Help with International Cell Phone Plan?

I had a hard time with this as well, and I came across Magic Jack.
Basically, it's American, so whichever one of you is in the US is going to buy it.  It's sort of hard to explain, and I didn't quite understand it based on the info that is available out there about it.  But friends of mine in the UK were using it often to call the US.
So let me try to explain I guess...
It uses the internet to make calls and it's free ...you buy the device (its like a USB thing and you get a basic US landline phone to connect to it- I tried to get a UK landline phone to connect to it and the 'jack' part of it is different so it didnt work) anyway, you can get it on their website (magicjack.com) or at Best Buy, Radio Shack, places like that.  I only paid $40 for it...shouldn't cost anymore than that.  It uses the internet to make calls, and you can chose where your call comes from (in the sense of an area code).  You can call anywhere in the US free...so whichever one of you is in the UK will get this device so that when you call the other one in the US, it's like you're making a local call.  I hope this makes sense.  If I sound like I am advertising this or something, I promise I'm not, its just that this thing is like a god send for me and has saved me a lot of money, my husband and I used to spend hundreds every month calling between the US and the UK.
I have read a lot of complaints on the internet about Magic Jack and the service, but I have had no problems and like I said, I think its amazing, its been great.  I hope the explaination makes sense because like I said, I couldnt find much to explain it, and the employees at the stores that sell it don't know anything about it.  Oh, and apparently after the first year its $20 a year but I havent had it that long so I am not clear on that, but still, thats way cheaper.  I was paying $.20/min to call the UK... it added up very quickly.  Good luck, I know how hard it is to be away, expecially in a tough situation

I think there may be an equal amount of opinions on this, but from my GF in the USA magic jack is not that fantastic, she has it and it dont work....and hasnt for some time

I'm not sure if this has already been said, but I am on Tmobile in the U.S. and I have unlimited international calling (to land lines) and unlimited international texting for 19.99 a month (well, in addition to the other stuff like data, etc) but its been a life savor!

My fiancée and I use Rebtel.  It's a free app available for Android, (probably iPhone and others too).  As long as you both have it installed, you can dial your international number and you won't be charged.  It will however use up your bundled minutes.  Also, it uses both parties' minutes, regardless of who initiated the call.  However, as long as you have minutes available as part of your tariff then it's a great way to stay in touch

Incidentally, for anyone calling the US from the UK, there's an 0844 1p/min number you can use: 0844 720 2443... you call that number, then at the prompt dial the full international number (including 00) - you only pay for the 0844 call!  I use it to call my fiancée when I've used up all my bundled minutes   It's 1p/min from BT landlines, but if you call from a mobile make sure you check how much you'll be charged for an 0844 number first.