New Phone Adapter Allows Consumers to Enjoy Skype from Their Home Phones

LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Skype today announced that now it will be even easier for U.S. and Canada-based consumers to enjoy the convenience of low-cost Skype calling to connect with friends and family back home through a home phone with the introduction of the FREETALK® Connect•Me Home Phone Adaptor for Skype. This hassle-free solution will allow consumers to use their existing handsets to make free Skype-to-Skype calls and affordable calls to landlines and mobile phones worldwide.

The FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter is the latest product in the FREETALK line-up that is designed to make it easier for consumers to enjoy Skype conversations to anyone else using Skype internationally, regardless of their device, including: computers (PC, Mac or Linux), iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones and even to a Skype-enabled HDTV. Consumers can also receive Skype to Skype calls from other Skype users on their landline phone using the Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/home-phone/phone-adapter).

The FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter, which can store up to 100 speed dials/Skype contacts, only requires a PC for the initial set up. Cord and cables needed to connect to home phones and to the Internet are included in box. To use it, all a consumer needs is a broadband Internet connection and a home phone. This means that once the adapter is set up, they don't have to turn on their computers to connect with friends and family through Skype. If the consumer wants to make a call using their traditional landline, the FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter allows them to choose that option as well.

"Our mission is to make Skype available everywhere so consumers can enjoy conversations whenever and wherever they are," said Neil Stevens, Skype's vice president and general manager for product and marketing. "We are delighted to have partners that help us deliver on this mission through the introduction of new products such as the Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter. Now, using Skype at home is as simple as picking up a handset and dialing."

In addition to the FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter, Skype is also announcing the availability of a new cordless phone from GE certified by Skype. The GE Digital Cordless Expandable Telephone with Skype (GE 31591) is the latest in a line of popular Skype ready handsets (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/home-phone/cordless-phone), which will give consumers the ability to connect with their international Skype contacts for free, make low-cost calls to mobiles and landlines and manage their Skype contacts without the need of a PC.

Skype is also introducing a number of affordable bundles for both products that consumers can choose from, based on their specific calling needs. Bundles with international and Unlimited World subscriptions will allow subscribers to make calls to over 40 different countries, including Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Argentina and Puerto Rico:

FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter Bundles:

• FREETALK Connect•Me + more than 60 minutes** of complimentary free calls to landlines and mobiles via Skype ($39.99)
• FREETALK Connect•Me + 12 months of calls to landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada and 200 minutes**of calls to international landlines and mobiles ($59.99)
• FREETALK Connect•Me + a 3-month Unlimited* World subscription to the US and Canada plus landlines in 40 other countries ($59.99)

GE Digital Cordless Expandable Phone:

• Cordless Phone + 400 minutes** of calls to international landlines and mobiles ($69.99)
• Cordless Phone + 12 months of unlimited* calling to landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada and 200** minutes of calls to international landlines and mobiles ($89.99)
• Cordless Phone + a 3-month Unlimited* World calling subscription to the U.S. and Canada plus landlines in 40 other countries ($89.99)

The FREETALK Connect•Me Home Phone Adapter and GE Digital Cordless Expandable Telephone are available through the online Skype Shop, the eBuyNow online retail store and other authorized global retailers and e-tailers.

About Skype

Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart.

Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

You can get news and updates from Skype on its blog (http://blogs.skype.com), Twitter (http://twitter.com/skype) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/skype).

About FREETALK

FREETALK is a product innovation catalyst – identifying market gaps and working with its global partners to design, manufacture and quickly bring to market products that disrupt traditional categories.  Leveraging untapped market opportunities, FREETALK products are designed and packaged to be environmentally friendly and delivered globally at aggressive price-points. Always at the forefront of innovation, FREETALK is known for creating synergistic products that add unique value to its partners' branded points-of-sale.

The FREETALK line of products is available globally through eBuyNow. Contact [email protected] for more information on becoming an authorized retailer or reseller.

About eBuyNow

eBuyNow gives your brand direct, multichannel access to a global market of 6.6 billion people by managing the sale of your products across borders to 181 countries, in 44 currencies and 27 languages. We take responsibility for all online trading compliance and local taxation and full Tier 1 and Tier 2 customer, technical and order support by native speakers in local languages 24/7.

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required. Skype is not a replacement for traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling. Connect•Me users need to ensure all calls to emergency services are terminated through traditional telephone services.

Skype, associated trademarks and logos and the "S" symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

* A fair usage policy applies.

** The actual number of minutes may vary depending on the users' calling destination and the number of calls they make. A connection fee applies for each call.

SOURCE Skype