Free Worldwide Calling and Instant Messaging

I've written about Gaim before, but one of the features it's truly lacking is voice over IP (VoIP) calling. Most instant messaging clients use it now-a-days but you usually need the other caller to have the same app installed on their computer, too.

I have seemingly found the answer to all those hang-ups (wacka-wacka!). PhoneGaim is an all-in-one messenger/VoIP phone (using something called the SIPphone protocol). Sponsored by Linspire, PhoneGaim can be used as a replacement for all of the major IM clients. The icing on the cake is that you can call any phone number to anywhere in the world for absolutely free. Kinda like Skype but way cooler (and cheaper). All you need is a USB headset.

There's only a couple of hitches. First is that I haven't used PhoneGaim myself 'cuz I don't own a USB headset. Secondly, this is beta software , meaning it's in a sort of "testing phase" before it's released officially. It can foul up and possibly do things to your computer or software you may not like, so proceed with caution! I have used many beta programs myself, though, with minimal hiccups.

If you get a hold of this marvel, lemme know how it worked out.

To download PhoneGaim for Windows, click here.
To visit their forums, click here.