Skype Calls to US and Canada Phones are Free

Apparently this has been the case since May, but you can call anyone in the US or Canada with a landline or mobile phone for free until at least December 31, 2006 (they will decide at that time whether to continue the program). All you need is broadband internet access and Skype. You also need to be located in these countries, they do a check based on your IP address to verify you are calling from an ISP located here.

Savings in long distance bills alone would more than pay for the broadband connection for many people I know. Even the ~$0.02 rate after the program ends would still be quite beneficial. Hopefully this will be enough to get some of my friends and family started reaping the rewards of the modern communications systems available instead of remaining stuck in the past.