At 05 Mar 2008 06:12:49 -0800 SMS wrote:

> Skype (other than free Skype to Skype calls) is a not a great deal
compared to other VOIP providers. It _does_ remind me of AOL (is AOL even
still around, I no longer get any CDs from them?).


Actually AOL IS still around and has completely reinvented themselves,
after being beat up pretty good by consumers' general shift from dial-up to
broadband. They're now, IMHO, the best free e-mail provider around,
(including the guys like Yahoo, GMail, etc.) They offer completely free
standard IMAP accounts, usable with standard e-mail clients like Outlook,
which works great on mobile devices.

They still offer dial-up service with their goofy proprietary software, but
now at PeoplePC/Netzero type pricing- $10/month.