PC Review has a new article introducing Voice over IP telephony and explains a bit more about it along with some of the recommended software
If you are a home user with access to a fast internet connection or a small business thinking about implementing VoIP to save costs, it is worth trialling some of the freeware PC>PC/Landline software using a simple headset to test the quality and usability of the technology. VoIP is undergoing rapid adoption by large companies and telecom's networks and still has some work to be done to make it accessible to all. However, if you are willing to trial the system for a few weeks you may be able to stay ahead of the pack and reduce your calling costs. PC based IP Telephony is the cheapest and easiest way to get started before moving onto a hardware based system.An introduction to VoIP