For those of you who haven’t tried out Skype, the long-distance provider that routes calls over the Internet, there’s a new reason to try them out. Skype-to-Skype calls, where both ends have downloaded the necessary software and created an account with Skype are free. SkypeIn and SkypeOut calls, where either the caller or the receiver are on a regular phone line, usually cost something.

Now, until the end of the year, the caller with a Skype account can make calls in the US and Canada to regular phone numbers for free. That means you can be the high-tech, whiz kid using your PC and downloaded software and talk to your grandmother on the landline phone. For free.

I worked in telecom for over 15 years. I don’t think any of the companies I worked for 10 or 15 years ago ever imagined that a consumer would be offered up the chance to make unlimited long distance calls, not just for pennies per minute, but absolutely free. Zero. Zilch. It’s a different world.