country, providing more opportunity and accessibility for people looking
for affordable calling options. This partnership gives shoppers immediate
hands-on access to headsets, webcams and handsets designed to work with
Skype, as well as the first pre-paid cards for Skype available in the U.S.
The addition of Skype Internet communications products to Wal-Mart stores
comes at a time when Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) adoption among U.S. households is growing rapidly. According to the Telecommunications Industry Association, 9.9% of all landlines in the U.S. were VoIP lines in 2006, and this will rise to 34.1% by 2010. In addition, Skype is the number one software-based VoIP application in the U.S. by market share, according to a March 2007 report by In-Stat.
“We applaud Wal-Mart for recognizing the popularity of Skype and making it
more accessible to Wal-Mart shoppers. This relationship with Wal-Mart will
increase exposure for Skype and our hardware partners in a single dedicated
Internet communications section,” said Don Albert, vice president and
general manager of Skype North America. “Our research suggests that when
users add a Skype Certified accessory like a headset, handset or webcam, it
greatly enhances their experience and they use Skype more to connect with
family, friends and business colleagues.”
Today, Skype is enjoyed by more than 196 million registered users around
the world. Users download Skype software to make free voice and video calls
and send instant messages over the Internet. Skype also offers paid-for
products which let users make, receive and forward calls to and from
landlines and mobile phones. To enhance the Skype user experience, hardware
devices and accessories are available from approximately 50 leading
manufacturers. These products certified by Skype give users the additional
flexibility to talk more freely and naturally when placing Skype Internet
calls.
“We have taken a sharp focus to launch the products and brands that
consumers are moving toward at the most affordable prices,” said Kevin
O’Connor, vice president and general merchandise manager, Wal-Mart
Electronics. “The Skype hardware and pre-paid cards are a great fit with
Wal-Mart because they offer long-term money-saving solutions at the right
time for many customers — parents, grandparents, college students and
military families.”
Wal-Mart is the first and currently only retailer in the U.S. to offer
Skype’s pre-paid cards. Shoppers can purchase a $20 pre-paid card and
redeem it for Skype credit to make inexpensive international calls at rates
as low as 2.1 cents per minute. Another pre-paid card is available in
stores for a three-month subscription to the Skype Unlimited Calling Plan
for just $8.85. This gives consumers three months of unlimited Skype calls
to any landline or cell phone number in the U.S. and Canada.
