I have a Magic Jack account for about $40.00 flat-rate per year, I was able to get a conference bridge with its own separate number for free, plus the mobile app that lets me make calls using my MJ number from my cell phone included.

1) The separate conference bridge number works very well and is completely independent of my Magic Jack device. It is a true off-premise conference service.

2) I'm not sure how many simultaneous callers it will support, but I've used it with four members before and the voice quality is very good.

3) A first-time user of the conference must enter a preset four-digit PIN to start it. Subsequent callers just come in when they call without the PIN. After you've called it once and entered the PIN from your number, it won't ask for it again. That's pretty handy for cell phone users, like sales people on the go.

4) I use the cell phone app to make calls from my cell phone where I don't want to display my cell phone's number. This is nice for returning calls to unfamiliar numbers.

5) My MJ device is set up as line #3 on my phone system, which has fax detect. Fax calls ring straight through to my fax upon receiving CNG tones. If not, they ring through as voice calls. I publish my MJ number as my fax line on my business card, so I don't have to pay for a stand-alone fax number.

One final word: The Magic Jack Express device obviously uses VoIP, but it does very well when using it for fax transmission. I only send a page or two, so I can't vouch for it in a business environment. It does NOT do well for modem use. For about $40.00 per year, I get a dedicated fax line, a third line for phone calls AND a conference bridge. I can't complain.

My advice would be to buy it and try it for the initial year. At this cost, even if it doesn't work as hoped, how can you lose?

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX