This is a moment we have been waiting for.
Skype, an innovator in voice over internet technology (VoIP) has long offered free beta software that is best described as an internet phone with the ease of use of an instant messenger. This is a cross-platform product (Win, Mac, Linux, PocketPC) that allows users to place free phone calls over the net to other Skype users with truly excellent sound quality and no network configuration required.
Now Skype has released version 1.0 and connected it to a service they call SkypeOut that allows you to call traditional phone numbers at what they suggest are “local rates”.
Here is the pricelist. Not as cheap as you might hope but significant savings in most cases especially for very long distance calls…
This will get VERY interesting once Skype can accept INCOMING calls from any telephone in the world, allowing it to compete with established VoIP companies like Vonage.