Skype bills itself as "free internet telephone that just works", and it is finally available for the Mac.

(It`s a free download for Windows, Linux, Mac and PocketPC.)

We found it has pretty decent sound and does "just work" without fuss.

Most importantly, using the "Skype Out" service it lets you put calls

or... | JP | UK | Ca | Fr | De

throught to ordinary telephones for a small fee (about 2 yen a minute to the US/UK/OZ) - which makes it a viable replacement for something like Brastel.

The sound quality is a little variable - but at best it is excellent and a world ahead of other internet phone packages we have used in the past.

Of course, calls to other SKYPE users are free, you can do multi party calls, and there are lots of bells and whistles if you need them.

We have found that iChat (which comes bundled with MacOs X) is fine for video calls to other Mac users, but SKYPE sound quality is streets ahead and it`s fully cross platform. (iChat CAN be used to communicate with Windows users, but it isn`t a pleasant experience.)

Obviously Skype works best over broadband.

We DO recommend you buy a cheap headset/mic - preferably one with noise cancelling on the microphone. The best ones seem to be by Sennheiser BUT they are not suitable for modern Mac`s which all require a USB connection. Which leaves the Plantronics headsets.(click the image to see...)

Will it convert us off Brastel?

Quite possibly, for longer calls - particularly from the office.®