If you have a good internet connection and either Windows 2000, XP, OS X Panther, OS X Tigers, and some Linux builds, you can download either Skype.com or GizmoProject.com . They're both free for all computer to computer calls. There are even some solutions that allow you to make calls via handsets that make it feel more phone-like. In general, this is a great solution both quality-wise and for people that have family deployed to the Persian gulf region, for example. Paul