does anyone know a relatively cheap way to forward your home phone number to the magic jack and cancel the home service?
I don't know how to do that with Magic Jack, but a VoIP provider should be able to have your number transferred to VoIP. I know vitelity.com will do it for $18. From there, you get an account with them (Vitelity, again, will give you one line for $1.49 per month + a per minute usage fee of about 2¢). Finally, get a device called a VoIP ATA like a Sipura SPA1001 (there's an unlocked one on Ebay right now for $20 or so). It is a stand-alone device that does not have to be attached to a PC to run (it connects directly to your Internet connection), but converts the VoIP signal into a regular phone signal.
Let me see. $20 for the sipura. $18 to port the number. $1.49/month + 2¢ for each minute you use the device. The first year's expense is $56 + usage and that drops to $18 + usage thereafter.
One side-effect of vitelity’s service is they have you enter an alternative number in their system. If the call cannot be routed via the ‘net, the call is rerouted to that other number. Full fees apply, of course, but the call is sent to the other number and an email is sent to notify you that a call failed to route. The upshot of this is that if you leave home, unplug the ATA and all calls will go to your cell phone. No forwarding service required (but is probably available too, for that matter).
I'm not affiliated with vitelity. Just a satisfied customer. Freepmail me if you need more detail.
Do you really want to do that? A land line generally is the only thing left after a power outage.
My neighbor has the Comcast phone/internet/tv package. We’ve lost power twice this year already. She has a battery backup that lasts about 4-6 hours I believe but then it’s over.
No phone! The first time we lost power, she was without phone for 5 days. I hang tight to my land line. Even your cell phone dies eventually in a power outage!
Just my opinion - you don’t have to listen to it tho! lol