“Hypothetically, yes, it would it be easier to buy an iPod,” admits Sundy. “But, if you're strapped for cash, as I am now, then this can still be worth effort.”

Bernie Wilt, from Oregon is also using his blog, Bernie Online at ebernie.com to advertise his iPod referral link. This technique is encouraged by Gratis Network on their “tips on referring” page.

Wilt went an extra step though by writing an article on his blog, critiquing service, but he adds that program is, “not too hard to do, but perhaps a little more for me because I am not aggressive or pushy.”

Wilt just finished free iPod process and will be getting his iPod soon so he can play his music while working out at gym. He says.

The freeipods.com service is organized by Gratis Network, an online marketing company, based in Washington DC, which claims to ship on average about 500 free iPods each week.

Their site has sparked similar webpages designed around same premise, including freeflatscreens.com, freevideogames.com, freedvds.com and even freecondoms.com. There are also prizes geared to those less technology minded. Now you can earn credits towards a real Prada purse and other fashionable prizes at freegiftplanet.com and freehandbags.com

Gratis’s founders, Peter Martin and Rob Jewell, both 28, of course did not come up with idea of giving away free gifts with purchase, but instead of a mousepad or coffee mug they give out a product that is part of a cultural phenomenon.

“I think it's an ingenious marketing program,” says Yan. “Now almost everyone in city has one, and many of which, got it for free through freeipods.com.”

Gratis pays for different items by charging advertisers for banners and text links on their site. For each new customer lead, Gratis is paid an average of $40-60 from their sponsors. In 2004, Gratis was named 95th fastest growing company in America by Inc.Magazine with estimated annual revenue of $4.9 million.

For Manhattan East Side resident and Graphic Designer, Russ Yusupov, 20, it only took him four days to earn a 20G iPod. Yusupov says that site may not be for everyone and that it could take others more time to finish process.

“I would recommend this program to anyone who's willing to spend a bit of time filling out web forms, dealing with non-believers and suffering through long response time from team who runs program.”

The process is simple. Just visit mail2speak and fill out a few registration details. After that enter overseas number you wish to call and within seconds your phone will ring. The call will have been placed for you and you can talk to your loved ones....or business contacts.... at a ridiculously low rate.

The service is available to and from 280 countries around world. Your relatives and business contacts overseas can also use this service to contact you and pay in their local currency.

If, as in many international homes with Internet connections, there is only one phone line available, Mail2speak will automatically call you again in one minute to give you time to end Internet connection and receive call. They do this because calls to cellphones cost more in some countries.

For business people who make frequent international calls, mail2speak is especially convenient because it allows you to store numbers that are called and simply click on them to be connected automatically.

** In addition, if you do not need to have a two-way chat there is another great service that is offered.

You can use your telephone to leave a message for as many overseas friends as you want for just 63 cents a minute. This message will be e-mailed as an Internet sound file (voice email).

All in all....pretty cool solution for average Joe around globe. VoIP technology for little guy. Gotta love it.