MagicJack is popular for calling

Q. MagicJack is a device you plug into your computer that allows you unlimited long-distance and local telephone calling. It seems to be highly touted. Is it a hoax or real?

A. It's real and it works, however just how so then is something you will have to decide for yourself. In reading dozens of reviews, I found many who said, "It's the best thing since the cell phone -- and that's a fact, Jack," during others have told it to hit the road, Jack.

After retiring in 1999 to focus on horse racing, Borislow returned to the telecommunications industry in 2006 by founding YMAX Communications, which produces the magicJack and the service that supports it.

The magicJack works

The magicJack works by plugging into the USB port of your computer, which acts as an adapter for your home phone line. Using the popular Voice over Internet Protocol, service is often less expensive than with other companies --$19.95 a year right now, which includes long-distance calling to Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

You can use it with Windows XP, Vista and 7 along with any Intel-based Apple Mac. The only requirement is that you have some type of high-speed broadband Internet service, including cable, DSL, WiFi, Wireless and WiMax, at a minimum upload speed of 128 kilobytes a second.

"Our tester made dozens of calls with magicJack over several days. Calls went through with no problems, and voice quality was usually clear, even though less so than with a good corded phone. Some interference occurred when the tester tried talking during downloading a large file or playing an online game."

It later noted that you can't keep your phone number, and it is advertising-supported. Plus, clearly, if your power goes out, you can't make calls if you don't have a generator.

"So simple, it's nearly perfect," its reviewer said. "The magicJack is the best home voice-over-IP gadget I've seen to date. Excellent call quality, a workable set of calling features, and an amazing price make this little box the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) wonder to beat."

"The problem is far too many potential magicJack users are likely to have an unstable Windows installation or inexpertly set-up hardware that can create network conflicts at the port level," they said, noting inconsistent call quality.