Skype Debuts Cheap, Unlimited Long Distance Plans

For the first time in its history, Skype is now offering a single, flat monthly fee for international calling on its network. The company announced new inexpensive plans to landline numbers in 34 countries. Digital Journal -- Unlike many traditional calling plans, Skype's new services won't get you hog tied in a contract. You can call whenever you want, at any time of the day or week, talk as long as you want and still pay a minimal fee. For those not familiar with Skype; the service includes a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone, or Internet phone in simpler terms, that allows you to make calls from PC to PC or from a handset to a landline or cellphone. You don't need a computer to make it work and it's free to call PC to PC anywhere in the world, and as little as $2.95 per month to call unlimited anywhere in North America. But Skype's new announcement makes the service that much more attractive, with international calls being the gouge point for many phone providers. The plans allow you to choose from three types of subscriptions, one being unlimited calls to landlines in another country. "This move is a natural step for Skype," said Stefan Oberg, VP & GM telecoms at Skype, in a news release. "Skype was founded on the principle of making free voice and video calls available to people all around the world. And now 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 has a bit of fine print worth noting, but the company doesn't hide it either: It's definition of "unlimited called" means 10,000 minutes per month (five hours per day). Still quite a bit of talk time, but in the event you gab for more five hours a day you should know there is a cap. Rates vary, but calls to landlines are cheap; Someone from London, England can call a friend in Poland, for example, and talk unlimited for €2.95 per month. As for other countries, Skype breaks them down in the following chart, and the company says there are absolutely no hidden fees -- just a flat monthly charge:

Courtesy Skype

Skype's new plan offers customers the ability to sign-on for a monthly fee, allowing them to call internationally at a very low cost.

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"If you have friends and family spread over the world, you can reach them all for as little as €8.95 a month," Oberg said. "When you combine the free features Skype is known for – from instant messaging to conference calling to video calls – with our subscriptions, it’s hard to find a better alternative.” Skype says its services are used by 309 million people globally. The service is owned by eBay. For more information on skype visit their website or check out this episode of DigitalJournal.TV where we give you the pros and cons of using a Skype Wi-Fi phone: