Thanks for your feedback. I must go through the list of 6 free alternatives and try something out. Regarding the Google, I try to use as little Google stuff as possible because they are too big and collecting too much information on people.
I need to sharpen the focus on my needs of what I've done with SKYPE. I do not video chat and I've completely gotten rid of phones, no cell phone and no landline. I communicate exclusively by email, so their are no surprises that pull you off tasks and I can answer things when I get around to it. The only thing that I used SKYPE for was to access outside telephones and there was no actual phone number to call me, just a voice out to normal phones if nothing else will do. That's what I'm looking for.
I have a laptop and can setup a crisis suite at anytime, almost anywhere. I have email and fax capability. I carry around a VuPoint Wand Scanner to scan documents for faxing or emailing. I use the outside phone line (SKYPE) to bring it together. For example: I'm at Stanford Medical Center. I want an MRI completed and I get the order from the doctor and I'm told this may take a few weeks, but I have my crisis suite and I'm able to arrange for a MRI in a couple hours.
I've used SKYPE to access regular phones for business calls, not for playing around or video chat. I have no problem paying 2 to 5 cents a minute for this privelidge. I hope this explains my needs more to the point.