I finally installed Skype about a month ago, joining the techie elite. Actually the great thing about Skype is it’s really easy to use. If my parents actually had internet at home I bet I could teach them to use it. All you need is a headset and their software.
Anyhow, the big news today is that SkypeOut, which allows you to dial real phone numbers from your own computer (as opposed to just other Skype users), is free to any number in the U.S. or Canada until the end of the year. This is a great way for them to get users used to using their service, which used to cost 2 cents a minute within the U.S.
Here’s the e-mail:
Hello,
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.
If only they offered fax service…
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We have a free incoming fax number from J2. It looks like FaxZero will let you do outgoing faxes for free (although the include an ad on the cover sheet). The free # from J2 is in the Los Angeles area code (I think, I know it’s not local), it doesn’t really matter to use since everyone that faxes to us is a national business. You also get free voicemail with the J2 account, it goes to your email, which is what we really wanted when we signed up, but the fax is neat, too.
Why do you need it when outgoing calls with cell phones are free late weeknights and weekends? BTW, its international calling rate is not cheaper than the phone card I use…
Well, I personally don’t need it all since I have all-inclusive VoIP, but I’m sure many people can find a use for it. Waiting until 9pm to call others can be a pain.
FaxZero sounds neat, thanks Susannah! I also have a free incoming fax number from eFax.com.
Why do you need it when outgoing calls with cell phones are free late weeknights and weekends?
Um… for making calls for during daytime on weekdays?
Also, with this software this means anywhere you have an internet connection you can have a free phone. Hotel rooms, coffee shops, and so on.
Well I downloaded it and installed it and tried to call a landline and it told me I needed to have Skype credit. That is NOT what their website says. Anyone actually get to make a free call to a landline number without setting up Skype credit? Me and some of my colleagues are such good corporate citizens we use Yahoo to call each other (PC to PC) during the day rather than run up a bill on our business lines which the company pays for (we all work from home). We could use Skype but someone had Yahoo and so we use that.
It says you need Skype credit but that’s not true. If you add a SkypeOut contact or just dial the number it works fine.
I’ve already it used it a few times.
It’s not working for me either (and many others on the net). It seems I spoke too soon, their execution of this seems to be a bit lacking.
It works w/o any credit. Did you read TFM on how dial the number? Start with “+” then country code then number.
I can dial out fine, +1, etc, but it charges me from my existing SkypeOut balance and is not free for me. It is simply working for some and not others. I wonder how Skype determines if you are in the US? I’ll wait until the bugs go away.
atmvoice at FatWallet suggested the following: “if your IP begins with a “7” you will be unable to use the free US/Canada calls until they solve the problem. Some people are guessing it will be a few hours or so.” link
Yep. My IP (Verizon (exGTE) address starts with a ‘7’. Thanks for the link to whatsmyip.org. Will try again later today to make a free call.
This problem with IPs starting with ‘7’ is all over the DSLreports forum as well. Just tried calling time and temp is Alaska +19072258463 and it works. They must have fixed the problem. Need to call some other people today as the quality wasnt that good. Either a bad recording in Alaska or just bad. Kind of think it may be the latter. I have used Skype Out in the past and have had calls break up significantly and others that were very good. I don’t have this issue with my ViaTalk VOIP account ever.
If I buy one of those skype box adapters (like this), does that mean I can make free calls to any phone in the US using my regular cordless phone?
My IP starts with 7, didn’t work yesterday, but it works now. Interesting.
Thanks – tried it last night & couldn’t get the free service (IP begins with a “7”). Just tried this morning, and all is now working…
On the comment about the free j2 number, here is a nugget from j2’s contract:
EACH CUSTOMER, INCLUDING A COMPANY, IS LIMITED TO ONE (1) FREE JCONNECT OR EFAX? NUMBER. In addition, j2 Global is permitted to audit your use of the Free Service and any associated software by providing no less than five (5) days prior written notice of its intention to conduct such an audit at your facilities during normal business hours. If j2 Global ultimately determines, in its sole discretion and whether or not it has conducted an audit, that you have violated the foregoing limitations on the Free Service or any associated software, j2 Global reserves the right to immediately terminate your Service and to collect from you the amount you would have been required to pay for our Premier Service during the period of your non-compliance. You agree to pay this amount to j2 Global, plus j2 Global’s cost of conducting any audits that, in j2 Global’s sole discretion, reveal non-compliance.
This can be a good business. Get people to sign up for a service with this agreement and then audit them and charge for the audit. I do not think this will hold up in court. Also why do they need to monitor anything from the user’s premises?
Too bad it’s no longer free.