Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) based telephony has been around for few years, but it is only owing to the widespread availability of broadband access, presence of multitude of VoIP service providers and the appearance of inexpensive VoIP gateway adapters that this technology became interesting for the mainstream academic users, especially those coming from the poorer, developing or transitional countries where a lack of competition on the telephony markets invariably leads to inflated call rates. The example of our medical school demonstrates that with the installation of only one VoIP gateway unit, a significant decrease in the cost of long distance telephony can be achieved, fostering in the process international academic communication and research collaboration with health professionals from around the world.