The rest of the Internet call software business has got lost in all the recent frenzied Skype hype, but maybe that’s a mistake. Skype worked brilliantly when it came out, but since then I’ve found that it has been steadily degenerating in quality and useability, to the extent where I’ve just uninstalled it and instead started using the free Oz program Firefly.

Last night I spent an hour or two chatting to my mate Chris in LA using it, and the sound was as perfect as Skype’s was abysmal. Tsk. Firefly even comes with a free built-in voicemail service for when you’re away, plus a groovy music on hold feature using your own MP3 tracks. Excellent product.