We just noticed something interesting.

As many of you know, Microsoft is getting ready to launch its Bing search engine on Wednesday.

Guess, where Microsoft is advertising Bing?

On Google!

Yes, Microsoft is using its arch-enemy Google’s AdWords text ad program to peddle its Bing search engine.

How galling and how humiliating it must be to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and the rest of the Microserfs that to get the word out on Bing they have to rely on and pay Google for the privilege.

Here, look at the Bing ad we found being advertised via Google’s AdWords program:

Serves you right, Microsoft.

All ye cheapo desis, we know the central mission of your life is to scrimp and shave a nickel here, a dime there, a dollar yonder and, voila, soon you are a millionaire.

So, as the patron saint of cheapo desis in the U.S., it’s our raison d’être to find all you guys cheap (and good) stuff.

And boy, did we hit paydirt with the MagicJack on Saturday.

Like y’all, we too are sick and tired of paying extortionist monthly phone bills to the telephone/cable companies and have been on the lookout for a cheaper landline alternative.

We tried Vonage a few years back and were not too pleased with it. Plus, Vonage now requires a one-year contract and since marriage we hate any kind of binding contract.

A few weeks ago, we stumbled upon the MagicJack when we had gone to Radio Shack to purchase something else. It was right there at the cash counter. But we did not buy it.

Instead, we shafted Sprint and made the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim richer by buying a TracFone for $9.99.

But as our iPhone minutes kept winding down to dangerously low levels, we decided to take the plunge on MagicJack.

So, on Saturday we headed back to Radio Shack and got ourselves a MagicJack for $40. For the 40 bucks, you get the small device plus a full year of telephone service.

What a wise move. We haven’t stopped patting ourselves on the back since.

MagicJack, which plugs into the USB port of your PC/laptop, is only a little larger than your typical USB storage drive (see picture above).

We plugged it into our Windows XP-based notebook PC. It took only a couple of minutes for the drivers to automatically install itself.

The device then prompted us to enter our e-mail address (needed for activation) and a password. In the next screen, it asked for our name and address. Finally, we were given the option of picking an area code. Most area codes in the U.S. are available.

That’s it. We were ready to make calls. All of it took less than five minutes.

How to Make Phone Calls
With the MagicJack, there are two ways to make calls.

1. You can attach a regular telephone line to the other end of MagicJack that’s hooked up to your PC.