here's a little doodad http://www.jonn8.com/jpt/
QUOTE
Dialing Has Never Been So Much Fun
Dialing the phone? Fun? How can that be? Simple: Jon’s Phone Tool.
It was a toss up between iChat ( and convincing the PC user to use a compatible service ) or 'buying' Skype. Naturally, Skype won because it was already cross-platform and could call 'out-of-area ( non-computer )' numbers. I suspect we'll pay the 'duty' for the next three years to smooth the feathers of my wife. And I won't even mention that I told her this would happen! 
This may help a little:QUOTE
The company is offering a half-price subscription to those who sign up before January 31. Calls from one computer to another have been and will continue to be free.
On the other hand, we'll still be paying for the 'free' calls, even if it's only $15 next year. 
And I may spend that saved $15 on Jon's app. He's an historic figure in the AppleScripting world.