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Monday, May 15, 2006 10:20 AM PT Posted by Harry McCracken

Free Skype Calls to Landlines and Cell Phones

skypelogo.jpg
Gee whiz: Skype has announced that customers in the U.S. can make calls to landlines and cell phones (using the "SkypeOut" feature) within the U.S. for free until the end of the year. (Skype calls to other Skype users, of course, are free no matter where in the world you happen to be calling.)

I don't know what the economics of such an offer are for Skype, but presumably the company thinks it's a good way to get lots of people to sign up for the service really quickly. And it's probably assuming that users will stick with Skype and with SkypeOut (which is pretty cheap when it's not free) after the offer ends.

I confess that I'm not much of a Skype user myself. But I have been considering dumping my landline and using my cell and/or Internet phone service full time. And this offer, combined with news of a new version of Skype, makes such a scenario more tempting.

Are you more likely to try a Skype that (for awhile anyhow) lets you call stateside friends and family gratis, no matter what kind of phone they happen to use?
Comments

I think skype is doing a good job, I meant free calls anywere the US for free? is a good deal even if it's for a limited engament

Anonymous
May 15, 2006
11:08 AM PT

It reminds me of those good days of Dialpad.

ams
May 15, 2006
1:04 PM PT

Ah, the old Dialpad days.....
But, I commend Skype...and will use my SkypeOut tonight...Problem now is, I have TOO MANY calling options..with 2 apartments I have two Hi-Speed accounts, 2 landlines and 2 cell phones (one pre- one post-paid)..and a pre-paid France SIM...I have got to get rid of some of these...I don't even that many people to CALL!

ksr
May 15, 2006
2:40 PM PT

I have been using Skype for a few years now, and I find it absolutely wonderful, especially now with SkypeIn, with which you get a real phone number others can call you on. The clarity of calls is amazing (no more confusion between "m" & "n", "b" & "d" or "f" & "s", "t" & "p", etc. sounds).
No offence to Mr. McCracken, but I can't believe he is still in the "considering" stage of dumping the dinosaur line, considering the technical savvy one might expect of someone in his position.. I booted that junk about 3 years ago and never looked back. I still keep a mobile phone (prepaid plan) for those times when the power/Internet are out, I also use a VoIP provider, but that's just so my SkypeIn number (which I have only had about 3 months) can remain guardedly private. So I wind up with more than adequate phone service for less than $20 a month!
By the Way, I used Dialpad for a while, but it's sound quality was just horrible for me.
But goodness, I think everyone ought to TRY Skype, especially now, when you have nothing but a little time to lose.

Toulinwoek
May 15, 2006
2:56 PM PT

i would dump my landline if it weren't for the fact that 911 service isn't perfected on either cell phones or VoIP. however for normal use, both are great!

Annonymouse
May 15, 2006
4:42 PM PT

Ya.. by any measure Skype was already cheap & has gone cheaper.... may be I use inexpensive (cheap is a cheap word to use for such nice a service)

Guess they will be a good success with such a move & can hurt the other tele-co's bottom line.
So may be its time to sell any telecom stocks one might have ... I think I am going overboard with this... Just Kidding!!

Or am I???

Amber Ved
May 15, 2006
4:50 PM PT

I saw this story and immediatly went and downloaded skype and gave it a try. Let me tell you that I was very impressed. The quality was superb and I asked the person who I was talking to what the quality was on their end, and they couldn't tell I wasn't using a land line. I agree with the previous poster, that if it wasn't for 911 and the fact I couldn't call if the power went out, I would definitly switch to this full time.

Anonymous
May 15, 2006
5:37 PM PT

Thank you Skype you have brought the world closer. My daughter studies in Australia and we live in Singapore, and we have broadband service and she Skype's us daily and we chat using webcam.. The quality is very good and the telco's better wake up otherwise your stocks are QUESTIONABLE ??

'Skype' zipping the world at your finger tips, Now We Can All Talk For Free

mannix jj
May 15, 2006
6:13 PM PT

perhaps you could share some of your internet connection to enable other users not residing in the US/Canada to call you or others in those countries?
null@wongfaye.com

null
May 15, 2006
10:26 PM PT

Anyone actually succeed in taking advantage of the free offer? When I try, I get a message telling me I need to purchase Skypeout credit. Hardly sounds free...

SRH
May 16, 2006
9:51 AM PT

SRH don't forget you have to dial +1 then the number anything else will give you an invalid number error or will tell you to buy credits

Urabewe
May 22, 2006
5:51 PM PT

Does thsi have anything to do with ur isp or something? Coz when I browse some sites, it tells me that am in the us coz of my isp or something, so I was jus kinda askin if the same applies for skype or ... :-(

Cnet
May 23, 2006
5:20 AM PT

SRH.....You can also click on the zero twice and then the figure 1.............And then your 10 digit number.

Tom
May 25, 2006
2:07 PM PT

Use your keyboard to dial your number thus the +

Gavn
May 25, 2006
2:24 PM PT

I got the invalit number or to buy and downloaded the bata and it worked fine

Hub
May 25, 2006
2:27 PM PT

I've sent an email to everyone I call on a regular basis letting them know how much we could all save if we signed up. This service can't be beat - I have to admit, though, that I have to wait for my microphone to arrive before I myself can use the service :-(

A day late and a dollar short - again :-)

MarchDancer
May 27, 2006
9:39 AM PT

Skype is amazing! I'm a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Kyrgyzstan, and before Skype, I was paying about 13 cents per minute at the local IP-Telephone joint to call home. Doesn't sound like much, but on a volunteer's salary that's way too much. I'm now using Skype and just paying about 50 cents per hour for internet service. The calls are so clear, I can hear the background noise at home and almost feel like I'm at home for a little while! Skype is the next best thing after Gmail!

rb
June 02, 2006
10:37 AM PT

I'm having issues calling a certain prefix, I can call anywhere in the United States and Canada just fine, but if I try to dial my brothers cellphone which is prefix 366 it tells me I have to dial a 1 first.. which I have done, many times. To no avail, any help would be appreaciated as this service could possibly save me lots of money!

James
June 16, 2006
10:39 PM PT

hello have computer so i chcke computer to land line phone speekso u r give to so free call
thanks for BARANI

barani
July 10, 2006
12:19 PM PT
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