Skype launches free calls in North America.

All Skype NA users would be allowed to place free calls to fixed and mobile in North America. Up to now, Skype has offered free calls between PCs, but with the new offer Skype makes a decisive step towards free telephony, strongly shaking the telecom industry. Combined with WiFi access, the new offer should strike a blow to both fixed and mobile telephony businesses. The offer is valid until the end of the year, and we do not know what would happen in 2007. I have no doubt that the service would be immediately very successful. With this offer, Skype is challenging not only traditional voice operators, but also Internet service providers such as Yahoo, Google and Vonage. It is a decisive marketing move that could have a major impact on the company brand.