A Lifetime of Internet Phone Calls: $999

Well folks, the future may be here. An upstart company (RNK Telecom) in Dedham, MA has a new deal: Pay one fee upfront ($999.00USD) and get free phone calls for the rest of your life. Sounds catchy, could work, after all, you do pay about $50/Month on your home phone (That's about 20 months for those of you counting at home).
The positive: Free phone call to anywhere forever, free domestic and international calls from your cellphone (although using your minutes, but not at a high rate), includes free VoIP enabled phone or adapter, 60day/100% and 5yr/50% money back guarantee (see hidden costs), you can transfer the phone number, etc, when you move.
The negatives: You don't know how long the company will be around, as I was discussing with Russ, ALL phone calls may be free in the future thanks to the internet, it's still a bit pricey because you have to have a broadband internet connection ($35-50/month, although in the future this may be free).

By Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff | December 6, 2004 "... Making unlimited phone calls for a fixed monthly price has proven to be a key selling point for Internet phone services like Vonage and AT&T CallVantage. But an upstart Dedham company is raising the stakes, offering consumers all the phone calls they want for the rest of their lives. RNK Telecom Inc. is promising subscribers that for a one-time payment of $999 they can make an unlimited number of unbilled calls for their remaining days on Earth. Customers would have to continue to pay another company for a broadband Internet connection, however..."