Free calls to all landlines and mobile phones within the US and Canada
Update: This offer has now ended, unfortunately. However, you can still make cheap calls to the USA, or check out our subscriptions for even better value for regular callers.
We just announced that SkypeOut is now free within the US and Canada to all landlines and mobiles, until at least the end of 2006.
How does this work?
If you’re in the US or Canada, you can use SkypeOut to call any landline or mobile number in both the USA and Canada for free.
If you’re in the US or Canada and calling any other country, OR if you’re in any other country and making calls to Canada or the US for both landlines or mobiles, the standard SkypeOut rates apply.
Of course, Skype-to-Skype calls continue to be globally free, so no changes there.
See also the campaign FAQ.
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Is it really free? What are the strings attached?
Yes. It is really very, very free. There’s no prepayment, no minimum use, no subscription, no monthly fee, no nothing. You just download and install Skype and then you start calling. Both the caller and the number called must be in either the US or Canada. There are no strings attached. (UPDATE: please note that free calls at this time may not apply to Call Forwarding. If you forward a call with SkypeOut, we charge you the standard rates.)
The only condition is that we have said free SkypeOut within the US and Canada is guaranteed to last until the end of this year — that is, until December 31, 2006. We’re not quite sure yet what we will do after that. Maybe we extend the free period, maybe not. You’ll hear more about this towards the end of the year.
Until then, happy calling.
Trivia
Note that if you haven’t bought any Skype Credit, your Skype client may still tell you something about needing to buy some before you can use SkypeOut. Just disregard that and place your call. It will work fine 
We already had this for toll-free 800 numbers where you could call them for free without actually buying any credit so we know this works. And it works on all platforms where SkypeOut is available, which at this time means Windows, Mac, Linux and Pocket PC.
If you use Call Forwarding to SkypeOut, then it costs you the standard SkypeOut rates.
As far as we know, this is the first time in history when unlimited calls to a standard telephone network are free without any form of payment or subscription. That’s kind of cool. (Update: ok, as the comments here and on Digg say, there were a few others years ago. Oh well.)
This is also a great example of Skype being lean and mean. We continue to innovate rapidly. From the inception of this “project” of free North American SkypeOut to you actually reading this and being able to use it, the time period was really short. Many thanks to the whole team involved in making this.
Hello…
Free calls to us/canada phones worked on both my accounts[one of which has no skype credit] IP 70.69.56.xxx , shaw in british columbia canada.
Great nice free service. I hope it lasts for longer then just to the end of the year, but nevertheless I will enjoy it while I can!
No go for me too. Really looking forward to trying it out!
ISP Address: 71.104.xxx.xxx
Location: Southern California
Provider: Verizon
I have qwest and had a 7x.xx.xx.xx number and it would not work. so i figured there is a proble with those and decided not to wait for skype to fix it so i just turned my modem off gave few minutes returned on and got a new ip address without a 7 and it works perfect. if ur isp gives dif numbers try that to see if u can get an ip without a 7. if not just wait for skype to fix it, or use a proxy.
Ahhh yes this works on Anikast Satelite Internet in Canada…normally I don’t get to do online gaming but Skype works!
207.35.XXX.XXX
Thanks Skype!
Well, I was pretty excited when I first heard that skypeout calls to the US and Canada would be free, but then I realised that as an American living in China, I can’t do it. So now I’m sad. But, I still do like skype and it still is cheaper to use it to talk with family and friends back home than anything else I’ve found. But man, free woulda been nice.
Live Demo Using IP2Location™ – May 2006
Your IP Address is 70.28.x.x
You’re located in
(CA) CANADA,
ONTARIO, OTTAWA
You’re connecting to the Internet through
ROGERS CABLE INC. RCHRD
Same thing…RoadRunner…
IP address: 69.204.208.115
Reverse DNS: cpe-69-204-208-115.stny.res.rr.com.
Reverse DNS authenticity: [Verified]
Proxy IP Address: No proxy being used (or anonymizing one)
ASN: 11351
ASN Name: RR-NYSREGION-ASN-01
IP range connectivity: 4
Registrar (per ASN): ARIN
Country (per IP registrar): US [United States]
Country Currency: USD [United States Dollars]
Country IP Range: 69.200.0.0 to 69.207.255.255
Country fraud profile: Normal
City (per outside source): Binghamton, New York
Private (internal) IP? No
IP address registrar: whois.arin.net
Known Proxy? No
Link for WHOIS: 69.204.208.115
Working fine over Direcway satellite connection. ISP 192.x.x.x. Well done! British Columbia, Canada.
Working fine here.
69.168.xxx.xxx
Adelphia Powerlink (cable modem), Northeast Ohio
Not working. I need skypeout credits.
72.131.x.x
Road Runner/Time Warner cable modem
(Yes, RR offers digital phone service in this area.)
Bloomington, MN
Work now for me at 70.* with Videotron in Montreal. Thanks a lot folks. Really nice service.
IP Address: 74.56.*.*
Loc: CANADA,
QUEBEC,
MONTREAL
Connection: VIDEOTRON
Works just fine.
To The Skype Team: Well Done.
It’s now working for me! Bellsouth DSL, 74.227.xxx.xxx as verified by http://www.ip2location.com
Wow, that was fast! It works for me now, IP: 70.x on Verizon DSL in NJ.
Good grief. Judging by some of the previous comments, a number of users seem incapable of reading comprehension, and by commenting incorrectly are spreading misinformation.
There did/does seem to be an IP related issue, which has been addressed several times in the appropriate Skype Forum (e.g. here, here, etc).
Additionally, an official update has been issued, including instructions on how to proceed if the problem persists.
Regarding the “scam” comments and those related to “i go to buy credit and it states 120 minutes and three months of voice mail. rip off time.”, the purchase page clearly states the following: “Spend a minimum of $10 or €10 using PayPal in one go and get 120 SkypeOut calling minutes and 3 Months Voicemail free“.
In simpler terms for those lacking understanding, in addition to $10 or €10 worth of Skype services being purchase (be it SkypeOut, SkypeIn, or Skype Voicemail), an additional 120 SkypeOut minutes and 3 months of Skype Voicemail will be included at no additional charge. This is part of a recurring PayPal Promotion which credits these incentives to a user’s account shortly after a purchase of $10 or €10 of any Skype services (the free minutes arrive in the form of a credit to one’s SkypeOut balance).
Also an item worth noting: as in the past, credits are valid for 180 days since the last call or purchase. Again in simpler terms, credits remain in one’s account up to 180 days of inactivity. Making a call or another purchase extends the expiration date an additional 180 days after each call or purchase.
Although I am certain it has been said many times here and elsewhere, Skype is an excellent product and has offered not only excellent service but also excellent customer service for many years (I’ve personally been using Skype off and on since late 2003).
Looking forward to many more years in the future as well. This offering is not surprising at all considering Skype and its focus on inexpensive, high-quality service.
All Better!!! Thank you
Thank you Skype for resolving this issue quicky.
Wasnt working on 70.x.x.x in Ontario on Rogers Cable,
Now is! I didnt change any settings to resolve. For all you who said this was a scam.. Shame on you
Thought I would stick a time stamp in here as well its 2:46PM EST
Works good now with Videotron in Montreal, but I have to restart Skype between calls. If I don’t restart the Skype app I lose both incoming and outgoing audio. Mac OS 10.3.9, Skype version 1.4.0.49
err .. can we do conference calls to landlines/mobiles with this new free SkypeOut? Nobody had audio when I tried it although the connections did occur. Maybe it was just more of that first bug that I mentioned?
Seems to still be broken for IP addresses starting 17X.XXX.XXX.XXX, same error message as everyone else is reporting although it was working fine yesterday. It only seems to have started playing up since this morning.
Works for me now. I am a 71.xxx… address.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!
This is the best thing that ever happened to a student since……..sliced bread!!!!!! I hope it goes on longer then the rest of the year but if not, it will certainly be enjoyed until then….thank you again
Thanks for fixing it so quick
My ip didn’t change, but it worked when I tried in the morning.
toronto, rogers, 70.30.*.*
I’m still having substantial issues with frequent disappearance of the audio on one or both ends of the conversation. Connections between parties are fine, however. Mac OS 10.3.9, Skype v. 1.0.4.49
The problem is that many people are recieving ‘dead air’ phone call attempts from me. I can handle that ok, but on followup inquiry via regular landline I’m encountering noticeable hostility for having subjected my call recipients to the circumstance. Just a heads up, eh Skype?
oops. make that Skype v. 1.4.0.49
I’ve also encountered several people who wouldn’t answer their phone because their caller ID wasn’t showing any number that they recognized. heh. Frankly, getting this free Skype/Landline thing going has actually caused me to make more continent-spanning regular landline calls for clarification of issues than I havd otherwise made in many years. lol.
Regardless .. thank you for the service. I’m pleased.
Mediacom not working in Iowa City:
12.215.*.*
Would love to try it, works okay for 1-800 calls but whats the point?
It would be great if this was applicable to all calls within the UK too (or at least to landlines). The UK must have a huge Skype userbase and this would catapult it even further. I know plenty of student friends who would kill for this in the UK!
Hmmm…it doesn’t seem to work if I call a landline although it works if I call a mobile phone. I’m using SBC DSL (which I imagine lots of folks in the Bay Area are using). I’d be grateful for help.
works on at&t (sbc) dsl in central calif
Doesn’t work calling out to landlines or cellphones here in Washington State via my Comcast ISP.
Getting the same busy signal, call failed, and red note saying that credit is necessary when attempting to dial local numbers.
It does call the Skype Test number properly, so the software/USB handset is config’d correctly.
My IP: 24.18.xxx.xx
which shows up in pingtests backwards as coming via hsd1.wa.comcast.net
via an IP block lookup I find that Comcast here holds this block of numbers:
Comcast Cable Communications WASHINGTON-9 (NET-24-16-0-0-2)24.16.0.0 – 24.19.255.255
Excellent response to my problem.
I posted earlier today, and sent in a followup customer service request via the tab within the Skype program.
All is working fine now from Seattle via a Comcast 24.18.xxx.xx location.
Thanks!
“SKYPE – ALL the world can speak for free”
no more
only pepole from north america can have free calls
skype is not “global” anymore
this policy is against what skype is or better say was
HOPE FOR ALL YOU WITH IPs in the 70s. My IP starts with 71. and I was having EXACTLY the problems described by so many here. I live in Montana, and dialing out told me I needed credits – in red, after the call, not just the little pre-call warning.
It turns out all I needed to do was dial differently.
You can’t use the graphcial keypad because it puts the + in as a 0. So to dial, say 555-1111, in the 406 area code I would have to TYPE IN:
+14065551111
and VOILA!!!
Thank you Skype! and please, everyone, if this answer works for you too, pass it around, it seems like a LOT of folks are frustrated by this problem, and if it’s really this easy to solve, we should spread the word. Or better yet, Skype should be able to fix it.
Tried the rest and Skypes the best.
Call your friend Mel on her cell.
Call your friend Monna on her home phona.
None the less as long as you and your caller are in the US, all calls are free.
Now please remain free and you’ll continue getting praise from me.
Oh yeah, one last thing, now don’t forget this applies
to Canada as well. So download Skye now cause this
is sure to be a big hit.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I remember my world geography correctly, isn’t North America composed of three major countries: Canada, US, and Mexico? From what I can tell, this is not a “call North America free” promotion, it’s more of a “call Canada and US for free ONLY” promotion.
What happens to my SkypeOut credit that expires in December 2006 if I can’t use them on calls???
Hey; we want this in Norway too!!! : )
Business Mobile Phone
Business Mobile phone operators’ trade body, the GSM Association, said that its members were already introducing price cuts and lower tariffs that would bring down the average cost of a roaming call within the EU by about 40%.
Yeah, I agree with what the Brits have said (being British and all). I hardly see this as being fair and if you ask me its somewhat prejudice too. We have just as much right as everyone else, why shouldn’t we be allowed free calls? >_>
wow guys im from iraq i wanna try skype sending message to mobile phone **==
Somehow, video calls don’t work for me when I’m on a wireless conection. Calls keep ringing but all buttons become unresponsive and I have to restart my computer in order to get the ringing tone to stop. When I’m on an local conection via ethernet cable with the same computer, everything is fine. Has this happened to any of you? Do you know how I can fix this problem? I have windows 7
Can you tell me why don’t my PC can’t open the free phone number page?