Skype Offers Unlimited Long-distance Cell Phone Calling

By: Jennifer Hong
Staff Writer
Published: Apr 21, 2008

Skype will offer an unlimited long-distance calling plans for customers who want to phone calls to landline and mobile cell phones without the need of a computer or Internet.

Skype Offers Unlimited Long-distance Cell Phone Calling

Skype will offer an unlimited long-distance calling plans for customers who want to phone calls to landline and mobile cell phones without the need of a computer or Internet.

Skype announced on Monday that it is offering unlimited phone calls to landline and mobile cell phones in the United States and Canada for $2.95 a month.

In addition, customers can also make unlimited calls to 34 countries including Australia, China, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, for $9.95 per month.

Skype users in Europe can choose from unlimited plans ranging from 2.95 euros to 8.95 euros a month depending on the destination of calls.

Skype, owned by eBay, is one of the best-known Internet calling firms which allow free calls among Internet users. Users pay to call landlines and mobile phones, but the fee is often lower than standard long-distance services.

eBay took a $1.4 billion write-down off Skype's $4.3 billion price tag last year due to problems in making money from largely free Internet voice communications.

Skype is used as a VoIP computer service equipped with a microphone and speakers or a headset. However, subscribers will also have the option to call a local number from their phones and be connected to international numbers that fall under their plan, paying only local access charges or using their cell-phone airtime.