Back in 2000, Dialpad.com was the go-to spot if you wanted to make free long-distance calls over the internet without racking up a phone bill. Launched in late 1999, it quickly blew up thanks to the dot-com boom and the magic of early VoIP technology. By mid-2000, Dialpad had rolled out updates that improved call quality and added features like contact lists and call history, which felt futuristic at the time. Millions of users were hopping on, ditching calling cards, and marveling that you could talk to someone across the country right from your bulky beige PC and a scratchy little headset. It was clunky, sure, but in that moment, it felt like the future of phones.