I’ve been using this really cool device from MagicJack now for the last 30 days. I must say that it is indeed as the company promised … cheap and reliable phone calls using your PC and your home phone.

I was intrigued about this idea ever since a colleague of mine told me about it over dinner. He told me that he bought a MagicJack device and used it while travelin to India to call back to the US. I had to admit that I was pretty skeptical of this product.

But, after another colleague told me about MagicJack, I decided to give it a try. What the heck … it was only $39.95 to get the product, which includes the first year of phone service. Each year thereafter it’s $19.95.

Within 2 days of placing my order, I had my MagicJack. In fact, I actually bought two MagicJacks, because I was sending one overseas to my relative in Australia.

Setting up the MagicJack couldn’t be easier, especially after my last experience trying to install Vonage. With the Vonage, I literally spent 2 hours trying to get it to work. Only after I was on the phone with the technician did I / we realize that the instructions in the box were wrong.

So, back to the MagicJack. You simply plug the USB device into an open USB port on your computer and a regular telephone into the other end. Within seconds a screen pops up that says it is downloading the software to your PC. After about a minute or two you are presented with a screen to enter your name and email address. And then finally you are asked to identify an area code for which you want your phone number to be attached. And, voila, you have a new virtual phone number.

At that point, you can simply make a phone call.

Here are some extra goodies that come with the MagicJack. Imagine, you have your own phone service literally within the palm of your hand. The phone service goes with you wherever you are traveling. With this service you get: call waiting, call forwarding, caller id and, yes, voice mail. One of the coolest features though is that you can travel to India, London, Australia, wherever … as long as you get have an Internet connection, you can use your phone. You can call the US and anybody can reach you.

I had my relative in Australia call me last night. It worked like a charm. The phone number showed up accordingly and I was able to hear him without a hitch.  Not only that, but he is traveling to London over the next week or so and I’ll be able to report on that experience, as well.

The one downside to the MagicJack is that there is no call forwarding feature yet. So for example, if you want someone to answer your calls and then transfer them to your phone, it doesn’t exist. I don’t know how big of a problem that is for people though.

All, in all, for a $19.95 per year service contract, how can you beat it? Unlimited US and Canada calling plus calling back to the US from abroad – FREE.

Doesn’t get any better than that.

If you are a business professional like I am, you probably use your iPhone for more than simply keeping in touch with your friends and family. In many cases your iPhone is your link to the business world when you are away from your laptop. Whether you are checking your e-mail, keeping track of your stocks or conducting conference calls while on your way to a business meeting, your Apple iPhone is literally your key to keeping connected with your professional life.

Like most business professionals, you probably also travel the world in order to keep your business active and profitable. One of the main concerns that business people have with cell phones is whether or not they will be able to use their phone in a foreign country, especially if they are visiting for an extended period of time. I know I do. That is why I want you to know that you can use your iPhone overseas.

Like most cell phones, the iPhone works with a particular cell phone carrier, and in this case you have your service through AT&T/Cingular. Many business professionals want the security in knowing that their cell phone service will not be disrupted simply because they travel from country to country. Since the iPhone is serviced by AT&T/Cingular, you will not have to worry about loosing service, or features, because the iPhone uses the GSM system. GSM is an acronym that stands for Global System for Mobile communication, thus allowing you to use your cell phone in many different countries. Actually, there are over one hundred countries around the world that use GSM. This allows you to keep using your Apple iPhone without any hindrance to cell service.

Many business travelers go to Europe and Asia, and since their iPhone uses GSM, they are able to have excellent service throughout both of these locations. However, there are some precautions that you will want to take before you leave the country with your Apple iPhone. Speaking as someone traveling from America — if you have ever traveled throughout the world and used your cell phone, you were probably surprised by extremely high charges for phone and data use.

This is because your number is an American telephone number, thus every call you make within another country is looked upon by your carrier as an international call. If you are overseas for quite some time, than it is easy to accumulate several hundred dollars worth of fees and roaming charges, this is why you will want to alter you calling plan if you travel overseas frequently.

AT&T/Cingular has really great international calling plans that are very cost effective. Thus you are able to still travel the world without having to worry about roaming and international call fees. Also, if you use data on your iPhone, which most of us do, you will want to make sure that you have an international data plan as well. The worst homecoming surprise you can get is opening your cell phone bill only to find several hundred dollars worth of extra charges and fees. However, if you plan ahead and make sure that you obtain a new service plan that includes international cell phone use, you will not have to worry about extremely high charges.