The press release
SKYPE LAUNCHES SKYPE PRO
IN EUROPE
Subscription Package Combines Most Popular Features for Just €2* per month
LUXEMBOURG, February 20th, 2007 – Skype™, the global Internet communications company, today announced the launch of Skype Pro. Skype Pro is a new Internet communications package offering zero cents per minute calls to domestic landlines along with a series of premium Skype features and discounts on Skype Certified™ hardware.
Skype’s popular features such as video calls from one Skype user to another, sending instant messages, transferring files, conference calls for up to 10 participants or joining in Skypecasts (live moderated conversations with up to 100 people) remain free to all Skype users across the world. Skype users can also use Skype to make free calls from one Skype account to another.
“With Skype Pro, we’re making it easier for our 171m registered users to buy our paid for communications products. Skype Pro lets you call landlines and mobiles all over the world for exceptional value. The combination of Skype’s free features with Skype Pro is very compelling.
Along with zero per minute calling, Skype Pro includes free voicemail, a generous discount on SkypeIn numbers, attractively priced Skype devices plus five euros of SkypeOut™ credit when you sign up for five months. Skype Pro is a simple and cost-effective way for people to keep in touch with one another the world over,” said Stefan Oberg, VP & GM of Telecoms at Skype.
From today, people can choose to pay a low monthly subscription of €2* and make zero cents per minute calls to domestic landlines in 15 countries in Europe. Skype Pro subscribers will also receive discounts on Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype Pro’s subscription package includes:
· Zero cents per minute calling to domestic landlines in the UK previously €0.017* per minute
· Free Skype Voicemail (normally €15* per year)
· €30 discount on SkypeIn™ numbers
· €5 Skype Credit included as part of the introductory offer (see below)
· A €30 discount on a Philips VoIP 841 cordless phone
· A €10 discount on an SMC WiFi phone
· Additional discounts on a series of Skype Extras are also available including desktop sharing, avatars, emoticons and ring tones
*15% VAT is added where applicable and all Skype Pro calls are subject to a small connection fee of up to € 0.039 per call.
For a limited time only, you can purchase Skype Pro on a five month basis for €10 and receive €5 Skype credit absolutely free. After this introductory period, customers can continue with their subscriptions for just €2* a month.
Skype Pro will initially be available across Europe in the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK
Skype Pro will be rolled out to other countries worldwide later in 2007.
The European Interactive Advertising Association’s (EIAA) 2006 Mediascope Europe Study has found that 45% of Internet users in Europe now go online every day of the week, which demonstrates the increasing importance of the Internet in our everyday lives and its growing role as an engagement medium among European consumers.
The average European Internet user now spends 11 hours 20 minutes a week online compared to 10 hours and 15 minutes a week in 2005, an increase of 11%. With this increase, the average European is now online 5.4 days a week. The study also demonstrates that 15% conduct calls via the Internet – a growth rate of 50% from last year.
As the world’s largest Internet communications community, Skype is committed to giving its users the ability to set their conversations free at home, at work and on the move. It is focused on further developing its ecosystem of more than 50 hardware partners and more than 160 Skype Certified devices to broaden the appeal of Skype to a wider base of users who want to use Skype away from the PC, no matter where they happen to be. This is especially true for Skype users who want to take advantage of the mobile Skype experience, which is already accessible to more than 5 million Skype users on over 120 different Windows Mobile Smartphones and pocket PC devices.
For more information about Skype Pro, please go to http://www.skype.com/products/skypepro/.
Footnote: ** All SkypeOut calls, including calls made by Skype Pro subscribers, are subject to a connection fee. For details on the connection fee, go to http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/connection_fee.html.
** Skype Pro is reserved for residents within the UK making calls to landline telephones within the UK and does not include calls to any mobile, premium, special or other types of non-geographic numbers.
Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.
About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 171 million registered users, Skype is available in 28 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Visit Skype at www.skype.com.
Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit http://www.skype.com.
Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.
Subscription Package Combines Most Popular Features for Just €2* per month
LUXEMBOURG, February 20th, 2007 – Skype™, the global Internet communications company, today announced the launch of Skype Pro. Skype Pro is a new Internet communications package offering zero cents per minute calls to domestic landlines along with a series of premium Skype features and discounts on Skype Certified™ hardware.
Skype’s popular features such as video calls from one Skype user to another, sending instant messages, transferring files, conference calls for up to 10 participants or joining in Skypecasts (live moderated conversations with up to 100 people) remain free to all Skype users across the world. Skype users can also use Skype to make free calls from one Skype account to another.
“With Skype Pro, we’re making it easier for our 171m registered users to buy our paid for communications products. Skype Pro lets you call landlines and mobiles all over the world for exceptional value. The combination of Skype’s free features with Skype Pro is very compelling.
Along with zero per minute calling, Skype Pro includes free voicemail, a generous discount on SkypeIn numbers, attractively priced Skype devices plus five euros of SkypeOut™ credit when you sign up for five months. Skype Pro is a simple and cost-effective way for people to keep in touch with one another the world over,” said Stefan Oberg, VP & GM of Telecoms at Skype.
From today, people can choose to pay a low monthly subscription of €2* and make zero cents per minute calls to domestic landlines in 15 countries in Europe. Skype Pro subscribers will also receive discounts on Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype Pro’s subscription package includes:
· Zero cents per minute calling to domestic landlines in the UK previously €0.017* per minute
· Free Skype Voicemail (normally €15* per year)
· €30 discount on SkypeIn™ numbers
· €5 Skype Credit included as part of the introductory offer (see below)
· A €30 discount on a Philips VoIP 841 cordless phone
· A €10 discount on an SMC WiFi phone
· Additional discounts on a series of Skype Extras are also available including desktop sharing, avatars, emoticons and ring tones
*15% VAT is added where applicable and all Skype Pro calls are subject to a small connection fee of up to € 0.039 per call.
For a limited time only, you can purchase Skype Pro on a five month basis for €10 and receive €5 Skype credit absolutely free. After this introductory period, customers can continue with their subscriptions for just €2* a month.
Skype Pro will initially be available across Europe in the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK
Skype Pro will be rolled out to other countries worldwide later in 2007.
The European Interactive Advertising Association’s (EIAA) 2006 Mediascope Europe Study has found that 45% of Internet users in Europe now go online every day of the week, which demonstrates the increasing importance of the Internet in our everyday lives and its growing role as an engagement medium among European consumers.
The average European Internet user now spends 11 hours 20 minutes a week online compared to 10 hours and 15 minutes a week in 2005, an increase of 11%. With this increase, the average European is now online 5.4 days a week. The study also demonstrates that 15% conduct calls via the Internet – a growth rate of 50% from last year.
As the world’s largest Internet communications community, Skype is committed to giving its users the ability to set their conversations free at home, at work and on the move. It is focused on further developing its ecosystem of more than 50 hardware partners and more than 160 Skype Certified devices to broaden the appeal of Skype to a wider base of users who want to use Skype away from the PC, no matter where they happen to be. This is especially true for Skype users who want to take advantage of the mobile Skype experience, which is already accessible to more than 5 million Skype users on over 120 different Windows Mobile Smartphones and pocket PC devices.
For more information about Skype Pro, please go to http://www.skype.com/products/skypepro/.
Footnote: ** All SkypeOut calls, including calls made by Skype Pro subscribers, are subject to a connection fee. For details on the connection fee, go to http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/connection_fee.html.
** Skype Pro is reserved for residents within the UK making calls to landline telephones within the UK and does not include calls to any mobile, premium, special or other types of non-geographic numbers.
Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.
About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 171 million registered users, Skype is available in 28 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Visit Skype at www.skype.com.
Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit http://www.skype.com.
Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.
