Local Skype users here in South Afircan can now get their own SkypeIn number and with that make

unlimited internationl phonecalls, all for only R102 a month.

Skype, which if you don’t know is a Voice over IP (VoIP) provider, which basically users data to transmit your voice/video/instant messages to your friends/colleagues around the world. With SkypeIn you basically get your own unique number (like your home telephone number/cell number) which will receive calls on your computer from normal landline/cellphone users.

Here is an exert from the Skype website:

“An online number (SkypeIn) is perfect if you have friends, family or business colleagues who don’t use Skype. Anyone can dial your online number from any phone or mobile and hey presto, your Skype rings and you pick up the call – wherever you are in the world,” the Skype website explains.

“You buy an online number and your friends, family or business contacts can call that number and only pay for a standard rate call (if they are in the same country as your online number) – the online number uses the internet to route the call and so saves them money. It makes absolutely no difference wherever you are, you can pick up the call at no cost to you wherever in the world you are logged into Skype.”

The one thing you have to bare in mind is that there will still be data charges for the data being transferred via your broadband connection. One of the packages you could choose is the South Africa 400 which is priced at $14.95 and gives users 400minutes of calls to landlines in South Africa – not sure how that changes with calling cellphones.