I love Skype...anybody else use Skype here?
Skype adds free US & Canada calling, for now
In a move that could shake-up the telecommunications industry, Skype has added free calling to anywhere in the US and Canada to its free Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service, available through the end of the year. Whereas users were once required to add funds to their accounts to make use of "SkypeOut" to call landline telephones, the company has removed all fees, making Skype a free and somewhat easy way to place long distance calls around most of North America. (Skype-to-Skype calls have always been free.)
"Skype has now removed any cost barrier for its American and Canadian customers to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates. Skype anticipates that completely free calling in the US and Canada will expand Skype’s increasing penetration in North America and solidify Skype’s position as the Internet’s voice communication tool of choice. More people will now have the chance to benefit from Skype’s premium services and online calling capabilities," the company said in a statement.
To make use of the service, users will obviously require a PC, Internet connection, and appropriate gear (headset, microphone, etc.). That's it, you're off to free calling. Perhaps you can thank eBay and their US$2.6 billion buyout. That's a lot of anytime minutes, to be sure. And hey, we're still not sure what all that money was for, anyway.
Now, should you burn your landline phone? Nope. Skype reminds users that its service does not have support for emergency dialing (911, etc.), and therefore should not be considered a replacement for a traditional phone.
Block party time?
With free long distance so easy to score, we predict increased sign-ups at Skype. Yet the smiles may not last for long. Internet service providers are already wary of increased traffic on "their lines" owing to video, music, and other downloads, and in recent months they began bewailing VoIP service, too. The Net Neutrality debate,
which we've covered extensively, touches directly on this issue. Does an ISP have a duty to do their best to deliver VoIP packets to you? Are there issues of propriety that should be considered when ISPs sell QoS grantees for VoIP traffic?
In some places, ISPs and telecommunications companies are
blocking VoIP outright, while others are looking for way to bill you for your usage. After today's announcement, I imagine some people will be working overtime. The end of the year, when this offer expires, is a long way away. And we can't be too sure that Skype will pull the plug if the promotion is wildly successful.
United_States
, as Cablecom is not supposed to be that hot of a company, but BF checked it out...so.
I think we're going to regret not going with Skype!
Linear Mode
