No joking.
Skype announced that all US and Canadian-based Skype customers can now make free SkypeOut calls to traditional landline and mobile phones in the US and Canada. Previously, Skype users in both countries were required to pay for Skype calls from their PCs to traditional telephones. Free SkypeOut calls to the US or Canada will be available to US and Canadian-based Skype users until the end of the year.
That is the beginning of the end. The end of the telephone system the way we know it today.
While it’s true, that one has to be based in the US/Canada to make the SkypeOut call, and has to have an account to do so, it’s still a very interesting development.
I believe that Arthur C. Clark, the famous writer, has said once that the real telecommunications revolution will be when the long distance (overseas) call is equal to the local one. We are almost there. I bet that very soon that will be achievable in the countries with liberalized market. And there will be no need to stop Skype or other VoIP services. Because the fixed phone companies should provide that. And the mobile will follow, if they want to stay on the market.
Good news for the users!!
History repeat itself. Back in late 90’s if you remember dialpad.com offered exactly the same service.
it is simply business. Skype has lowest penetration in US where users enjoy lowest call rates in the world (land line & mobile). it has to be a something that will attract people to abandon their cell phones (in some cases