Skype offers free calls to U.S., Japan

Internet phone service provider Skype is offering free international phone calls from Korea to the United States and Japan for a limited time during the holiday season.
The company said yesterday that from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, calls made to the two countries will be free, regardless of whether the call is made to a fixed-line phone or cellular phone. No separate application is required during the offer because computers will automatically detect if calls are made from Korea.
Skype is a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone service, more commonly referred to as Internet phone. The service can be used by downloading a free offer on the company’s Web site.
Users then create an account and log onto Skype, which also has instant text messaging and video chat. People using Skype on their computers can call each other for free, but calling a landline phone or mobile phone requires a payment. Making phone calls through a computer requires a microphone. Some headphones have built-in microphones. Customers can also buy phones that can be plugged into computers through USB ports.
Skype is available in 27 languages and only recently began service in Korea. The firm is based in Luxembourg and is an eBay company.

by Wohn Dong-hee