U.S. Skype Users New to SkypeOut Can Make One-Hour Free International Phone Calls to 30 Countries Worldwide

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2006--Skype(R), the global Internet communications company, is offering its U.S.-based users one hour of free international calling to landline phones in 30 countries around the world. Until June 30, 2006, U.S.-based Skype users new to SkypeOut(TM), a product that allows Skype users to make calls from their PCs to any external phone line, can make up to 60 minutes of free calls to landline phones in countries including Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

The offer comes one month after the company announced that U.S. and Canadian-based Skype customers can make free SkypeOut calls to any landline or mobile phones in the U.S. or Canada until the end of the year. Previously, Skype users in both countries were required to pay for Skype calls from their PCs to traditional telephones.

“With free calling within the United States and Canada until the end of the year, and one hour of free international calling until the end of the month, we are making it incredibly convenient for our U.S. Skype users to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates”

"With free calling within the United States and Canada until the end of the year, and one hour of free international calling until the end of the month, we are making it incredibly convenient for our U.S. Skype users to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates," said Henry Gomez, general manager, Skype North America.

As part of the company's activities to solidify Skype's position as the Internet's voice communication tool of choice, Skype has plans later this summer to offer its U.S.-based users free international calling periods to select countries.

As of today, all existing U.S.-based users who are new to SkypeOut and opt-in to receive Skype emails will receive an email when they log onto Skype. The email contains a link that users click to redeem 60 minutes of free international calling using SkypeOut. Users can then start making free international calls to 30 countries immediately.

The full list of countries included in the promotion:

1. Argentina

2. Australia

3. Austria

4. Belgium

5. Canada

6. Chile

7. China

8. Denmark

9. Estonia

10. France

11. Germany

12. Greece

13. Hong-Kong

14. Ireland

15. Italy

16. Korea

17. Mexico

18. Netherlands

19. New Zealand

20. Norway

21. Poland

22. Portugal

23. Russia

24. Singapore

25. Spain

26. Sweden

27. Switzerland

28. Taiwan

29. United States

30. United Kingdom

Skype users will also now have the chance to benefit from Skype's premium products and online calling capabilities. Some of these products include sending SMS messages to mobile phones, purchasing ring tones or buying a picture to personalize their Skype profile.

About Skype

Skype is the world's fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing people everywhere to make unlimited voice and video communication for free between the users of Skype software. Skype is available in 27 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, as well as voicemail and call forwarding. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Skype is an eBay company (Nasdaq:EBAY). To learn more visit skype.com.

Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and cannot be used for emergency calling.