To call or not to call, Tarun, that is the much-debated question. In fact, it is a legal question, especially after VSNL blocked Dialpad two years ago.

Wondering what Internet telephony is all about? Well, it will allow you to make national and international calls that will be 80 percent cheaper than normal trunk dialling.

	Also Read
		--  Online sex addiction     can ruin your life & career --  Crazy auctions! Look     what's up for grabs --  Cocktails: 7 sites to     stir up heady concoctions

WEB RESOURCES:

But, it appears that you will still have to wait until 2002, before VSNL and DoT permit it. Why will it take so long? What is the Indian industry doing to fight against it? Who are the players and what do the laws say? Get the legal facts straight first, before we get anywhere.

If, like Bubbles, you're confused about what terms like VOIP, duplex, and POTS mean, the Virtual Voice Dictionary should help. Virtual Voice is also an excellent FAQ, which answers all questions you may have regarding hardware, software, etc.

Before you get started, you need a PC, obviously, along with Internet access, speakers, sound card and a Java compatible browser. For a guide to these requisites, try this page.

There are, currently, two kinds of services: PC to PC and PC to Phone. While most sites like ICQ offer free PC-to-PC calls, Hot Telephone allows you to make unlimited free web-based PC to Phone calls throughout the US and in over 30 other countries.

Like Bubbles, you could also simply use the Yahoo Messenger Call Option that allows you to also hold a private voice conference for free, or you could try the MSN Messenger Service.

However, not all services are free. Sites like Iconnecthere offer you one account for your PC-to Phone, Net connection and calling card. Others like Media Ring also offer you easy money for referrals and using their services that include voice chat, voice mail etc.

A service for businesses and individuals alike is Inter-fone, which allows use of the Internet to make international calls for free, or at the cost of local calls.

If you want to bypass the PC completely, register at Navinmail and Telivoice to send a voice message to any of the seven countries listed, just by making a local call.

I have an important call to make too, as soon as Bubbles stops calling his girlfriends all around the world.

Additional Resources
Net2 Phone | Dialpad | PC2call | Virtual Voice
Internet Telephony Magazine | Go 2 Call | PhoneFree