Technological advances

Just had my first Skype conversation!
My friend Alan is working in Geneva for three years and suggested I get set up so we can chat for free. It's taken me months, as usual, to actually get round to downloading all the right software and getting registered and set up.
Anyway a week or so has gone by without me really knowing how the whole thing actually works and then low and behold, I'm sat here on my sofa surfing the web and a little box pops up saying Alan's online and wants to talk.
A quick click of button and we are talking. No headphones or handsets just through the speakers and in-built microphone (which I didn't know my computer had). Talking to the lap top is weird but a little picture of Alan pops up which helps.
Definitely recommend it.
Now just need Rachel in Moscow and Megs in New Zealand to get set up.