There goes free Skype calls...
Is that the end for the only reason to have Skype installed over (say) Windows Live Messenger or any other VoIP phone solution?
Excerpt from New York Times Article:
Skype’s Free Phone Call Plan Will Soon Have Annual FeeSAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12 — Skype, the Internet calling service owned by eBay, said Tuesday that as of Jan. 1 it would begin charging $30 a year for unlimited calls to landline and mobile phones within the United States and Canada. Those calls had been free since last spring.
I guess if you've got a lot of contacts in Skype or a stack of credit in the system already then that's a good reason to stick with it. If you use SkypeIn (as I do) that's also another reason to stick with them (it means folks in Australia can call me for the cost of a local call).
If you're an infrequent user and use it for IM or making one or two interstate calls a year (or even month) then the $30 may just be a little too much... thought if the transaction is handled through PayPal most people probably won't notice it for the convenience it brings.
I wonder if this was eBay's gameplan all along... and how long at $30 a customer it's going to take to recoup their investment ;)