Home Phone Service – Skype and MagicJack

Lower fees, improved call quality and better customer service are the resultants of stiff competition in the arena of home phone service.

Gone are the days when traditional phone companies charged hefty sums for a call made overseas or long-distance, today with VoIP providers like Skype and tools like MagicJack phone users can talk for longer durations with absolute peace of mind.

Quality and price are two chief factors when selecting a carrier for home phone service. Traditional phone companies are likely to charge a monthly fee over the per-minute charge for long distance calls. On the other hand, VoIP or cable phone services offer cheaper rates but can have more static than a standard landline or cell phone service.

That being said, Skype offers significant savings for long distance services that include voice, video and data communication. Not only it has cheaper call rates but also its eagerness for improvisation has taken it a step further from its competitors. Skype services can be used both on landline and Smart Phones including iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads.

The Skype home phone service aggregates to $5/month and conveniently used on 3G, Wi-Fi cell phones as well. Wondering how to use it? Skype can be availed for home phone service in a three-step process.

Download and register with Skype client, subscribe to an unlimited calling plan and get a phone number for inbound calls. What if you do not wish to purchase a plan? Check out the SkypeOut service to call other phones, you pay $0.2 -$0.3 per minute. And, not to forget PC-PC calling is FREE.

How does Skype work on Smart Phones? Installing the iPhone Skype app allows users to receive and dial calls on their iPhone while on the 3G network, without losing any cell phone minutes.

For an economical VoIP package for home phone service on Skype, users can team their Skype voicemail, phones and a webcam for $20/year.

Another good option is a small USB device – MagicJack that allows computer owners to take advantage of a low-cost VoIP phone service over their broadband connection. While rival home phone service companies like Vonage charges $25 per month, MagicJack charges a miniscule $20 annually.

With the emergence of VoIP service providers like Skype and MagicJack, the burdensome bills for home phone service has certainly diminished.