There was a communication simplicity and inexpensiveness brought in by email providers like the Yahoo and Hotmail brought in the instant messengers for all users. It was through these providers that people like me could talk to my husband inexpensively on a regular basis when my husband was away for almost a year. However, there is a basic requirement of computer on both ends and Internet connection, if you want to talk or video chat, in short words if you want to communicate.