Todd Allcock <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in
news:q8qzj.26233$C%3.754@fe111.usenetserver.com:

> Yeah, the VoIP forums at DSLR are pretty down on Skype- it's per
> minute rate is pretty high vs. other VoIPs, and it's non-standard, so
> it doesn't work with the SIP-compliant ATAs, Asterisk servers, etc.
> that the DSLR guys typically play with. The hard-core VoIPers seem to
> see Skype as the "AOL" of VoIP.
>
>

Free is too high?? $US36/YEAR is too high? What VoIP company will let
me call USA/Canada incl AK, HI, and PR for $3/month and no other
charges? This also includes calling FROM:

"Available in Argentina (Buenos Aires and Cordoba only), Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (Metropolitan only),
Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Luxembourg, Mexico (Mexico City and Monterrey only), Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan
and the UK (01 and 02 numbers only)."

....for only a small per-call connection fee to pay the local phone for
the connection.

Can you call home from New Zealand and talk for an hour for only a
connection fee?

Skype Pro is one helluva bargain, even if you don't consider all the
amazing free services of skype-to-skype with full motion video and the
other toys.

What they DON'T like is Skype's competition. What they DON'T like is
Skype's security the "standard", off-the-shelf, server-based VoIP
providers don't have.

Skype used to be the VoIP joke....but no more. Considering all the
freebies Skype doesn't charge for and the really cheap in-country phone
services, $US0.021/min is really cheap to overseas. I didn't spend $10
all year over the Skype Pro fee because my overseas calls are mostly to
Skypers, which is always free.

Skype doesn't need to operate with "the SIP-compliant ATAs, Asterisk
servers, etc. It's distributed system functions quite well on its own.

http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/skypepro/
They even gave me a 60% discount on my two Skype In POTS numbers in
Charleston and London, this year. I don't see how they do it. It's SO
cheap!

Unlimited phone service TO AND FROM my Nokia N800 Linux tablet is only
$36 out and $24/number in PER YEAR! With phone numbers in Charleston
and England I'm paying $7/month AND THAT'S ALL!