SkypeOut

As mentioned in the preceding section, calls from one Skype account to another are free. But what if you want to use Skype to call someone on his traditional landline, business, or cell phone? When you want to use Skype to call someone who is using a traditional phone, Skype offers a fee-based service called SkypeOut.

With SkypeOut, you prepurchase minutes (similar to a calling card) to make calls that originate on the Skype network and terminate on the traditional telephone network. This allows you to call anyone, regardless of whether she has a Skype account, and it makes the payment process straightforward. When you call someone using SkypeOut, you simply use Skype to dial the phone number and connect. The person you are calling will be unaware that you are calling from Skype (see Figure 1-2).

Figure 1-2. Calling out of the Skype network to a regular phone

SkypeOut is a fee-based feature because companies called termination providers charge money to provide a gateway to connect SkypeOut calls to traditional telephone networks. Skype Technologies purchases access to the gateway on behalf of Skype users and then sells this access as SkypeOut credit.

Warning

Skype cannot be used for dialing emergency services anywhere in the world, such as 911 in the United States. If you try to call 911 using Skype, you will not be connected.

SkypeOut Costs

SkypeOut offers two rate classes: SkypeOut Global Rates, which cover calls to the 25 most popular landline (and certain cellular) telephone destinations, and SkypeOut Individual Rates, which cover all other destinations.

SkypeOut Global Rates

SkypeOut global rates are straight price-per-minute rates to 25 of the most popular landline (and certain cellular) telephone destinations. Currently, the rates work out to approximately 2 cents U.S. per minute.

Destinations include Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada (landline and cellular), Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (landline and cellular), Ireland, Italy, Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey), the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg), Singapore (landline and cellular), South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States (landline and cellular) except Alaska and Hawaii, and the Vatican. Skype is continually expanding its services, so check the Web site (www.skype.com) for the most current information.

SkypeOut charges are determined by the location of the gateway to the traditional telephone network, not the origin of the call. In other words, SkypeOut rates are calculated not by where you are calling from, but where you are calling. See Chapter 5 for more information.

SkypeOut Individual Rates

SkypeOut individual rates are straight price-per-minute rates to landline or cellular telephone destinations in the remainder of the world.

Depending on where you are calling (and on whether you are calling a landline or cell phone), the individual rates currently range from 2 cents U.S. per minute to Australia to approximately $1.57 U.S. per minute to East Timor (the most expensive destination in the world to call).

SkypeOut credit must be purchased through the Skype Store (www.skype.com/store/). The rates are per minute, and calls are rounded up to the next minute.

Note

If your billing address is in the European Union, you will be charged a 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) when you buy SkypeOut credit. Your account will be credited, however, and your calls will be shown on your call list without the VAT.

Refer to the Skype Web site for the most current pricing and billing information. See Chapter 5 for information on how to purchase SkypeOut credit.