You should check, I think Yahoo messenger now has an recently added feature of allowing conversation over the internet. i.e. get a microphone/headset, attach to computer, start Yahoo mess. And he do the same, and talk over the internet, as long as you both have internet.
There also are programs that allow you to talkover the internet like it is a telephone, but some of those cost money (for the software if nothing else).
Go to
www.yahoo.com click on messenger.
Hope that helps.
You can also send text messages to each other, if he has a cell phone with nationwide service, and you do also. Or if he has a cell phone and you don't you can send him email that goes to his text messages, and if he has internet access on his phone he can email you back or just check his email. Or some phones have chat mode instead of just text messages, so you may chat just like Yahoo messenger over the phone, without making a call. The last function on most phones to not work is the text messages, even when it is so busy you cannot get a line to make a call, often you can text message just fine, a technique used during recent disasters by responders.
The go phone, for example is a prepaid phone with no credit check, and has nationwide long distance for the same as a local call (25 cents a minute on a certain plan, other prices on other plans). Maybe you want to get a family plan so you can have both phones for a discount, and some plans let you call for free to other phones on your plan, with unlimited minutes.
http://www.cingular.com/gophone
This is not an advertisement for go phone merely an observation that you should consider all your options about staying in touch.