After I signed up for cell phone service, my land line seemed redundant. Why should I pay $30 a month for service I don't use? My cell phone seemed to have great coverage no matter where I was, so I canceled my land line. Shortly afterwards, I could not get a signal inside my house. Everywhere else the phone worked great. After a phone call to Malaysia got cut off mid-conversation, I decided to do something about it.

VoIP seemed to be the way to go, but there are several issues to overcome:

1) I'm lazy - I want something simple
2) I'm cheap - I don't want to pay for a monthly plan or dedicated software
3) I use Mac OS X - most systems are targeted at Windows users
4) I want to roam around my house while talking - beyond Bluetooth range
5) I do not want to replace or reconfigure my router.

There is a bewildering array of VoIP service providers, hardware and software. The tricky part is finding a service provider that will work with my combination of hardware and/or software. After some searching, I settled on Skype.

Step 1: Download and install Skype for OS X

http://www.skype.com/products/skype/macosx/

At first glance, Skype looks a lot like an audio chat using iChatAV. It encodes audio and transmits the data using your broadband connection. There are no additional charges for Skype to Skype connections because you're using bandwidth you already pay your internet service provider for.

I installed Skype on the music server in my basement because it is always on.

Step 2: Set up SkypeOut

The difference between Skype and iChat is Skype offers additional (paid) services that connect their network to a voice network all over the planet.

SkypeOut allows you to initiate a Skype connection that terminates to an actual phone number. SkypeIn maps a phone number to your Skype account to accept incoming phone calls from any telephone. Because I'm only interested in outbound phone calls, I don't need to pay for SkypeIn.

Most Skype phone calls cost around $.02 a minute. If I spend 120 minutes on the phone a month, that costs $2.40 which is a heck of a lot cheaper than $30 for local phone service, and that does not include long distance charges.

http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

Simply log in with your Skype account name you set up, then use your credit card to add some money to your account. This is a painless process.

Step 3: Add a RJ11 to USB phone adapter

At this point, you're set up to make phone calls - but - you're tethered to your computer. You could add a bluetooth headset, but the range is limited, and you still have to dial out on your computer.

I opted for an adapter that allows me to convert any phone (RJ11) to USB. This allows me to use my existing wireless telephones.

There are many products that do this, but they're all for Windows users. Except this one:

http://www.cuphone.com/products/usb_to_rj11/index.htm

Works like a charm and only costs $34.

Step 4: Download and install TjInit

This is a bit of software that communicates between Skype and the USB hardware. Make sure it auto launches when you login to your computer. (System Preferences>Accounts>Login Items> then click the little + to add the TjInit application from your Applications folder.)

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I wired the output of the USB adapter to the existing phone wiring in my house. Now every phone in my house is a Skype phone. Make sure to disconnect any phone lines originating from outside the house to your internal wiring or I'm fairly certain you'll fry your USB box.

The end result is pretty transparent. You just have to dial 00 1 + area code + phone number + ## Also, be aware there is NO 911 service.