Then you might be tempted into being one of the brave pioneers of Internet video phoning. That way I could test how different software performed, at least through a local Internet connection. Here's what I found, lumpy bits and all. In general, be prepared for small, poor quality video pictures, and major delays between send and receive, especially when the Net is busiest. The data is compressed.
Lossless compression removes repetitive numbers within the data stream.
It's the approach to lossy compression which chiefly distinguishes good codecs from bad. Codecs use CPU horsepower, so you need a beefy machine, like a Pentium 100 or more. That way, you'll be limited by the phone line, not the computer. Another hurdle is your changing IP address. Unlike your e-mail address, this IP number can be, and usually is, different every time you log on.