What is Digg?434 Comments
- lordthor, on 10/12/2007, -53/+298You're freakin kidding me.
There's no way this is true.
Can this be true?
This can't be true....
If this is true, I'm gonna go take a ***** on my own front lawn, then give the guys at Skype free BJs. - n8r0n, on 10/12/2007, -8/+123time to dust off the old mic and reinstall skype...
- teh_toaster, on 10/12/2007, -7/+99It's only guaranteed until the end of 2006. So most likely is one those things to get people hooked on using the service and more willing to pay the charges after this year.
- RexKwando, on 10/12/2007, -5/+89This Rocks! This is only going to fuel Ma Bell and the other phone companies to restrict packet flow. Let's use it while it lasts!
- super_spyder, on 10/12/2007, -22/+87lordthor , do you normally charge for BJs?
- dukem72, on 10/12/2007, -8/+63Conspiracy theory # 69
The reason is free is because is funded by the NSA, in that way they won't need to ask anyone
for phone records. Shhhhhhhhhhh - kingp, on 10/12/2007, -11/+60there is a catch. It's only free until the end of the year.
- supergwiz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+52just use it up by making prank calls to japan
- shiftt, on 10/12/2007, -5/+52This is great, but I cant help but wonder. Ebay bought Skype for $2.6bn, how are they planning to make that money back?
At the same time, anything that puts pressure on the American telecom giants is a good thing. - antron, on 10/12/2007, -10/+56Headshot!!!
- Flankk, on 10/12/2007, -5/+46Hey, the business model works for drug dealers. Once you get addicted to the sample drug, you'll be a long-term customer. Just one of the methods of a loss leader. You'd think it would be a hell of a loss though.
- RexKwando, on 10/12/2007, -3/+43It looks like you'll be the ones who paid the bill for all of us to call free!
~sorry! - ipodman715, on 10/12/2007, -4/+28Awesome!
"The only condition is that we have said free SkypeOut within the US and Canada is guaranteed to last until the end of this year - that is, until December 31, 2006. We're not quite sure yet what we will do after that. Maybe we extend the free period, maybe not. You'll hear more about this towards the end of the year." - serpentor, on 10/12/2007, -4/+28" As far as we know, this is the first time in history when unlimited calls
to a standard telephone network are free without any form of payment or
subscription. That's kind of cool."
Wrong. Dialpad.com did it back in 1998, they even sent you a free headset to use with their free service (ad supported), so don't go stealing their thunder. Sure they didn't make it over the long run, but they were years ahead of Skype. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24The big telecoms just crapped their pants.
- overkil6, on 10/12/2007, -6/+27Nice - I moved to Ireland from Canada and use Skype as my main line. Looking to move back soon so this would be great!!
- Various, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20I already bought Skype Out services. I wonder what they are going to do with my money? I bet that's how they are paying for the service! Seriously though, does anybody know how they are going to address current users? I didn't find anything in the article about it.
- jamesacres, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18There's loads of people in the UK, like me who would love Skype Out for free and could get hooked.... is this supposed to make us jealous?! I suppose it's the same with most things.
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20So, skype out is free, and AOL's giving out free incoming numbers/calls -- combine the two, and you've got a complete free phone service package!
- sachis, on 10/12/2007, -10/+25It kills VONAGE!!!
- addw, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Who is paying for this -- the NSA ?
- soogy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Ah, yeah. I'm reinstalling Skype on my Axim. Mobile long-distance calls for free, baby!
Anyways, this will be awesome. Already paying for some ridiculous long-distance plan, now I can get rid of that and use Skype.
This reminds me of the old MSN, which had built-in PC-to-phone calling for free. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -15/+26lordthor, get ready for love.
- unclefrank, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12now all i need are friends!
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -9/+18We don't need your pretentious limey diggs!
- fizzup, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11You can keep the SkypeOut credit alive until the end of the year (when calls to the States and Canada cost money again) by making one-minute calls to the BT Speaking Clock every six months. Yes, this is the one from the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes, it beeps three times.
The number to dial in Skype is 44 0871 789 3642. This is an automated service, so you will not disturb anyone by calling it. Except yourself. Honest.
www.telephonesuk.co.uk/speaking_clock.htm - teh_toaster, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12They did mention it:
Trivia
Note that if you haven’t bought any Skype Credit, your Skype client may still tell you something about needing to buy some before you can use SkypeOut. Just disregard that and place your call. It will work fine :) We already had this for toll-free 800 numbers where you could call them for free without actually buying any credit so we know this works. And it works on all platforms where SkypeOut is available, which at this time means Windows, Mac, Linux and Pocket PC. - Anth, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15Wow, how do they pull this off? Ad supported?
- TrnsltLife, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Yeah. And in six months, they'll be telling Congress, "People are getting our backbone services for free! FOR FREE!" And then our duly bought representatives will pass draconian legislation to make sure you never get free phone service ever again.
- tackle, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Dont you have to be an AOL customer to get the free incoming number? I wouldnt consider that **free**.
- knightblade2oo4, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9it doesn't work on mine. the message pops up over and over and it wont put the call through
Im in washington by the way... - Zaldor, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14Yeah, great... after I just spent $12 on more skypeout time... nice timing!
- cainrok, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9There is going to be a rise in phone pranks.
- triplehelix, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9does you money expire? if not it will just sit in your account untill you make overseas calls or the free period ends most likely.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10a loss leader is more often something that is sold for at or below cost so that when you get to the store you'll see what crap it is, then upgrade to something of value, and with an actual margin. This is more like a free trial, of limited duration, hoping you'll like it enough to pay once its no longer free.
- ShloppyJoe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10haha this is the ultimate prank calling device. I just called my house to see what the number looked like on caller ID and its like "0-000-0123".
- WeThePeople, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6They will easily make back the cost of this, remember this is from the people who have Paypal, which gave money to get people to sign up, and now control that field.
I like Skype and love this move, BUT down the road they will have fees to do everything!
Paypal was free and they raised fees like mad once they had solid market domination and people fully addicted to the service. Ebay raised fees a lot after building a huge customer base; competitors now have a hard time getting just a small share of that pie, even at lower fees. So Ebay dictates and controls the online auction field, and trying to do the same with Skype.
I like and use Skype, Ebay & Paypal, but would feel way more comfortable if it wasn't Ebay and Paypal executives pulling the strings. So look for a free ride until critical mass is accomplished, then fees will come, and fees for everything, I would not be surprised to see fees for Skype to Skype calls or even a monthly fee.
It will be fun while it last:-) - chris86wm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5w00t, finally free calls!
- Namco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Same here. I place the call, it cancels the call and asks me to buy skype credit. I just installed the latest version too. You see, I can't "just place the call" because the message appears every goddam time and asks me to buy skype credit.
- mcflynnthm, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7That's really awesome. Now I'll have even less reason to get a traditional phone service when I move. Between this and my cell, what's the point?
- spartan777, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4i wonder what it costs them to do this. awesome though!
- kblsNbits, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Alternatives that let you dial land-lines for free?
- cannedsoup, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Anyone figured out how to make it work for those people who get the "You need Skype credit to call ordinary phones". And please don't answer put +1 infront of the number, because its not the problem, if you don't put the +1 you get a completely different error.
- valkyries, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10my first thoughts to, but what the hell its free. I just cant call any of my terrorist buddies ;)
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7At the end of the year they should add an ad supported option. An example would be: "this call brought to you by Pepsi" and then connect the call.
- ChileanGoD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Is this the Most Digged News ever????
- fletchez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Like others, this is NOT WORKING, installed software, clicked dial +1areacodeAndNumber ie +17045551234 and it won't go through. isp is Time Warner/Road Runner. tried both versions of the software, neither work, and i HAVE NOT PUT IN ANY BILLING or CC info.
- pseudojd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5It says 'unlimited' Dialpad was not unlimited, it was a 2 minute call. correct?
- Onetrack, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8There are alternatives, openwengo, gizmo project and voipbuster come to mind.
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