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Stuart Henshall
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SkypeOut Active

June 24, 2004 08:16 PM

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SkypeOut is active. Click on Skype "Tools" and "Go to my Account Page". It was simple to spend my first 10 Euros. My account took a few minutes for my Skype dialer to show the credit.

I then dialed New Zealand for a couple of quick test calls. I didn't experience any noticable latency on these calls. The wideband Skype sound was missing the low's and highs I'm accustomed to. I also had to adjust the volume way up to make it work.

A quick look at the forum suggests not all calls are going through without latency; particularly when directed to a cellphone.

I'm a little surprised they are not releasing it with a "beta" minutes bonus. The rates are competitive although not the only low rates out there.

Note charged rates are rounded up to the next minute. This is a game versus offering it as a charge vs the second. The longer the call the less it matters. However those wasted no message answerphone calls will get you.

My billing list showed a number that was impossible to dial. Ie not enough digits. It was a did not connect. There was no feedback at the skype dialer to wrong number. There is also no "clear" button on the dialer and Americans will find it strange that there is a + or 00 before the country code.

I tried to create a PSTN conference call to two PSTN lines and couldn't. Not sure if this should be possible.

Don't expect it to be perfect!

Like the Skype software itself, the SkypeOut service is currently in a beta testing phase. So please be patient if you notice irregularities or inconsistencies with the SkypeOut service, voice quality, and this webstore — which may occasionally be inaccessible. We apologize in advance for these inconveniences and would be grateful if you take the time to report your problems or suggestions using our Report a Problem Form. However, be assured that all credit card transactions are 100% secure, authorized and handled by our third party payment partner. Buy SkypeOut credit
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Posts linking to SkypeOut Active:

» SkypeOut Launched! (Cheap international calls!!) from Wired in Wairoa
Skype quitely launched their SkypeOut service earlier this week, which offers very competitive pricing for Skype users to place internet phone calls to the regular telephone network (i.e. landline) around the world. [Read More]

Tracked on July 3, 2004 8:26 PM

» SkypeOut Update: Buying Credits Suspended for New Accounts from Wired in Wairoa
Since around July 6, 2004 the ability to set up a new SkypeOut account (and obtain Skype credits) via the web store has been temporarily suspended, although existing uses can still buy additional credits. [Read More]

Tracked on July 9, 2004 7:31 PM

» A Skype Backgrounder - From Kaaza to SkypeOut from Wired in Wairoa
Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis are the Swedish entrepreneurs who, working with three Estonian programmers, created the file-sharing killer-application called Kazaa. They sold Kaaza in 2002, but have since come up with Skype - a product that has the p... [Read More]

Tracked on July 10, 2004 5:28 AM

» Skype Audio Test Service from Wired in Wairoa
The Skpe Team provide a very useful audio test service that will answer your call, record 10 seconds of your voice, and play it back to you. Use this to test your Skype set-up and connection. [Read More]

Tracked on July 11, 2004 3:16 AM

» Buying SkypeOut Credits Available Again from Wired in Wairoa
Since July 17, 2004 the ability for new users/ new accounts to buy SkypeOut credits from the Skype webstore has resumed. [Read More]

Tracked on July 17, 2004 10:18 AM

Comments

Posted by: azem at June 25, 2004 9:52 AM

Have you found anywhere with better pricing? Excluding flat rate, I found that Skype did have the cheapest rates I could find and marginally higher than carriers-carrier rates which suggests they are just using their low cost base and low customer acquisition cost to just offer minutes at lower margins.

The minutes vs seconds billing is a great point. Skype will be buying minutes by the second so we can kind of figure out what the effect will be. It basically doubles their prices, assuming random lengths of calls.

Which means that their rates aren't really competitive at all.

Posted by: craig at June 25, 2004 12:04 PM

Firefly...www.freshtel.net charges by the second. no charge for no answers.

Posted by: jms at June 27, 2004 11:29 AM

Yes, freshtel.net might bill per second, however their rates are about 3 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE than skype....
skype 1.2 centime of euro (0.012 euro) namely about 1.4 cent$ for over 20 countries
freshtel: around at least 4.5 to 6 for the same countries...

Posted by: rskriver at July 14, 2004 2:31 PM

Anyone know when Skypeout will restart making new customer buy credits? I am a wannabie user and I cannot get started.

Posted by: matt at July 26, 2004 12:06 AM

Big delays on non-ADSL lines with this software. Was a problem trying to call over seas

Posted by: Saycat at August 4, 2004 7:55 AM

Hi
Tried to buy Skype credit using my credit card - but failed every time because for some reason the payment was refused. Any ideas?

Posted by: terry keenan at December 26, 2004 3:02 AM

tried skypeout, still more expensive than phonecards .will wait six months or so until the price drops substantialy

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