I think there's a kind of openness and honesty unique to talking to people online, when there is that connection of friendship. It's kind of like not being face to face with someone, it loses some of the pressure of interacting - and also gives a bit more freedom to be yourself.

Personally, a lot of the time I prefer the medium of text to communicate rather than phone. You have time to think about what to say and how to say it. There's a backspace key if you change your mind about wording. :)

Having made several friends online, I don't consider any of them less "real" or meaningful than relationships made in person. Honestly, there's a kind of beauty in making friends with people you probably would never have met otherwise.