I've used Skype just fine. I also have a Magic Jack. It works just okay. I intend to drop it, though, when it expires. I have a blue-tooth enabled cordless phone. Its the kind you plug in the main base to one phone outlet and the remaining phones in the house don't have to be plugged into the phone jack at all. Since its also bluetooth enabled, when i walk in the door I take my cell out of my pocket and lay it right next to the main phone base. That way, my cellphone will ring via the bluetooth through the whole house. If you have ANYWHERE in your house you get cell reception, I would recommend going this route.
If not, the magic jack works fine but relies on a steady internet connection. I have some issues with my wireless router and magic jack. The wireless router loses connection occasionally and when it gets back online the magic jack has to be reset to work. I have yet to figure out a fix for it despite upgrading firmware on both and setting the magic jack to a static IP. It may just be my router, though. I know folks who have a magic jack and wi-fi and have no problems at all. I am also electronically challenged, and things that work for 99% of the planet will not work for me.