Skype sets unlimited call-out plans: national, regional and worldwide

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 22 April 2008 11:00

Business IT - Technology

New calling plans from Skype allow subscribers to make as many calls to fixed phones as they like for a flat monthly fee.

The new plans exclude calls to mobiles in some countries as well as other special numbers, and are limited to 10,000 minutes per month. 34 destination countries are covered by the plans.

Prices start at €1.95 per month for calls to US and Canadian fixed and mobile numbers, rising to €6.95 for calls to landlines in the 34 nominated countries*.

The other 'unlimited' plans cover calls to individual countries in Europe, a group of 20 European countries, and Mexico.

Additional plans limited to 400 minutes to Brazil, 400 minutes to Brazil and the other 34 countries, and 200 minutes to fixed and mobile numbers in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan are also available.

A 33 percent discount applies to three or 12 month subscriptions purchased before June 1, 2008.

Chris Lewis, Skype's Asia-Pacific head of business development, said "we're making it even easier for the Skype community to call their friends and family who are not yet on Skype. Our subscriptions give people an easy, hassle-free choice for how and when they want to catch up with their loved ones."

Skype's existing pay as you go option is still available.

The announcement follows reports that eBay is prepared to sell Skype if it cannot find the synergies it expected from the combination of the VoIP service and its core online auction business.

*A list of the 34 countries covered by the worldwide plan is on the next page.