Skype in Oz and around the planet is great except that at peak times on the overloaded net here we have the odd interupt and occasional drop out. Indecernable delays in the Skype conversations unlike VoipBusters when the audio seems to bounce back and forth through Switzerland.
Audio is better quality than telephone when using a Voip (Voice on Internet Protocol) USB handset. They sell for about A$50.
Had no trouble paying Skype/out one Euro by credit card about a month ago. Calls to hard wired telephones are costing about 3 Oz cents per minute.
Often one sees more than 3 million on line using Skype. Many ISPs are beginning to offer Voip services.
Ebay has bought Skype for multi billions so maybe there is an inherent threat to claw back some revenue. Ebay does say though that their intention is to recoup through the use of Skype linkage between sellers and buyers within Ebay leaving us to the joys of enhanced almost free communications.
Hope we don't overload the net!