Big news for US Skypers today--Skype and Wal-Mart have announced a partnership that makes Skype-certified products available at 1,800 Wal-Mart stores across the US starting today. What sorts of gear will Wal-Mart be carrying? There's a pretty wide range:

Headsets:

• Altec Lansing AHS 322 Skype Edition
• Plantronics .Audio 345 USB
• Motorola HS500 Wireless Internet Calling Kit (with PC850 Bluetooth adapter)

Webcams:

• Logitech Quickcam Chat
• Philips SPC 324NC Headset/Webcam Combo

Plug-in Handsets (via USB):

• Philips VOIP080
• USRobotics 9602

Cordless Handset (base plugs into computer via USB):

• Thomson/GE Model 28300

Cordless Phone (no computer required):

• Thomson/GE Model 28310

A deal with Wal-Mart means that Skype is going to be exposed to a lot more people, and with products ranging from a simple computer headset to a cordless phone that combines landline and Skype calling without a computer, I don't think people will go wrong. I'm a fan of the the USRobotics 9602 (aka the Internet Mini Phone); I haven’t tried out many of the other products, but they are all Skype-certified so you know they’ve been thoroughly tested and should be easy to set up and use.

Skype is also offering prepaid calling cards at Wal-Mart, a first in the US. You can buy either $20 of SkypeOut credit for calling anywhere in the world, or $8.85 gets you three months of unlimited calls to the US and Canada. This sounds like a good way to get Mom and Dad to give Skype a try.

You can read about the announcement in today's USA Today, and get more information (including store locations) at www.skype.com/walmart.