A virtual face-to-face encounter: "But last month Apple introduced the first practical software for online video chats. With a fairly inexpensive camera-microphone unit that sits atop the computer and a broadband connection, you can communicate with people around the world not just by typing, but with talking, laughing, hand gestures and smiles. You can say hello to a loved one far away, show off the baby, hold philosophical discussions and, of course, flirt. [...] It's almost like real life. With major asterisks."

With iChat, Who Needs a Phone? "Apple's latest tech wizardry makes voice calling over the Net a snap. That could be a push off a cliff for today's telecom giants."