Skype Unveils New Pricing Structure

By Cindy Waxer

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Marking the initial steps in a phased process to deliver new value-add subscription packages to users, Skype (News - Alert) this week unveiled its new pricing structure designed to make calling landlines and mobile phones more convenient.

 

The new global pricing structure includes a premium subscription package that builds on the success the Skype Unlimited Calling plan, which was announced in the U.S. and Canada last month.

Already, Skype has seen tremendous demand for the Unlimited Calling Plan, which will be available for $29.95 per year in the U.S., Cdn $35 in Canada, starting January 31. The company is running a promotion to encourage users to sign up: anyone who subscribes to the Unlimited Calling Plan before January 31 will get the service for half price ($14.95 in the U.S., Cdn $17.50 in Canada).

 

Skype’s Unlimited Calling Plan provides 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut calls to landline and mobile phones within the U.S. and Canada.

 

When fully launched in Europe and Asia, Skype’s new pricing structure will include a premium subscription package (Skype Pro), which removes per-minute charges for SkypeOut calls to domestic landlines in exchange for a small connection fee.

 

“In the U.S. and Canada, we are continuing to focus on delivering customers the best value and saving through our Skype Unlimited Calling plan,” commented Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America, in a statement.

 

Skype also confirmed today its connection fee rates, applicable to all domestic and international SkypeOut per-minute calls worldwide. The connection fee is $0.039 in the U.S and Cdn $0.059 in Canada, but will not apply to subscribers making SkypeOut calls to people in the U.S. or Canada.

Users will still pay the connection fee for international SkypeOut calls, and SkypeOut users outside the U.S. and Canada will be subject to this connection fee as well.

 

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