Free calls to toll-free phone numbers global beta

By Jaanus on July 26, 2005 in Skype Beta and new releases.

We've just made a change to SkypeOut that allows you to call toll-free numbers in several countries free of charge, even if you don't have SkypeOut and don't ever plan to buy it. (If you DO have SkypeOut, those calls are priced at zero price.) Note that this is currently in beta, so there may be issues -- see below for details -- but we've verified it works fairly well for us.

The following countries and number ranges are supported. We're working on the rest of the world.

* **France**: +33 800, +33 805, +33 809
* **Poland**: +48 800
* **UK**: +44 500, +44 800, +44 808
* **USA**: +1 800, +1 866, +1 877, +1 888

We think this is a fairly big thing.

If you're a Skype user, here's the deal. You can call the toll-free numbers in many countries even if you haven't bought SkypeOut and don't ever plan to. You can also use this to see that SkypeOut works well for you as a sort of "try before you buy at no risk".

If you are a company or service provider who provides access to customers over the phone, it means you can accept global toll-free calls from users all over the world using the procedures and phone system that are already in place. (Well... you could do that also using the free Skype-to-Skype calls, but you may not want to, for various reasons. So we don't push you, we believe in choice. Use whichever is more convenient for you.)

### How do I use it?

In Skype, just enter the number in international format in the Address Bar (start with +1 for USA, +44 for UK etc) and hit the big green button. Couldn't be easier! You can also add the numbers to your contact list and call them "pizza", "video rentals" or wherever else you're calling. The free calls are effective immediately and supported on all platforms where the Skype client is available.

See the [SkypeOut Dialing Wizard](http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/dialing.html) if you need help dialing. (Since this is a very new change in the system, the dialing wizard may still show those calls being priced, even though they're actually free. We're updating the prices in the dialing wizard shortly.)

### Known issues

Now, there are some known issues with the whole thing. Help us fix these and let us know if you encounter anything more in [this forum thread](http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=31953).

* Call quality degrades after you select a menu item for certain US phone numbers. This is because of a known issue with one of our phone service partners. Work is ongoing to fix the issue.
* The call length counter may not start immediately, and may only start mid-way through the call. This is a minor issue, as the call is free anyway.
* Certain US regional toll-free numbers are blocked. This is because the company being called only wants to accept calls from certain areas of the US, and is not able to determine where the Skype user is located since Skype is not transmitting the info at this time.

View blog reactions

Comments

This is excellent news indeed, and it indicates that Skype is listening to its customers. However, I would like to see the scheme being extended to all Skype-to-Skype calls, too. This is a demand from many users that I would like to see fulfilled.

This can be regarded as an incentive to new users. However, for existing new users, instead of the current free SkypeOut Gift Day worth just 20 cents, I would rather see a better “gift”. This could be a whole day free call to landlines only to all or selected locations. This would be the mother of all SkypeOut Gift Days.

"I would like to see the scheme being extended to all Skype-to-Skype calls" -- what do you mean? Skype-to-Skype calls are all free

I am runing a blog on Blogger about Skype in Sebian language and I added Haloscan trackback option yesterday but I'm still not sure how to use your trackback link? Well anyways, here's mine:

http://haloscan.com/tb/ivan882/112240012957679633

Please fill me in on where to add your link?
http://share.skype.com/trackback/?id=144

OK I got it now. Shame about not supporting my encoding but that's Haloscan's fault. Thanks for the nice new option. Ivan

First post doesn't make sense to me either.

Good job! This was one thing that didn't make sense. Glad you are fixing it.

Excellent! This was the request of many skype users... But I hope, soon skype will add other countries toll free numbers too...

It works great! I've tested it on some Polish numbers - awesome sound quality.
Moving to english numbers testing...

Me parece una buena iniciativa el otorgar acceso a tall-free numbers a los usuarios de Skype, sin costo. Sin embargo, este servicio ya era provisto desde hace mucho tiempo por otros proveedores de telefonía sobre internet para números en USA, tanto land-lines como tall-free. Una implementación muy útil sería el poder usar Skype desde teléfonos móviles, así como disponer de call-back hacia móvil-celular a los costos preferenciales de Skype. Espero que pronto logren ofrecer video-conferencia con Skype.
Gracias por hacer cada vez más eficiente el servicio de Skype.

Great feature. I have 2 questions:

1) Can we make 800 calls destined for one country from another? For example, I am in US but need to call a 800 number limited to Canada.

2) Can we conference in an 800 number? While on a skype to skype call, we could add a third party via 800. Very useful when helping family members with support calls.

ho do i enter digits (such as for navigating through a menu) during a call??? i can't seem to find a way. thanks.

vert, I did my first conference call on a 1-800 support call using Skype-out. In the middle of my call to the 1-800 number, I conferenced in my brother (on Skype) and I was amazed. New technology!

west, use the "Dial' tab and just click on the number keys.

west, the "Dial" tab will only show up in Skype after you have called the phone number, so you won't see it until you're in the middle of your call

rick, i am during a call, the dial tab show up, i press the number keys, nothing happens (press them with the mouse). If i press the number keys on my keypad, the numbers get added to the dial number field, but are not transmitted either way to the other side of the call. do i need a dial box (was it a pink box?:). i have skype v1.3.0.57. thanks.

There is a problem with the dial buttons for most people. Try out KhaosDial 100% free and easy to use: http://projects.khaoslabs.com/khaosdial/download .

-kevin

Excellent service!

I live on the East Coast and work for a company that is located on the West coast. Each week we have a teleconference using an 888 call in service. This week I decided to try the Beta version of the toll-free calling.

The call was flawless! It was about 58 minutes long and not one problem! I needed to use an access code which was accepted using the dial pad.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this new service! It is truly appreciated!

Keep up the great work!

Brian

west, you're problem is common and random. My biggest complaint is Skype will get that fixed.

it is really an exciting news!but I try to call +18003829980,not through!I will ry another one.anyway,the service is eally GREAT for user!

O skype é um programa excelente, precisamos de pessoas assim, que ajudem a humanidade a manter-se comunicativa.
Continem assim, servindo a todos.
Abraços.

Why are the number of countries so limited, are there no 0800 numbers in other contries (Germany, Italy, etc.)?

verticello - "Can we conference in an 800 number?" - sure you can. Skype conference calls can have a mix of Skype-to-Skype, SkypeOut and SkypeIn participants with no problems. Great idea to help family members with support calls!

schiferli - "why are the number of countries limited" - each country requires individual setup, testing, negotiations etc. Rather than wait for more countries, we decided to go earlier with the ones we have. It is our goal to add more countries ASAP, certainly including Germany.

hi,
how a company can receive a call on a toll-free number with Skype???

Hi, there!!
Even if Brazil (where I´m located) is not on your list right now, I´ve gotta say I´m very excited about the good news, as I need to call some of those numbers in te USA anyway... The service you´re offering us is prime. What people I´ve been introducing to SKYPE here are most amazed is the voice quality, even better, most of the times, than over a traditional phone line. CONGRATS!!! Keep up with the good work and all of us who think communication is a path to peace, we´ll bow to you. Rosaly

IT IS THE FIRST TIME I GET THROUGH A TOLL FREE CALL IN USA WITH SKYPE,GREAT!I HOPE IT CAN BE THE BEST IN THE FUTURE !THANK YOU!

zengyang168169: don't miss free SkypeOut day with http://skype.i-loveyou.info and you can call anywhere, not only toll-free numbers.

Great job! Now we will be waiting the same service to other countries!

do you have a list of possible future countries that one can call for free? I would like to have Argentina in that list... Thanks for such a great superb service!

When Skype will giveus the possility to have a skype In Number in Switzerland ?

When Skype wil give us the possiblity to have a better CSR (Call succes rate) with the skype out. Even if this is more expensive ?
And having a better rate compression for the communication ?

please alarm me when you have a free skypeOut service.
thank you.

Voir le petit article sur Skype et les numéros verts en France: http://telecharger-skype-fr.com/telephone-gratuit/

[quote], and is not able to determine where the Skype user is located since Skype is not transmitting the info at this time.[/quote]

I hope Skype never transmits this info, or at the very least gives the user the option to stay hidden. In a world becoming less private, help us keep it.

Excelent excelent feature from my country I can dial 1-800 US numbers but I have to pay long distance charges. I do call a lot to these numbers because we have teleconference calls regularly.

Thanks for such an excellent feature. First time I try it works and it works every single time.

You definetly listening to our customers.

may i call a toll-free number in romania or germany?

[quote]
westromdesign Posted Tuesday, 26 July 2005 rick, i am during a call, the dial tab show up, i press the number keys, nothing happens (press them with the mouse). If i press the number keys on my keypad, the numbers get added to the dial number field, but are not transmitted either way to the other side of the call. do i need a dial box (was it a pink box?:). i have skype v1.3.0.57. thanks.

rick_hultz Posted Tuesday, 26 July 2005 west, you're problem is common and random. My biggest complaint is Skype will get that fixed.
[/quote]

I have just installed skype and love it - except for this minor detail. I have been studying overseas for 6 weeks, and would like to check my messages on my cell phone back home in California. However, because the dial buttons do not work during a call, I am unable to press the # key, enter my password, and listen to my messages.

When do you think they will get it fixed?

This add-in is great! Saves a lot of time! Thank you!

what i love most about this service that it FINALLY makes it possible to call toll-free numbers from abroad.

using my landline in austria it is not possible to call any 1-800 in the US. Not even if I would agree to be charged for it. Now i get it for FREE!!!!! THANX

(I hope that Austria and Germany will be included soon)

I like the feature description and tried to install & trail. However Skylook crashes Outlook 2003 which starts then terminates without any message when Skylook is installed.

Regards/ Rickard

Hi Rickard,
My name is Paul Andrews and I am one of the authors of Skylook.
Sorry to hear you had problems running it. We'd be happy to help you sort out this problem - email us at skylook@skylook.biz and we will send further instructions.
Regards,
Paul

My phone number is long distance for my friends and family. Normally, the calls would be local calls. I'm new and not sure why that is. My brother lives 1 KM from me and its long distance!

When logged in with 2 different usernames and version 1.02 installed it makes skype to use 99% of CPU ressource and need to use task manager to alt process tree of Skype to set back computer on normal (Sony PCG-K66sp)

Also when logged in with 2 skype usernames ( second log on made by : run as.... on the skype bureau icon) the program does not recognize the second logger. As an informaton Hotrecorder installed is recording whatever call made with any users.
Thanks for fixing this.

Appart this excellent product

how about africans, can't they make free skypeout call?
i tried to call canada & U.S.A, and is not going, why?

This is in regards with the suggestion from Opettitt suggesting a "whole day free call gift". Well for me,
an hour or 2 free call would be considered as the mother of all Skypeout giftday.

You know, I live in Japan and I call my family in the Philippines, 20 cents gift is " NOTHING ". It is only worth 1 MINUTE call.

I have been using Skype for several months, but today I downloaded Beta and bought SkypeOut credit. It went through very smooth and voice quality was awesome. When will SkypeIn be available in other major cities in Poland? I`m interested in TriCity
According to Polish law you have to be registed resident of certain city to have a number. I`m in TriCity.

Pozdrawiam z Japonii

Guys, check this website out stingway.com lets
you do free conference calls for more than 3 people
within us and canada

Thanks a lot for the addition.
Please, if it is possible, add Israel toll-free numers (1-800*** and 1-700***) too.

I sent this by email too

I have this on trial

When I open Outlook it takes ages to “communicate with Skype.”

Also Business 2, Home 2 are not shown.

Differentiating Skype Phone Call/Skype chat: To me would be clearer as plain Skype/SkypeOut

Hi,

Thanks for trying Skylook.

I believe there may be a bug that causes the ”communication with Skype” to take around 30 seconds if you have no on-line contacts. This will be resolved in an upcoming release.

Skylook currently only includes the primary Home, Business and Mobile phone numbers. We will include other numbers in a future release.

With regards to the naming of the toolbar buttons, the idea was to try to make this as intuitive as possible for people who aren’t necessarily in tune with the Skype lingo.

Thanks again,
Paul Andrews
Skylook Team

Thank you for this new GREAT feature! We surely enjoy it.

But, what about supporting international toll free numbers too?

e.g. 00800-1787-XXXX

This special international prefix (+800) makes your call from worldwide completely free.

I've tried calling the at&t calling card number from Skype, but it never works right. Any ideas why this would be so? Thanks.

hello i want to no that if i want to make a phone call but will pay later is that possible and if yes where and how do i do that please let me now as i a new to this thankyou very much

Can i do call of main country Bulgaria in all The World?

hello skyp can i some how make some free call with ++38111 ?
that will be great if i can get some free credit to make a call for the test .
write back for the answer .
thank you

i had badtime on skype but soon i knew how to use it was ok.

any one know how to call UK free access number such as +44 500, +44 800, +44 808, I wasnt able to call through these number.

Well I have used sky and I think there is a problem with the software it will never dial international number I have written to skype several time with no joy. They tend to ignore emails I think there're only after money and not after resolving problem. At first when I learnt about this package I said waaooo what a cool idea but now they're useless in customer support.

I have used a different computer even a cafe but will never dial international or toll free number. So is this a way of pulling customers. They better look into that it's a bad track.

Mboyat

cool

deneme

It's is a great idea but really dificult to do it. or is there a secret?
I want to dial to a number in Paris, could you help me to know how to do it?
I'd been trying with the tall free numbers but it seems to be imposible. Please let me know anybody.

In Canada on Skype Out, calling Virgin Mobile's toll free number produces a recording which says this number is not avail. from your calling area... Very odd, is this a Skype Toll Free number problem or other prob? The number is +1-888-999-2321 I can call from other cell/tel#'s but I cannot call on Skype Out. Is there a problem with the 1-888 dialing on Skype Out? I would love to know. Thanks if you can reply, or cc this as a bug report. Thanks John S. Richards

I also have the same problem like west and scott....i can dial the 800 #, but can't go throgh the menu as the number for menu doesn't work...or can't enter my password...Skype team...I'm curious..are you working on this issue?..otherwise this feature is not really helpful I guess

Thanks

Hi Jaanus,

This is great news! I am from Portugal our toll free numbers are of the form +351 800*. I have just installed SkypeOut beta v4.0.0.150 and realised that Portuguese toll free numbers do NOT work. Was wondering if you guys could please add these to a newer future version as well?

Many thanks
Best regards,
Nelson

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