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.
Not Working here either.
VERIZON INTERNET SERVICES INC
PA,USA
IP 71.161.251.*
Yes, same problem:
IP Address is 72.57.x.x
(CA) CANADA,
ONTARIO,
TORONTO (Ottawa actually)
Connecting to the Internet through
ROGERS CABLE INC. FLFRD
No luck over here!
IP: 71.103.x.x
Location: Redlands, CA, USA
ISP: Verizon
Works great for me, and I’ve never bought any credits whatsoever. Works with my PC and my PDA. For those who are saying this is a scam, or who are getting frustrated, please just be patient as they fix it. Sheesh, it’s just the first day!!!
I kept getting the invalid number error as well, until I checked for updates.
As soon as I updated it worked just fine using Bellsouth DSL.
It rings once then hangs up (landline) or does nothing at all (cell phone).
Location: West Des Moines, IA.
ISP: Mediacom
IP: 12.216.*.*
“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”
sorry to burst that bubble but AdCalls has been around for years (google it) which allows for free calls from pc to landline.
Skype offering free skypeout is awesome though. its a better interface, no ads, and its secure.
verizon in florida no go, Damn. I just paid the 38 buck for the skype in too.
Thank you!
When is the new Linux version coming out? The old OSS stuff isn’t doing the trick anymore!
Thanks for great service. Software just needs an update.
Doesn’t work for me either.
My IP is 71.XX.XX.XX
so skype felt free to violate their privacy agreement and spam every living soul in their user database with an email about this new service. THANKS SKYPE!! may i have another?
Does not work for Time Warner Road Runner Internet… 71.69.95.XX
Please fix.
Ip address in Rochester NY. 69.XX.XX…. NOT working here either.
This service is not working for me in Altamonte Springs, FL. The ad says, install and dial and that’s it! If it’s not true, don’t say it!
Not working for me
ISP: Time Warner RR cable:
IP: 72.128.*.*
Thanks guys, YOU ROCK!!!
It’s not working here either (Error: “No SkypeOut”).
Verizon ISP in North Hills, CA…
IP: 71.116*******
This is awesome…Works for me using Cox Cable in Northern Virginia. Ensure that you are dailing with a + sign before the Number:
+7031234567
Well I don’t know if they’re rolling it out but it does not work with 70.52.*.* It’s Bell Sympatico ISP based in Canada. I’ve got an other ISP because I’m in the course of switching and SkypeOut works free with it’s IP. My other ISP that works 66.130.*.* Vidéotron.
it is working for the 69.54.*.* network
has any one trayed using a proxy to a “working” network
but this is cool.
and with AIM offering free imcoming calls tomaro
may,16 2006 free phone for all
Works fine for mine 70.25.XXX.XX Rogers cable Toronto ON CA
Doeasnt work for me either, I am at a coffee shop. IP comes out to Plano texas, but I am definetely not in texas.
Not working here…Time Warner Road Runner in Los Angeles, CA 72.134.*****
I know some IPs don’t work “yet”. But still this thing is great!!
In Canada local calls ARE free. If I call my friends, I only pay if they live outside my area code. That is why Skype is offering this in Canada/US but NOT in Europe. In Canada they can offer SkypeOUT terminations in each city, so when the call leaves VoIP onto land line, it is free already, before they used to charge 2 cents/min. I guess now they only have to cover the cost of equipment and not minutes. That is the difference of Canada vs Europe, and why they can offer free calls here.
If ONLY it would work. Must be some kind of JOKE?
Not working with Comcast (71.196.xx.xx) from Florida.
No good here.
Rogers Internet, Canada, (behind a router, but as the default connection), IP 70.27.186.**
Out of Verizon Fios, Plano TX, with an IP of 71.240.xxx.xxx, no workie.
72.197.xxx.xx Cox Cable, Also not working. Geolocates me to Atlanta,GA.
Shame i was realy looking forward to giving skype a try.
71.156.*.* Not working in South Hollywood, USA
Sigh.. Doesn’t work
71.65.253.X
Time Warner Road Runner of NC
http://www.nc.rr.com
Okay so here is another post of a 70.x.x.x not working.. In Canada here on Rogers Cable.
this is f***in bullsh*t
could it be cuz of a router possibly????
im in toronto, rogers cable
70.30.105.**
This is ridiculous.. You’d think they’d fix this real quick, since it is getting so much bad press. So many people will download this, see it doesn’t work, and never look back. Hello? 10 hours and no fix on the IP address? Fix your darn access tables! I could set up a freaking php website and sql databases in the time it’s taken you all
Doesn’t work – 71.106.xxx.xxx Verizon DSL in Los Angeles
WoW!!! Nice, this is great. Thank YOU!
Andony
San Diego CA.
free calls not working for me either, but other online geolocators can tell I am from Canada, most of them even list my city.70.31.248.*** Rogers High Speed.
No dice for 71.203.x.x; Comcast in Knoxville, Tennessee
Just out of curiosity: why do so many big ISP have IPs that start with 70, 71, and 72?
Not working for 69.xxx.xx.xxx Adelphia in Mooresville, NC
Not working for 70.73.xx.xx Shaw Cable in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I can’t get it to work in Dover, DE as well using Comcast. Very irritating!
Also, REMEMBER, the free call is ONLY til the
end of the current year.
75.3.*.* not working. SBC/Yahoo Chicagoland area. This is a different IP block then I’ve had recently and this one does not return geo info on most services it appears
Not working here either ; using RR through wireless network ; HELP! Here’s the info
Live Demo Using IP2Location™ – May 2006
Your IP Address is 72.224.X.X
You’re located in
(US) UNITED STATES, NEW YORK, xxxxx
You’re connecting to the Internet through
ROAD RUNNER HOLDCO LLC
this still doesnt work, same error that everyone and their mother is getting.
Is this a scam to get people to pay $10 for SkypeOut credit?
Not working for my home either…
Rogers Cable in Toronto, Canada
72.56.x.x
Works from my office, though!
i have a 69.x.x.x from roadrunner in the US and its not working here either (using linksys router)
*note: i can call 1-800 numbers for free without a problem
can you say “scam”? doesn’t work for me. also i was going to buy credit and my friend had paid ten dollars for six hundred minutes, i go to buy credit and it states 120 minutes and three months of voice mail. rip off time. very disappointed in skype they would use these tactics. i was planning on becoming a customer. not now. even if they claim it doesn’t work with some isps WHY THE HELL RELEASE IT THEN? DUH. GREAT MARKETING DECISION ON SOMEONES PART.
works for me 71.9.x.x.x