Just to add some more light (or more confusion) on the subject, there are other VOIP programs as well. I just learned all of this recently so I can make it dummy-proof or I guess equal to my intelligence.
VOIP = voice-over internet protocol. Using your excess high speed bandwidth to make phone conversations. (Dial up comes in too choppy)
Skype is the big leader with nearly 150 Million downloads. Excellent quality with DSL/cable modem. However, it is proprietary (from the people who created Kazaa, a Napster like software) and if you are afraid of a virus being planted in thier software, so goes 140M people. They are now making a Skype phone adapter where if you have a router (like a cable splitter but for the internet), you can go:
Internet from Cable/phone --> Cable modem/DSL box --> router (the hours of frustration) --> one jack goes to the computer, the 2nd (will usually have 4 connections) goes to the phone adapter where you can then plug your regular phone into. Start making calls on your regular phone without sitting on the computer.
To get a phone # for people to call you, I believe is $40 euros for the yea, which is $50 US roughly, and the you pay for a bank of money and pay per minute
Some stores have just started selling Skype adapters, but living in Japan and trying to call the states, I couldn't wait. I am using a service like Vonage, which uses SIP (the telephone standard) and thus is an open system. For this, you can download like skype and start doing the pre-paid thing and/or get the phone adapter, namely Sipura, Leadtek, Linksys, and Netgear. Mine was the cheapest Sipura for $60. There are MANY companies that provide VOIP service (one can check Voxilla.com for comparisons of I think 40 companies or so).
The one service I use is stanaphone: Free NY phone # (only NY), free incoming calls and 800 #s, 2.6 cents/min to call anywhere in the US. Quality is excellent. ALL VOip companies have free calls to other patrons of the same service (skype to skype, stanaphone to stanaphone)
Other services: Gizmoproject ($5/month for incoming phone calls, but cheaper per minute)
Sunrocket - $199/yr, 2 phone #s anywhere in the US, they give you an adapter and 2 cordless phones. Unlimited calls in the US.
I haven't checked the other ones out yet, but this is all just objective advice. Due to the test run I have had with stanaphone, there is no way I am having a "land line" when I get back to the states.
Last thing, two negatives. If your internet goes down, your phone goes down too. Second, if you have a phone and answering machine combo, you won't get messages to it. It will all go to your designated email as .wav files you can listen to on the Microsoft player. No way around that and I don't know why.
I look here every few days so if you have a question, I will answer as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I still have to work.
eyetri2