Just thought I would put a quick mention in for Skype. Skype is a VoIP – Voice over IP – client. This is basically a piece of software that you can use to make phone calls over the internet, thus saving you the cost of the phone call. You can get it, free, for Linux, Windows and Mac (soon). Even better, the ‘calls’ you make to other Skype users are absolutely free.
There is also a pay service which means that you can call people who don’t have Skype (or even computers) for the cost of a local call. Yes – you can call someone on the other side of the world for the cost of a local call. Oh, and it’s all encrypted so Big Brother can’t touch you 
and you can make conference calls too.
Anyway, it all looks pretty cool. You can call me on the id benthorp (assuming I have it running at the time) , although I don’t have a mike plugged in yet……
mrBen