15 December 2006

Skype announced that it's about to start charging for SkypeOut — the service that lets you use Skype to call ordinary landline phones. As you probably know, Skype was originally developed to facilitate computer-to-computer voice calls.

Typically, a Skype user downloads Skype software, creates a Skype ID, plugs a headset (earphones and mic) into their computer, and then starts calling other Skype users. Skype first became wildly successful in Europe because phone rates are higher there and international calling is routine. It slowly gained popularity in the United States as more people realized how it could be used as part of their overall telecom strategy.