Yahoo! Messenger's PC-to-PC feature does not guarantee a specific quality of service. Since the data is transmitted over the public internet, no specific level of quality is assured. Using a USB phone does not change the way the data is routed on the public internet.
Where's the Contact Customer Care button? With so many improvements to Messenger since the version you're using (lots more features and reliability), we figured you're ready to move up. So get your upgrade and with the new version, rest assured if you have questions, you’ll find that friendly button on its help pages.