when I say the revolution will begin.

Anyone tried Magicjack? (http://www.magicjack.com/6/index.asp)

So, I'm probably a Luddite for not knowing this, but I just used Google Voice (from my Gmail account) for the first time to call my brother and it works and sounds perfect. Americans & Canadians can call anywhere within the US and Canada for free.

So, given this technology, how the hell do the phone companies stay in business?

~String

Yahoo and MSN have been doing this for years... As to your question, I have no idea how the phone companies stay in business.

and as far as Nietzschefan's question goes... No, I haven't tried it... Have you, is it any good?

Consumer Reports actually rated the "Magic Jack" very highly.

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Consumer Reports actually rated the "Magic Jack" very highly.

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Do you know what the cost is per month? Always trying to save a buck.

I think it's a flat fee. The thing sells for like $20 and change and then you have a $10 per year fee. Can't get much cheaper than that.

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http://www.magicjack.com/5/index.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicJack

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WOW, can't beat that. I'm paying around $70 a month for landline..
I will look into that.
Many thanks String.

WOW, can't beat that. I'm paying around $70 a month for landline..
I will look into that.
Many thanks String.

Where do you live that you're paying $20 per month for a landline? The most I ever paid was $22 and even that made me get rid of it.

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Where do you live that you're paying $20 per month for a landline? The most I ever paid was $22 and even that made me get rid of it.

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not $20...$70... Southern California, it's such a ripoff.

not $20...$70... Southern California, it's such a ripoff.

Yeah. I meant that. But, GODDAMN! That's way too much.

Look, at the very least you should have: Vonage (http://www.vonage.com/lp/US/searchgooglevonage/?CMP=KNC-G-Vonage_2009_Brand-vonage_exact&gclid=CJ3Dr_jZ26MCFSFugwodm3dh5g). Most of my family has it and loves it. You can even--usually--keep your number. The service is outstanding.

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Yeah. I meant that. But, GODDAMN! That's way too much.

Look, at the very least you should have: Vonage (http://www.vonage.com/lp/US/searchgooglevonage/?CMP=KNC-G-Vonage_2009_Brand-vonage_exact&gclid=CJ3Dr_jZ26MCFSFugwodm3dh5g). Most of my family has it and loves it. You can even--usually--keep your number. The service is outstanding.

~String

I have seen the Vonage commercials on TV. But always seemed to be too good to be true, so I stopped there.

I've also seen the Magicjack, thought the same thing.

But, I keep hearing how good it is from people. So, I guess I should check in to it.

Back in Ben Franklins day, it was a penny earned, is a penny saved. These days, a dollar is a dollar.. LOL

What is the difference between Google Voice and Skype? Isn't GV doing the same as Skype has been?

As for Magic Jack, you still need an internet connection, so how is it better than Skype???

Never used Skype. But Google Voice lets you dial real numbers to anywhere in the country.

So, for example, I called my little brother's cell phone from GV and it worked.

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