The Great Skype Blackout of 2007

This blog entry originally started as a happy note about the new Skype Beta client for Mac that has some cool new features, including address book integration. However, after installing the new Beta, I could no longer connect. I thought it might be a glitch of the new version, but unfortunately it looks to be a serious Skype-network-wide problem.

Problems with Skype login - Heartbeat: "Some of you may be having problems logging into Skype. Our engineering team has determined that it’s a software issue. We expect this to be resolved within 12 to 24 hours. Meanwhile, you can simply leave your Skype client running and as soon as the issue is resolved, you will be logged in. We apologize for the inconvenience..."

Skype Will Charge for Calls in 2007

"Beginning in 2007, SkypeOut calls will no longer be free. The company announced on Wednesday that they would start to charge a yearly fee to call from Skype to any mobile or land-line phone. Calls from PC to PC will remain free.

Unlimited yearly calling will cost $29.95. If you purchase the plan before January 31, 2007, it will only cost $14.95. Without an unlimited plan, users can pay 2.1 cents per minute to calls within the U.S. and Canada, which is the same as the rate for international calls."

It's not like we didn't know this was coming. I think the discount offer is a smart idea. I've been using Skype to augment my calling, not as a total replacement. Still for a $1.25/mo it will still be worth it.