San Francisco (CA) - Internet calling giant Skype announced today that it is offering an unlimited calling plan for local and long-distance calls.

Users wanting to go for a plan of calls to US and Canada can pay $2.95 per month, with no restrictions.  That can be expanded to a nearly worldwide calling subscription for $9.95 a month.

The International plan includes calling to 34 countries, including Germany, the UK, Japan, China and Australia.

Skype's current rate is around two cents per minute to local calls (five cents to Alaska), and 10 to 35 cents per minute to other countries.

Skype, which was acquired by Ebay in 2005, remains a leader in VoIP (voice-over Internet protocol) services, in part because of its continued innovation.  In recent months it has brought the platform to Sony's PSP handheld and it has continuously updated the online communication software. 

However, it has faced some setbacks. Last October, Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom stepped down from the company. Additionally, high-profile outages have slammed the VoIP company over the past several months.

Mogul

Apr 21, 2008 14:26     

Time to buy skype for my cell phone... I am almost always connected via data:)
Greg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

time?

Apr 21, 2008 16:24     

time to sell short for skype. looks like going to go bust and trying to grab money to stop lost.
ha report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I'll probably buy it

Apr 21, 2008 17:23     

almost always connected via wifi and it'll save me a fortune
Adam report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Just now??

Apr 21, 2008 18:39     

Ever since I've been using skype it's been $3 per month for unlimited outgoing calls. So either the author missed a major change or skype is trying to reintroduce itself to the public.
hawk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

So let me get this strait. I pay about $80 a month...

Apr 22, 2008 11:12     

So let me get this strait. I pay about $80 a month for atnt's voice mail/caller id local phone service, when I could be paying ?? less for using my answering machine and skype for in-nation calls
Mr. Paco report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2