Skype doubles connection fees for many international calls

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 9:20

Skype’s connection fee for placing calls to landline and mobile phones in certain countries will increase 100% on September 6th, the company’s site now says.

For Skype users who are not on an unlimited calling plan, calls that connect to landline or cellular numbers incur a one-time connection fee and a per-minute charge.

Skype has more than 30 countries listed as so-called “Global Rate Destinations,” which are countries that are all subject to the same per-minute rate.

The increase in connection charge effects calls made to countries that are not Global Rate destinations.

For example, I’m a United States Skype user. Let’s say I want to call my friend in Canada. That call will cost me 3.9¢ to connect on top of the per minute rate. However, if I’m calling a friend in India, a country not considered a Global Rate Destination, I will have to pay 7.9¢ to connect in addition to the per minute rate.