Check a couple of things with your pre paid long distance phone cards:

Make sure there is NO CONNECTION or SERVICE CHARGE!! I once paid $2.40 to leave a 10 second message :(


I use Eureka, they are not brillient but working in Vancouver I can use my work phone to dial the Vancouver number and then chat to my family/friends during my lunch hour :)

Clare

PS I never do get 800 mins for my card :( Oh, and they run out and charge $1 a month "admin" ....

Hi

I use a phone called called GOLD, there is no connection fee and they charge 4c a minute to the UK. We have not found one better than that yet! I think they are available in BC only though. We get them in our local garage.

JJ

We used to use Primus, but still found it worked out cheaper to use phone cards. Liberty seems the best @ 2.3c per minute and low connection fee - perfect for those long calls.

Check out www.thephonecardstore.ca

Of course - if the people you speak to back in UK have a computer and a decent broadband connection, why pay to speak to them at all?

What software do you need for this?

You could try Skype - http://www.skype.com/. I've had successful conversations with this, and the quality varies from average to excellent. You'll need a headset for best results, but Radioshack sell them cheap.

There is alot of stuff out there - its just a case of finding software that works well for you and your friends/family back in the UK. Even Yahoo Messenger is improving it's voice features.

Finally, if you like to get your hands dirty, you could read up on VOCAL - http://www.vovida.org/