Skype Extends Its Reach |
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| Author:
| jdgii
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| Submitted: |
29-Jul-2004 12:09:03 |
| Imported From: |
zZine (original author: Trooper jdgii)
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| Skype, the service that allows users to make computer-to-computer voice calls, is adding a computer to telephone service to its product line. The new service, SkypeOut, will include calling rates as low as 2 cents per minute in some areas.
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Launching Thursday afternoon, the new SkypeOut service will let users call from any computer with an internet connection to any landline telephone in the world. Since the technology for internet based telephony, also known as Voice Over IP (VoIP), is inexpensive compared to traditional landlines, Skype can afford to offer low per-minute rates to its customers. The rates are so low that they undercut all traditional telephone companies, and even undercut the VoIP service offered by the mainstream internet telecommunications company Vonage.
SkypeOut, which requires setting up a prepaid account for a minimum of $12.15, would allow a user to make a five-minute call from Spain to a British landline for 9 cents. The same call from a traditional landline would cost $3.64.
The service is still going through growing pains, thus the overall quality may not be as good as that of a competitor such as Vonage, but that will soon change. Skype already has plans to better the quality and availability of the service by the end of the year with another service called Skype Plus. Skype Plus would allow users to receive calls from regular telephones and collect voicemail, as well.
For those of you worried that Skype may discontinue its free service- have no fear. The company plans to keep its free service free.
Skype, which launched last year, has grown to more than 7 million users and hopes to top the 10 million mark by the end of this year.
(Source: Articles found on news.yahoo.com.)
This article was originally published by CyberArmy.net in the CyberArmy Library.
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