We had a communications briefing at our last drill. It was VERY informative.
I am planning on getting MagicJack for my deployment. I plan to get it now, so I have a house phone. I am extremely happy about having a house phone again.
The MagicJack cost $39.99 which includes a one year service and then each addition year is $19.99. The purchase price is LESS than what I was paying monthly for land line service BEFORE I cut the cord.
The good news is I plan to purchase and install it this weekend. I will get the telephone number and update ALL my contacts with that additional number. The good news is that it is portable.
Right before I deploy I will switch the magicjack to my laptop (get to keep my phone number). I will then be able to get and recieve calls from the US just like if I was not deployed. This way IF the bank calls me or My Sons school calls me they can actually reach me.
I was thinking of skyp but since this conference I think MagicJack will be a much much better fit.
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I got a text on my phone last night from ALLTEL telling me AT&T shipped my phone and will be going Live in March. I was then actually able to go to AT&T's website and review the phone plans. They are very much the same as ALLTEL's current plans but slightly different.
Anyway I found out today that Verizon gives a 15% military discount. Well that is nice...They dont advertise that. For like 3 years I had Verizon and that 15% discount would have been nice. Anyway I was doing the math and if I had their cheapest plan with texting I would be saving $5.50 a month over what I am paying now because of the discount. Oh well I am not going to get locked into a two year contract right now to just save $5.50 a month.
My plan is to keep Alltel/AT&T until I deploy then Freeze my account and my number. I will unfreeze my account once I get back. That way I can keep my cell phone number. I will then be switching to pre-paid which is cheaper. After review of the many ways to combine plans for two phones I will be saving $15 per month by going prepaid. I save $15 on the first line nothing on the second because of the family plan discounts the second line actually comes out to the same on both (prepaid vs contract).
My plan is to get my son a cell phone since he will be old enough to stay home alone for the 45 minutes between the time school lets out and I get off work. I plan on going with straight talk. They currently have free basic phones on their website. I will purchase two, one for my son and one for me. I will port my number to my phone. Then I will save up and watch ebay/online for deals on one with a full keyboard.
I figure I will have a little leave at the end of my deployment so I might be able to delay the purchase of the cell phone for my son for a month or so.
I will have the magicjack at home once I get home for contacting him, BUT I want him to have a cell phone to use to contact me IF he has any problems (misses the bus and has to walk home, or whatever else comes up). The cell phone cost of $30 per month plus tax is much cheaper than the $165 per month I would pay for afterschool daycare for those 45 minutes.
I am getting MagicJack and cell phone changes
March 18th, 2011 at 05:20 pm
March 18th, 2011 at 05:42 pm 1300470151
March 18th, 2011 at 06:08 pm 1300471734
I was told that internet is going to cost me $30 per month.
The NICE thing with magicjack is if your internet is not working or your computer is turned off the call goes to voicemail which is actually emailed. Even if I lost internet in my room I would be able to check my email elsewhere.
What a NICE product. I think when I get back I might write them a very nice letter if everything works out.
March 18th, 2011 at 06:17 pm 1300472242
March 18th, 2011 at 09:07 pm 1300482430
Jerry
March 18th, 2011 at 09:16 pm 1300482991
March 21st, 2011 at 02:51 pm 1300719093
I was not sure if I was going to pay $60 per month for internet while deployed so I was very pleased to find out that where I am going it is $30 per month (not Iraq).
I bought the magicjack this weekend....I need to hook it up yet, but I told my son that because of that he can call me ANYTIME he needs to talk to me. I hardly ever get calls so I am not worried about the time change.
March 21st, 2011 at 05:20 pm 1300728048