Comments on: SkypeOut…Is It Really Free? http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/ The Business of Technology Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:44:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Amanda, New Jersey http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-580216 Amanda, New Jersey Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:57:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-580216 <p>I have some information how to buy premium Skype service. You will see Skype national calls and worldwide are nowadays cheap.</p> I have some information how to buy premium Skype service. You will see Skype national calls and worldwide are nowadays cheap.

]]> By: Kristaps Kaupe http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51607 Kristaps Kaupe Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:05:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51607 <p><strong>Fiksētas maksas zvani no Skype uz "parastajiem" telefoniem Eiropā…</strong></p> <p>Pirms mēnešiem astoņiem, kad Skype ieviesa bezmaksas zvanus uz fiksētajiem telefoniem ASV un Kanādas lietotājiem, es prognozēju, kā tā būs tendence un šim solim sekos nākamie. Savukārt Oms Maliks toreiz bija kritisks, uzskatot, ka tas…</p> Fiksētas maksas zvani no Skype uz "parastajiem" telefoniem Eiropā…

Pirms mēnešiem astoņiem, kad Skype ieviesa bezmaksas zvanus uz fiksētajiem telefoniem ASV un Kanādas lietotājiem, es prognozēju, kā tā būs tendence un šim solim sekos nākamie. Savukārt Oms Maliks toreiz bija kritisks, uzskatot, ka tas…

]]> By: Helga http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51605 Helga Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:54:01 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51605 <p>Very good site! y2sB7J5r Home airwaves angel lyric adventure airwaves angel adventure airwaves angel lyric http://home.aol.com/Freemanjaime/angel-of-airwaves.html</p> Very good site! y2sB7J5r Home airwaves angel lyric adventure airwaves angel adventure airwaves angel lyric (link)

]]> By: maryn http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51603 maryn Mon, 31 Jul 2006 03:27:44 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51603 <p>I did hear about the promotion and downloaded it. I have now talked to friends in Victoria from Surrey bc and got a skype call from Saudi Arabia, called my daughters in squamish bc for free. Since I had only a cell which I buy minutes for and which I cannot afford to call from outside my area bc Canada, I am pretty delighted. I did buy a telephone number in the US for $14 since they have none in Canada. I am hoping my American friends will get on skype and call me. It must be a good marketing ploy because it is working on me. The alternative is have a landline for thirty dollars a month and use phone cards or the cheap ld. I can see using this for a business especially one on the web, worldwide.</p> I did hear about the promotion and downloaded it. I have now talked to friends in Victoria from Surrey bc and got a skype call from Saudi Arabia, called my daughters in squamish bc for free. Since I had only a cell which I buy minutes for and which I cannot afford to call from outside my area bc Canada, I am pretty delighted. I did buy a telephone number in the US for $14 since they have none in Canada. I am hoping my American friends will get on skype and call me. It must be a good marketing ploy because it is working on me. The alternative is have a landline for thirty dollars a month and use phone cards or the cheap ld.
I can see using this for a business especially one on the web, worldwide.

]]> By: eddie http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51601 eddie Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:21:25 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51601 <p>just a few words marvalis i like to be apart of this</p> just a few words marvalis i like to be apart of this

]]> By: John Roe http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51599 John Roe Sun, 21 May 2006 18:47:49 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51599 <p>Alright, thanks for deleting the plus sign, Digg. I guess I'll spell it out:</p> <p>Enter in the dial string: PLUS SIGN 1 888 888 8888 PLUS SIGN International code, area code, prefix, user.</p> Alright, thanks for deleting the plus sign, Digg. I guess I’ll spell it out:

Enter in the dial string:
PLUS SIGN 1 888 888 8888
PLUS SIGN International code, area code, prefix, user.

]]> By: John Roe http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51597 John Roe Sun, 21 May 2006 18:46:15 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51597 <p>For those that are having trouble making calls to U.S. numbers (I did too before I looked up the dialing standard), enter in the dial string:</p> <p>1 888 888 8888</p> <p>International code, area code, prefix, user.</p> <p>The plus sign is the most important part.</p> <p>Now, what I really wanted to say is that I really appreciate the free long distance until the end of the year. I plan to use it as long as I am by my computer. Unfortunately, after the free trial runs out, I will switch back to using my 1-800->VoIP->Landline service at home and away.</p> <p>With major metropolitan areas, there are often many area codes, forcing you to call long distance for just a few miles away. For example, Los Angeles County, with 4,084 square miles and 14 area codes (Wikipedia).</p> <p>What might help Skype with customer retention is to provide free SkypeOut within the customer's county (verified by credit card address), continue with SkypeIn's current model, and charge the pre-trial minute rate for SkypeOut's truly long-distance domestic calls. That would make it similar to, but have a drastic improvement over, the Baby Bells.</p> <p>What I have described is something that I would definitely participate in, because I'd like to move away from old-fashioned telephony.</p> <p>Anyway, hopefully they'll figure something like this (or better) out. I just don't see the optimism about customer retention post-trial being realistic.</p> For those that are having trouble making calls to U.S. numbers (I did too before I looked up the dialing standard), enter in the dial string:

1 888 888 8888

International code, area code, prefix, user.

The plus sign is the most important part.

Now, what I really wanted to say is that I really appreciate the free long distance until the end of the year. I plan to use it as long as I am by my computer. Unfortunately, after the free trial runs out, I will switch back to using my 1-800->VoIP->Landline service at home and away.

With major metropolitan areas, there are often many area codes, forcing you to call long distance for just a few miles away. For example, Los Angeles County, with 4,084 square miles and 14 area codes (Wikipedia).

What might help Skype with customer retention is to provide free SkypeOut within the customer’s county (verified by credit card address), continue with SkypeIn’s current model, and charge the pre-trial minute rate for SkypeOut’s truly long-distance domestic calls. That would make it similar to, but have a drastic improvement over, the Baby Bells.

What I have described is something that I would definitely participate in, because I’d like to move away from old-fashioned telephony.

Anyway, hopefully they’ll figure something like this (or better) out. I just don’t see the optimism about customer retention post-trial being realistic.

]]> By: Jerod Attleby http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51595 Jerod Attleby Fri, 19 May 2006 22:20:07 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51595 <p>Remember this only applies to people LOCATED in the US and Canada. People outside N.A. cannot use the promotion to call the US and Canada. Or am I wrong on this?</p> Remember this only applies to people LOCATED in the US and Canada. People outside N.A. cannot use the promotion to call the US and Canada. Or am I wrong on this?

]]> By: Vladimir Orlt http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51593 Vladimir Orlt Thu, 18 May 2006 04:15:03 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51593 <p>2c US a minute is not much, at least not for me YET, 'cos I've just recently come off being ripped off by Bell Canada at 10c CDN a minute (22c CDN with calling card)… my LD Skype calling-to-phone frequency is medium and it's still nice to see how slowly my $14 CDN shrinks over the weeks…</p> <p>Bell offers 1.5c CDN a minute but you must buy a huge (for me) chunk of monthly time (1800 minutes, methinks)</p> <p>but FREE is better, of course…</p> <p>"a free ride when you've already paid" -- A. Morrissette</p> 2c US a minute is not much, at least not for me YET, ‘cos I’ve just recently come off being ripped off by Bell Canada at 10c CDN a minute (22c CDN with calling card)… my LD Skype calling-to-phone frequency is medium and it’s still nice to see how slowly my $14 CDN shrinks over the weeks…

Bell offers 1.5c CDN a minute but you must buy a huge (for me) chunk of monthly time (1800 minutes, methinks)

but FREE is better, of course…

“a free ride when you’ve already paid” — A. Morrissette

]]> By: Lance Weatherby http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51591 Lance Weatherby Wed, 17 May 2006 02:23:27 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51591 <p>PanMan seems to have some insight into the IP addressing issue. </p> <p>I am good to go now. Glad it was not user error. ; )</p> <p>This is like Kozmo, I'll use it while they offer it.</p> PanMan seems to have some insight into the IP addressing issue.

I am good to go now. Glad it was not user error. ; )

This is like Kozmo, I’ll use it while they offer it.

]]> By: Ian Bell http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51589 Ian Bell Tue, 16 May 2006 15:27:53 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51589 <p>As I <a HREF="http://community.eqo.com/blog/ian_andrew_bell/free_skypeout_means_eqo_is_truly_free" rel="nofollow">pointed out here</a>:</p> <p>"What this announcement REALLY means, however, is that Skype has acknowledged that they have a cost to acquire customers, just like other players including Vonage (which, depending on whom you believe, pays between $250 to $500 to get a subscriber), AOL, and others. The cost of you making lots of SkypeOut calls over the next 7 months probably pales by comparison and is being written off as a marketing cost."</p> <p>-Ian.</p> As I pointed out here:

“What this announcement REALLY means, however, is that Skype has acknowledged that they have a cost to acquire customers, just like other players including Vonage (which, depending on whom you believe, pays between $250 to $500 to get a subscriber), AOL, and others. The cost of you making lots of SkypeOut calls over the next 7 months probably pales by comparison and is being written off as a marketing cost.”

-Ian.

]]> By: David Evans http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51587 David Evans Tue, 16 May 2006 14:39:25 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51587 <p>We need to move past thinking about Skype as only for cheap phone calls. Something like 80% of all communication between Ebay members is the last 2 hours of auctions. Now that Ebay integrated Paypal into Skype, sellers can use video to display products, the natural evolution of auctions. No more relying on simple static images. Think of voice auctions, in real time, with video, will be very exciting for some. Two cents a minute alone is not going to give Skype a sustainable revenue share, too much competition and the RBOC's are going to get serious soon.</p> We need to move past thinking about Skype as only for cheap phone calls. Something like 80% of all communication between Ebay members is the last 2 hours of auctions. Now that Ebay integrated Paypal into Skype, sellers can use video to display products, the natural evolution of auctions. No more relying on simple static images. Think of voice auctions, in real time, with video, will be very exciting for some. Two cents a minute alone is not going to give Skype a sustainable revenue share, too much competition and the RBOC’s are going to get serious soon.

]]> By: jason http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51585 jason Tue, 16 May 2006 12:25:31 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51585 <p>they are having some trouble with some IP addresses, so it doesn't work for everyone, yet. granted they should have made sure it would work, but i'm sure they'll get the bugs worked out in no time. just give 'em a chance! :)</p> they are having some trouble with some IP addresses, so it doesn’t work for everyone, yet. granted they should have made sure it would work, but i’m sure they’ll get the bugs worked out in no time. just give ‘em a chance! :)

]]> By: PanMan http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51583 PanMan Tue, 16 May 2006 11:23:55 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51583 <p>This most likely has something to do with their deal with Ebay, and the bonuses linked to their market penetration in the US. Otherwise it would have been free for the whole world. For those in the US who it isn't working for, I read they haven't configured their filters proppely yet. Btw, overall this isn't really news: Voipbuster and others offered free US (and other countries!) for some time now. (btw, voipbuster asks for credit these days, but doesn't substract from it if you call a 'free' country.).</p> This most likely has something to do with their deal with Ebay, and the bonuses linked to their market penetration in the US. Otherwise it would have been free for the whole world. For those in the US who it isn’t working for, I read they haven’t configured their filters proppely yet.
Btw, overall this isn’t really news: Voipbuster and others offered free US (and other countries!) for some time now. (btw, voipbuster asks for credit these days, but doesn’t substract from it if you call a ‘free’ country.).

]]> By: Jay http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51581 Jay Tue, 16 May 2006 07:24:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51581 <ol> <li><p>"deal limited to users in US and Canada" -- it is a deal for skype users worldwide who call to landline numbers in the US or Canada. I've a feeling a lot of people overseas call the US. I'd say US is probably the most popular phone call destination all over the world. So it does help quite a bit of people.</p></li> <li><p>about "inexpensive mobile rates in the US and Canada", i don't know about you, but i've been dinged by cellphone companies with huge per minute charget to Canada (15 cents a min) after carrying them free for months/years and then pointing to the fine print in their "free long distance".</p></li> </ol> <p>Maybe Om's family and friends in Delhi ought to discover free calls to him.. and he will change his mind :)</p>

  • “deal limited to users in US and Canada” — it is a deal for skype users worldwide who call to landline numbers in the US or Canada. I’ve a feeling a lot of people overseas call the US. I’d say US is probably the most popular phone call destination all over the world. So it does help quite a bit of people.

  • about “inexpensive mobile rates in the US and Canada”, i don’t know about you, but i’ve been dinged by cellphone companies with huge per minute charget to Canada (15 cents a min) after carrying them free for months/years and then pointing to the fine print in their “free long distance”.

    • Maybe Om’s family and friends in Delhi ought to discover free calls to him.. and he will change his mind :)

    ]]>         By: jiombob http://gigaom.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51579 jiombob Tue, 16 May 2006 04:45:38 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/05/15/skypeoutis-it-really-free/#comment-51579 <p>Make up your mind. Is it:</p> <blockquote> <p>everyone in US and Canada</p> </blockquote> <p>..or is it:</p> <blockquote> <p>this is a deal that is not available to Skype users outside of the US.</p> </blockquote> Make up your mind. Is it:

    everyone in US and Canada

    ..or is it:

    this is a deal that is not available to Skype users outside of the US.

    ]]>