It is true there is no local area code for magicJack at TV. What we do when someone calls us is to return the call so all they have to pay for is 1 minute of long distance on their phone bill. With magicJack there are no long distance charges. We are going to buy our grand daughter a magicJack so she can take it with her when she goes to college. Don't know if she will call us more often but at least we know she won't run up minutes on her cell phone or land line at college.