While just a few years ago Cheap International Calling was hardly to be found, the increase d competition between telecoms operators and the advanced technology means that we can make international calls very cheaply or even free any time we want.

It has now come to the stage where I really do begrudge paying for a local or international call and I will do anything I can to avoid it. Like most people, my money can be spent better on other things in life.

Skype is one great way to take advantage of the current technology to make free calls. In the past week alone I have spoken to my old Uncle in snowy Canada and caught up with a friend in Ukraine. I have also tried to talk to my son although he thinks this is already old technology...

The quality of these free calls on the internet is now excellent and most countries have high speed connections so that there is little lapse in quality, both audio and video. You can hold a perfectly normal conversation without worrying about the bills racking up.

This is a great encouragement for elderly people to get connected to the internet so that they can chat as often as they want to kids and grandkids who are sadly often thousands of miles away.