Skype - Can I really just log on and see his face?

One of the great things about Taylor joining the military today as opposed to having a son join twenty years ago is that I do not have to wait extreme periods of time to hear from him or see his wonderful face (after basic training, that is).  Today, we have email.  I can get updates almost daily. No long waits for letters to cross international datelines.  We have Facebook.  I can lurk to my heart's content without him having to specifically call or write to me. He will be tagged in pictures taken by others, so I can see his adventure without having to bug him for updates and pictures. And, apparently, we have Skype which makes video chats possible. There are even commericlas where people are "skyping" on their phones. What an amazing invention!!! I definitely want to see my child's face over the next four years without having to get on a plane.  Can someone explain Skype to me?

According to http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home, all I need to videochat with Taylor is we both need to have a computer with a mic, webcam, and an internet connection.  We both sign-up for Skype and I can select him for a video chat if we are both online.  There has to be more to it than this...

Years ago when I was still entrenched in the corporate world, the company I worked for held a video conference.  First, I had to track down a company who had the ability to do this and then, we had to book the conference room at th company.  Later, my company purchased the software and equipment to hold our own video conferences since our corporate offices were in California while the production phase was in SC.  I remember the first conference I sat in on.  It was odd to realize that the faces for the people I had been talking to on the phone for months did not match the faces on the screen at all. I also had to be very aware of what I was doing with my hands and face since they could see me, not just hear my voice.  Apparently technology has leapt ahead.  I can now hold these video chats from my home with just a webcam?  We are living in amazing times.

Is there more to being able to video chat on my phone? Do I need a certain phone or is it any phone as long as it has internet, web cam, and a mic? I definitely do not plan to let the darkness gather around me while I sit here and wait on Taylor to call. I think that does a disservice to him and me.  (I am also afraid that I will do just that...) If he has the opportunity to video chat, I do not want to miss it.  How do I Skype with my phone?

The entire idea that Taylor is available to me somewhere out in cyberworld is comforting.  I know that there will times when he will not be available to talk for weeks depending on where he is stationed and what he is doing, but there will also be days when he is just a click away.  I LOVE Technology!