Look into Google Voice if you have a cell phone. It works pretty much like Skype but there is no need to be on the computer. I can use my cell phone and call anywhere for the same or less cost than I can on Skype.

Best,

John

You might want to buy a router that is compatible with DD-WRT (www.dd-wrt.com) router firmware upgrades.

If you hook a router that has been upgraded with DD-WRT to your fancy new rig you can do many more things than a stock WiFi router.
a) it can always look for an open Internet connection and connect to it automatically, you just connect to your router from the laptop and the router does all the work maintaining the connection.
b) You can boost (over clock) the router signal and the router CPU (faster/farther).
c) You get international compatibility (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#Channels_and_international_compatibility).
d) You can ‘blacklist’ and filter sites on the router (good for little ones).
e) You can schedule or trigger Quality of Service (QOS), so that when someone is using Skype, it will adjust the bandwidth accordingly.
f) Better firewall & more security options.
g) a ton more stuff can be used if you REALLY want to tune it up.
h) It’s Linux, free, open source, and community tested.

I would recommend one of the Linksys N routers, or a used version 1-4 of the WRT54G (s)(l) models.
I’ve been using it for years in my home, at work, and in a mobile system in my car. They are an outstanding combination.
$0.02