An Internet telephony software maker founded by KaZaA’s creators says they’re closer to launching a service that would let people make cheap calls to any telephone around the world from a personal computer.
Skype Technologies said July 25 they have deals with four carriers to route calls for the service, and that the deals will speed Skype toward launching the service they’re calling SkypeOut. They didn’t say yet, however, just when they’d be ready to launch the service.
Skype’s software now lets users call each other free around the world, with over 7.5 million said to be using the service in 20 languages. SkypeOut differs because it won’t be limited to Skype users only, the prepay service letting anyone call any fixed line or cell phone worldwide from PCs, the company said. The calls would travel online like VoIP and hit the public phone systems at the call destinations, the company added.
The SkypeOut deals involve Colt Telecom Group, Teleglobe International Holdings, and U.S.-based iBasis and Level 3 Communications. The service will likely work best on broadband connections, the company said, but dialup users can use the system even though Skype said broadband connections will likely mean cleaner, CD-quality sound on the calls.
