Hi ! mellis , I also very want the software serial too, can I use the codes you gived together ? (I means full duplex)
and about the hardware timers , I know a timer IC called :"555" , and there is a software(English) help people to use it , you can download : http://fallen11.googlepages.com/555timer_install.rar
but I don't have experience to programme a software serial use this IC , if you have some codes or examples about let Arduino work with it , please help us , thank you !