I can wholly understand why ebay bought Skype last month. If I’d had the $2.6 billion dollars available I’d have considered the purchase myself. Not, however, because of the free calls one can make to other Skype users, nor for the sound quality that befits a broadband connection.

No, I love Skype because it’s (possibly) the only polite answer you can give to the sales reps of telephone companies who ring up and ask you if you’re interested in what they have to offer because it beats “X”, their competitor by five…oh, Skype? In that case I wish you a good evening. Good-bye.

The four or five times we have had such calls have always, always, ended quickly and without argument. Skype, I salute you.