BACKGROUND: SKYPE is a free VOIP program that runs on Macintosh, Windows, Pocket PC, and LINUX. From the Skype web site:
http://www.skype.com SkypeOut Gift Days
At Skype, we don’t believe you should have to pay for [VOIP] calls. That’s why Skype-to-Skype calls will always be free. But even we have to charge a little bit for SkypeOut calls (our service for calling landlines and mobile phones). That’s where SkypeOut Gift Days come in.
On SkypeOut Gift Days you’ll be able to redeem 10 minutes of credit for SkypeOut calls and it won’t cost you a thing. It’s free.
How do I know when it’s a SkypeOut Gift Day? We wish every day could be a SkypeOut Gift Day, but that would make us bankrupt. So our accountant says we can have 2 more this month.
When one is approaching, we’ll let you know through our website and on Share.Skype.com. We’re planning to have SkypeOut Gift Days throughout July, so keep checking back for details.
GLOSSARY: VOIP: Voice Over IP (Internet). In effect, local or long distance telephone call. Note that, with Skype, you need a computer. If you want your call to be free, the person you are calling must also have Skype installed but you can call anyone, for a small per minute charge, even if they have only a regular telephone. VVOIP: Voice and Video Over IP
NEWS STORY: Skype: A new, friendly communications monopoly? -Posted by Dan Farber @ 10:01 am Home Software Infrastructure Wired & Wireless Web Technology The first morning session of the AO2005 Innovation Summit was a Skype video call (vSkype correction: vSkype is from a third-party user of Skype's API. The product used for the video call was a Skype internal alpha product that the company said will be the foundation for its video offering later this year) between host Tony Perkins and MarketWatch's Bambi Francisco in Palo Alto and Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrom and investor ($10 million in Skype) Tim Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetson
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NOTE: - If you install Skype, you can test your connection by placing a call to user "Echo123". This is an automated service that will let test if you can hear other Skype users and if they can hear you. - this is very similar to what iChat already provides within the Macintosh OSX environment. iChat, however, is not yet available for other operating systems.