Skype, the Global Internet Telephony Company, announced the public beta launch of SkypeIn and Skype Voicemail, two new premium services available in the latest download versions of Skype software for Linux, MAC OS X, Pocket PC and Windows platforms. SkypeIn provides an affordable, flexible alternative to costly mobile phone roaming charges with SkypeIn personal numbers. SkypeIn customers can receive inbound calls to their Skype client from ordinary fixed telephones or mobile phones while they travel worldwide, providing seamless interconnectivity without having to pay costly roaming charges. Skype Voicemail enables users to manage incoming voicemail messages, making their Skype usage more ubiquitous.
"Skype is setting new standards for modern communications by expanding premium services that extend Skype portability, mobility and ubiquity across a variety of platforms, including the traditional phone network," said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and co-founder. "SkypeIn and Skype Voicemail enhance the basic free Skype and now allows friends, family and colleagues not connected to the Internet an inexpensive and convenient way to contact members of our global user base. With Skype"s new premium offerings, travellers will now be able to save thousands of dollars on roaming charges."
The new premium offerings coincide with another major milestone for Skype: the 100 millionth download of the software as recorded today. Skype has now enabled more than 7 billion high-quality minutes of talk time for Skype users worldwide, further establishing Skype as the feature-rich communications choice of cost- and quality-conscious users.