-but isn't the real reason that skype (and gizmo and gtalk voice) are not open and hackable is so you can't hack it to make free phone calls round the world, 24/7?

I for one can feel the big-money pressure of phone companies riding the partially-stillborn voip wave- at least here in fubar USA. 'wouldn't wan't folks to make free phone calls, ya'know.

dcarter