Free Phone Calls with Google

"Free!" This just in from our world-traveler, Jim Hamm.  "Here's an interesting article on a new feature Google is offering: free long distance phone calls in the U.S., and inexpensive phone calls overseas. I just tried it by calling, on my Mac, my two sisters in Ohio and it works great. The voice quality, both ways, was fine. All one needs is a Gmail account. When you're logged in to your account you'll see a new heading in the lower left corner called 'Call phone.' Click this and an on-screen keyboard pops up and you use the cursor to call a number. At this time it will show the call coming from a number in California, not your home phone number. Perhaps in the future Gmail may be able to show the call coming from your home phone number."