Dave Moll wrote:Does the recipient also need a Skype account?
No if using Skype-to-Phone, and just like ordinary phone calls there's no charge for the recipient. Skype-to-Phone is where I use my laptop at this end, the signals travel over the 'net, then locally to the recipient it's changed into a good old analogue phone call.
Skype-ing between two PCs is totally free (even internationally) with no usage limitations. Conferencing calls work too. Many work-related conference calls are conducted via Skype with sometimes a dozen participants. There is also a video version, also free if PC-to-PC.
If contemplating using Skype check their site first, the arrangement I have has been in place for 5-6 years now, things may have changed.
https://www.skype.comNote: With Skype-to-Phone you have to specify the country you wish to call, in my case it's just the UK, any UK number including mobiles. Others countries can be added but of course fees increase...
My Skype-to-Phone arrangement is UK-only, 6.6 hours/month (400 minutes) for GBP5.00/month, a fiver. A normal international call Thailand-UK will cost that for around 15 minutes. If you don't use all the Skype time up, bad luck, you lose it.
I have no idea what happens if you try and go over your time limit, I've never got anywhere near it.
P.S. Don't forget time-zone differences, people tend to get upset if woken up at 3AM by a phone call!
Steve A.