A century ago, lovers across oceans and continents sent letters through the mail. It took weeks before the message is received—and several more weeks before the response arrives at the originating party’s end. A few decades ago, long distance telephone calls were the rage. You could talk to your loved one in an instant, but it wasn’t exactly cheap. So calls were usually limited to a few minutes. What kind of distance dating is that, huh?

Times are now different, as people seem to be more impatient but practical. We want communication in an instant, but we want it cheap! VoIP has changed the distance dating landscape, as couples could now talk to each other for hours on end without spending a cent on the call itself. You only need a computer, a fast Internet connection and some VoIP software, and you’re good to go. Sometimes you won’t even need your own computer, as companies now charge flat rates for VoIP calls using dedicated handsets that plug into a local area network (some even connect to wireless WiFi networks!). You can even see each other through video-calling!

Technology has changed the dating landscape—it’s now easier to be in touch with friends and lovers across the distance.