In the minute or so before the Personal Democracy Forum conference on technology and politics went live on C-SPAN, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former presidential contender John Edwards, apologized for being unable to attend the meeting in person in New York.

Andrew Raisej, the Forum's founder, who worked on Edwards' 2008 campaign, told Mrs. Edwards: "You're here anyway by the miracle of technology and this wonderful thing that someone invented called Skype. So we were saved by the same technology that we are all excited about."

Mrs. Edwards may have been new to Video calls via Skype. But she explained she had previous experience with Skype.

She noted: "Actually, Skype allowed us to keep in touch with our children when John was giving speeches in Europe at three cents a minute or whatever it is, instead of an a dollar a minute. So I am rather fond of Skype myself."

The media often describe the Edwards as wealthy. So there is a message for the rest of us as well on how Skype can save money.

Check her out at YouTube: