zaphirer Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Hi everyone, I'm sure many of you have been using the handy VOIP program, Skype (add me: minsarei ) I just got this in my inbox: Calls to friends and family on Skype have always been free. Now we've made calls within the US and Canada to all phones totally free till the end of the year. Starting from today it doesn't matter if it's a Skype-to-Skype call or a call to landline or mobile phone - it's free as long as you're calling from within the US or Canada to US or Canadian phone number. No joke -- my friend just called my house phone from his computer. But we're still not entirely sure if there's a catch here -- it seems straight forward, but almost too good to be true. We'll see if in a month he gets a bill for $300 But if it is true, check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rochip Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 It looks like it is true. I was just reading this on Google. Looks like a great idea. Also fount this article on ZDNet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDemolition Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 now i can call my dad without using the Telephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphirer Posted May 16, 2006 Author Share Posted May 16, 2006 Man, problems already. Apparently Skype doesn't realize that 70.x.x.x and 71.x.x.x IP addresses (I'm 71.x.x.x) are in-country. I hope they fix that issue soon :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newhotness Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 do you need to buy the skype credit thing in order to make these now free calls, or is there a way around this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfenech Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 I just had to download/install the program, enter my home number and it worked. No settings to configure or anything. Interestingly, the number on my home phone's caller ID was 1-000-012-3456. I've called a few others to test it out...no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDemolition Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 do you need to buy the skype credit thing in order to make these now free calls, or is there a way around this? i don't think so. otherwise why would it be free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFiresInTheSky Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 i dont get it, so this is like yahoo then right? just with pc to phone calls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldmannen Posted May 17, 2006 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Nice. I guess phone companies are getting pissed and very angry about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfenech Posted May 17, 2006 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Skype is very similar to Yahoo Messenger's ver. 7.x's net phone feature. You can connect to other Skype users directly (PC to PC) and have better than telephone sound quality (equivalent to Google Talk, for example). You can also dial to the PSTN (regular telephones) both domestic and international from Skype or Yahoo Messenger, which is a prepaid service from both. Skype is offering this service free for calls to the US and Canada as a promotional trial. Just download the program, fill in a few blanks on the install, and make a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFiresInTheSky Posted May 17, 2006 Share Posted May 17, 2006 UNBELIEVABLE! any clue how much it costs when its not free anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfenech Posted May 17, 2006 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Per their rate chart, it had cost 2.1 cents/min to the US or Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphirer Posted May 17, 2006 Author Share Posted May 17, 2006 It's still going to be free until the end of the year, which is a good 6 months, and then some. Of course, they're probably gonna get a lot of backlash once they start charging again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImWho Posted May 17, 2006 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Be sure to read their Privacy Policy beforehand: http://www.skype.com/company/legal/terms/tos_voip.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (May be worrisome for some...) Article 14 ? EMERGENCY CALLS 14.1No emergency calls. You expressly acknowledge and agree that the VoIP service provided by Skype does not and is not intended to support or carry emergency calls to any type of hospitals, law enforcement agencies, medical care unit or any type of emergency services of any kind and that Skype is not liable in any manner for such calls. In the event that, with Your permission, another user uses Your Account or Skype Group member Account, You are responsible to inform that user that it is not possible to support or carry emergency calls with the Skype VoIP service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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