Check out http://www.jajah.com/ to make long distances calls from the US to other countries. I gave it a try and it worked perfectly. You specify your number and the remote number, Jajah dials your number, you pick up, then dials the second number. I think the rate was $.017/minute or even less to call Massachusetts from California. USA to the UK ought to be pretty cheap as well. I wonder how USA to China is? Let me know if you give it a try especially if the other party is faaaaaaaaaar away …