FaceBook has a staggering array of third party applications available to users. Many of these are completely useless and only serve to anger friends who get mandatory invites to them each time people decide to try something new. Once in a while a useful one comes along, however, and IfByPhone's Phone-Me-Now application is definitely in that category.

The concept behind Phone-Me-Now is simple. You add the application and it places it's icon on your profile. Then people who view your profile (a limit set by you in your profile settings globally and separately from the Phone-Me-Now application) can place a call directly to your phone. It hides your number from the caller, and it hides their caller identification information from you.

Originally designed with spam in mind, aimed at the internet marketing trolls, Phone-Me-Now has recognized its potential for regular FaceBook users. To avoid being trashed for generating spam, the application offers a way to Block unwanted callers. I'd like it better if the default option was that no one was allowed to call until you selected "allow", but I'll take what I can get.

Sign up is painless - simply add the application and either fill out a form to set up a Phone-Me-Now account, or use an existing IfByPhone log in. Keep in mind that you must use a valid number. A confirmation call is made to the number you enter to verify the account you set up.

The service offers 100 minutes free each month, with an option to upgrade to more minutes. With a simple set up and plenty of privacy in the blocked caller ID and anonymous number features, Phone-Me-Now has the potential to tap into a market that Skype, popular instant message and voice chat service, has so far missed.

By grabbing the interest of people who want the benefit of free calling online but don't have the patience to download and install an application after setting up an account on a web site, Phone-Me-Now has real potential to take off among the set of users who "get" FaceBook and MySpace, but have a little trouble navigating more complex software that requires downloads and more involvement to get set up.