[MattGrommes]

In the book of 2001, one of the big "events" of that far-future world was all the phone companies making long-distance free on 1/1/2000. Even when I read the book in probably 1990, I remember my dad thinking that was ridiculous. Now the idea of even international long distance call charges are going away and most calling is as you say, done for free via the internet, including with video!

[nunez]

Long distance still exists, but long distance now is a different country code vs a different area code. And it's cheaper!

That said, people still use calling cards to save money on international calls!