Amongst the many advantages of the internet, is it's ability, in some circumstances, to make long distance calls for the price of local calls!

You can use Microsoft NetMeeting (which comes free on the i12 CD ROM) to stay in touch with family, friends, and co-workers on the other side of the country, or the other side of the world all for the price of a local call.

To do this you need your internet connection, Microsoft NetMeeting (or any other web-to-phone package such as Talk-Pro or NetPhone), a microphone and set of speakers, and finally a sound card (the full duplex variety is recommended as they give better quality).

Instructions are provided in the help files of the application you are using, in Microsoft's NetMeeting for example, click on "Help" and then on "Contents" for step by step instructions on what to do.