Long-distance service for Netizens: Internet telephony software makes long-distance calls more affordable.

Have your long-distance bills been obscenely high? Well, imagine calling anywhere in the world and talking for hours on end for less than $20 a month. Now you can. With a PC, Internet access, the proper software (which generally costs between $50 and $80) and hardware (a sound card, speakers and a microphone), you can take a bite out of the high cost of reaching out to touch that special someone.

The possibility of holding an actual conversation--not merely responding to typed messages--via your computer is now a reality. The best part is, you're charged only for the cost of the local call that connects you to your Internet service provider.

But the makers of Internet telephony software still have a few kinks to work out. To date, the experience is more reminiscent of a conversation on a CB radio than the fiber-optic clarity we've become accustomed to. The software makers maintain that the quality of the connection is contingent on the type of PC used, the number of people logged onto the Internet at the time and the speed of your connection. Call quality is bound to improve as more companies get into the act.

You save money on long-distance calls, but there are several other factors to consider. Because there's no common standard for this software, both parties must have the same telephony software in order to speak to each other. Most of the telephony software also requires that you have an Internet relay chat (IRC) server connection to the Net, rather than the more common TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) method. Not all of the software is easy to install. In addition, you have to make sure that the person you're calling is logged on before you place a call.

Many Internet buffs are excited about Web calling, but this new wave in technology hasn't gone over well with everyone. Internet calling threatens the profitability of phone companies, and any decrease in revenues will likely be absorbed by phone service consumers.

The America's Carriers Telecommunication Association, a group of small long-distance providers, filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to regulate--or put an end to--Web calling. They believe Internet long distance should be subject to the same regulations and state and federal tariffs as regular phone services.

Charles Helein, general counsel for the association, asserts that while Internet telephony software relies on the telephone system to work, no one is paying for the service. "Because phone lines are being tied up, new lines have to be added," he explains. "We can't charge the Internet, so we'll have to charge the public."

Software makers and telephony supporters feel ACTA's concerns are a little premature, since the current number of Net phone users worldwide is under 30,000. For Audrey Pobre, Internet telephony is simply a unique way for individuals and corporations to do business. A spokesperson for Quarterdeck, the makers of Web Talk, Pobre says, "We see it as an effective way for companies to communicate ... not just a way for people to make cheap calls." Digiphone from Third Planet Publishing, Internet Phone from VocalTec and FreeTel from FreeTel Communications are some other telephony software titles currently available. At press time, the FCC hadn't ruled on ACTA's petition.

With Internet telecommunications possibilities continually growing, major technology companies are jumping on the bandwagon. New audio equipment will be included in upcoming Web browsers from both Netscape and Microsoft.

Not to be outdone, Intel is developing video-phone equipment. By year's end, they say that most new PCs will allow you to see the person you're talking to. The technology can be used over standard phone lines and would add a $200-$300 cost to your computer expenses.