Maigen & I use Skype to keep in touch for free. It’s internet telephony, which is not a new technology but has recently surged over the tipping point. Over five million people are estimated to use VoIP, according to this Wired article which highlights the looming and inevitable risks.
That said, if you’re used to junk mail, and you hang up on telemarketers, and you ignore spam, then you probably don’t have a lot to worry about. Skype, as the article points out, can be configured to ignore everyone not on your contacts list the same way as most IM apps.
It won’t be long before my beloved meebo packs in VoIP capability, I reckon, (they’ve already added Jabber and GTalk) and then I will be able to talk to everyone at the same time.
Surely it won’t be long before we can talk to God or the dead.