Has anyone used Magic Jack to call the U.S. from Switzerland? Just wondering how well it worked for you. I am moving to Switzerland from the U.S. soon and wondering whether I should purchase a Magic Jack to bring with me.

It is useless! Connection is very bad and irregular. I have Vonage since I left Canada 8 years ago and it is incredible, it is like my parents were next door.

How do you get a Vonage connection in Switzerland? Would you mind sharing the details please? I would love to take one myself

Yes, pls share the Vonage how-to details. I checked their web page and it looks like it costs $26/month (after the first 3 months). If you don't mind my asking, is that what you're paying? It seems pricey to me.

I have a google voice number (https://www.google.com/voice) that I then use to call the US (similar to Skype). I can use it through my computer, or I also have an app on my iPhone (Talkatone) that lets me call through the phone. It's VOIP, so occassionally, there are delays/garbles, but it mostly works well and is free.

+1 - Skype or Google Voice. If you have a SmartPhone and access to WiFi (even free WiFi at McDonalds or Starbucks), you can make international calls for just pennies per minute.

I agree with Nil on Vonage. I have had a Vonage number since moving to Switzerland from the US, and I have been highly satisfied with it.

In order to obtain the Vonage phone, I simply called Vonage (info at www.vonage.com) when I would have normally called the local landline phone company to arrange for line disconnection when I moved out of my home in the US. I was able to keep my old landline number. I paid for the equipment from Vonage, received it via mail, and all was set. I would encourage you to make sure your bandwidth speed is high enough in order to assure quality performance.

The only downside is the occasional call from a local or state politician during elections season, which usually comes in around midnight or 1 a.m. here in Switzerland.

Incidentally, you can also have a pretty good time telling a US sales caller that you are interested in carpet cleaning or an alarm system, giving them a four-digit postal code and seeing what they say.