[Steadfast]

Having just asked everyone on the forum to provide some recommendations, it seems only fair to offer one.

After doing a fair amount of research, we are going to try Ooma for the phone, with Direct TV for Television and Comcast for our Internet service.

We are keeping Comcast for the Internet because we have our email address already there and the past service has been pretty good (up north).

Direct TV has the disadvantage of possibly losing the signal from time to time, but it seems to cost less and offer more... especially with all the NFL games free for the first year.

Ooma (a VOIP, or Voice over your Internet Provider service) for the phone is the real discovery. You can buy the unit online or at a local "Big Box Store" for between $200 and $250... after that you only pay the tax each month but get "free" phone service and nationwide long distance. We were skeptical at first, but it was very easy to hook up and the service has worked very well so far.

Our total savings, even with the cost increases for Internet and TV over the next three years will be about $1,500 compared to what we would otherwise be paying for bundled services.

Hope some find this helpful!

[mrdills]

I would like to see your breakdown on this one................

[John_W]

What is the difference between Ooma and Magic Jack?, which is only $20 a year.

I've got Directv and Century Link for internet and phone. The internet is 10.0 speed fiber optic with no modem and the phone is unlimited long distance with caller ID all for $55 a month, however taxes and line fees takes it up to about $75.

[kathy and al]

Just for your info-even though you change internet providers, your e-mail address remains in tact. You may have to access your e-mail through a log in process with your new inernet provider, however, your address will always remain as is.
As far as Magic Jack goes-I can't understand why everyone with a home PC doesn't have this device. $20 a year for unlimited calls throughout North
America and reception and connectivity are outstanding. Have had mine for 2 years now and I can't offer enough superlatives about it.

[BigLew]

Originally Posted by kathy and al

Just for your info-even though you change internet providers, your e-mail address remains in tact. You may have to access your e-mail through a log in process with your new inernet provider, however, your address will always remain as is.
As far as Magic Jack goes-I can't understand why everyone with a home PC doesn't have this device. $20 a year for unlimited calls throughout North
America and reception and connectivity are outstanding. Have had mine for 2 years now and I can't offer enough superlatives about it.

1. can you send and receive faxes with magic jack - I know originally you could not
2. what does it cost you to keep your pc on 365 24/7 so that you have phone service?

[kathy and al]

Big Lew: As far as I know Majic Jack does not have fax capabilities. Since I personally do not fax many things, for me this is not a factor. Scan and e-mail works fine for me when necessary.
As far as the PC running 24/7-I keep 2 computers running that way day in and day out without ever turning them off and I by the looks of my electric bill each month I'd estimate that the cost is extremely minimal. I have done this for many years.

[3puttharry]

Originally Posted by John_W

What is the difference between Ooma and Magic Jack?, which is only $20 a year.

I've got Directv and Century Link for internet and phone. The internet is 10.0 speed fiber optic with no modem and the phone is unlimited long distance with caller ID all for $55 a month, however taxes and line fees takes it up to about $75.

Does the $75 include your Direct TV too?

[cybermuda]

[QUOTE=BigLew;397404]can you send and receive faxes with magic jack - I know originally you could notQUOTE]

I send faxes using MagicJack - from an HP 3-in-1

I have not had cause to receive any, but as long as the line was connected to the fax machine (or computer if you use that for your faxing) then I can't think there would be any problem

[Tom Hannon]

Does magic jack has caller ID and call waiting?

[Steadfast]

Originally Posted by mrdills

I would like to see your breakdown on this one................

I worked this out on a spreadsheet, but will try to translate it into understandable text. All numbers are based on quotes from the related companies and include taxes and fees.

Assuming 2 DVRs and 2 other Digital Boxes, Comcast Triple Play comes to 179.23/month in the first year, 195.28/month in the second and 211.33 per month in the third.

Getting into the details of all the annually increasing individual monthly cost would make this way too hard to follow in text but the total monthly cost for Comcast High Speed Internet, Direct TV (same TV boxes as Comcast with equal or more channels) and Ooma (assuming $5.00 per month in tax, although I am told it is lower) are $115.83, $165 and $180.

When you do the comparison it comes to a savings of $63.40 per month in the first year, $30.28 per month in the second and $31.33 per month in the third year. Annual savings are $760.74, $363.30 and $375.90 for a total of $1,499.94.

I purchased the Omma unit for $200 on sale and forgot to subtract that from the savings (but all things remaining equal) there is at least a $350 annual savings from year three on, plus the net savings of about $1,300 over the first three years (after including the initial cost of the phone unit in this calculation ).

By the way, you do not have to keep your computer on for the phone to work.

Hope this helps!

[Jack&Pam]

In researching the above. I discovered that magic jack has a new device that plugs in to your router or computer. This eliminates the need for a computer and they also allow you to transport your current phone # for $20. I believe the initial cost is $70 for the new unit and $30 per year. Check out the magic jack plus website for complete details.
This seems to be the best deal yet.

Jack

[pauld315]

I installed the new Magic Jack Plus about a month ago and am very happy with it. I never considered Magic Jack before because you had to have it plugged into a computer but with the new Plus version, that is no longer required. They have a 30 day free trial if you want to try it out.

[drdodge]

I predict that you will not be happy. Had them all and went back to comcast for everything
drd

[HappyVillager]

Ok...I'm a a cheapskate apparently. I pay $18.95/mo for my Comcast TV and I have a mi-fi device through Verizon for $30/mo for my internet. I was thinking of getting rid of Verizon and going to Straight talk to save money on my cell phone...but then I'd have to get internet at home. Does anyone have a recommendation for JUST internet? i don't want to pay more than $50/mo if possible.