Internet phone service provider Skype plans to start charging U.S. and Canadian users $30 per year for unlimited calls to regular phones in both countries, as the end of a free trial offer looms.
Users who sign up before January 31, 2007, will receive a special rate of $15 per year and 100 free minutes of international calling, Skype said on Wednesday. Any user wishing to continue using Skype to make calls to regular phones or mobile handsets after the free trial expires December 31, but does not want a yearly plan, can pay for SkypeOut at a rate of 2.1 cents per minute for calls within the U.S. and Canada. Computer-to-computer calls using Skype software will remain free.