Skype has announced new long distance calling plans including an unlimited plan for international calls to 34 countries. The eBay subsidiary said the new plan allows unlimited international calls for $9.95 per month; available countries include Australia, Canada, Chile, China, most of Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. The plan includes calls to landlines, and calls to mobile phones are included in Canada, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Skype also announced plans to expand its unlimited calling plan to the United States and Canada to include certain cities in Mexico for $5.95 per month.

“This move is a natural step for Skype. Skype was founded on the principle of making free voice and video calls available to people all around the world,” said Stefan Oberg, vice president and general manager of telecoms at Skype, in a statement. “And now we’re making it even easier for the Skype community to call their friends and family who are not yet on Skype. Our subscriptions give people an easy, hassle-free choice for how and when they want to catch up with their loved ones.”

Bluetooth™ VoIP Kit HBV-100 – A high performance kit for lower cost calls via the internet.

The Bluetooth™ VoIP Kit HBV-100 is the perfect way to stay in touch with friends and family over the Internet. Comprising a Bluetooth™ headset HBH-PV705 and a Bluetooth™ USB Adaptor, you can get all the normal benefits of using a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth™ headset – freeing your hands while you talk, long talk and stand by times, excellent sound quality and comfort among others – while making low cost internet calls.

Plug it in and talk handsfree

The discreet Bluetooth™ USB Adaptor plugs into your Windows XP PC and requires no complicated installation in order to be compatible with most global internet telephony software. It is pre-paired with the blue colored HBH-PV705 and the two communicate wirelessly to give you complete handsfree freedom around the room while you talk. So if you never considered your Bluetooth™ headset as a way to make calls without your phone, now you can use it as part of the HBV-100 kit with your PC to join the internet call revolution– even if the PC doesn’t have Bluetooth™ built-in. And the outstanding talk and stand by times of the headset allow you take full advantage of those low cost internet calls.

Available late Q4 2006.

Facts and Figures for Bluetoothв„ў VoIP Kit HBV-100:

Kit contents:

* Bluetoothв„ў VoIP Kit HBV-100
* Bluetooth Headset HBH-PV705 in blue
* USB Adaptor
* Standard Charger
* User Guide

Facts:

* Weight:
* Headset = 14g / 0.49 oz.
* USB Adapter = 8g / 0.2 oz
* Color:
* Headset = Blue
* USB Adaptor = Black
* Headset talk time with Bluetoothв„ў phone: Up to 12 hrs
* Headset Standby time Bluetoothв„ў phone: Up to 300 hrs
* Operating System version requirement: :Windows XP

Note: Internet calling or the use of VoIP-related features may cause sound performance disruptions to the Bluetoothв„ў VoIP Kit HBV-100.

The Bluetooth™ VoIP Kit HBV-100 is the latest in a long line of innovation in Bluetooth™ technology from Sony Ericsson. From the first commercial Bluetooth™ headset from Ericsson, through the remote control car CAR-100 to voice dialing, Auto pairing™ or the new Bluetooth™ Watch MBW-100, Sony Ericsson’s Bluetooth™ pedigree is proven in helping people make the most of their mobile life.

Nokia and SingTel announced today their collaboration to bring together the best of two worlds, 2G/3G and WLAN (Wireless LAN) in an integrated dual-mode telephony solution on Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia N80 Internet Edition. SingTel’s VoIP on mobile service, which is unique in its kind, combines the mobility of cellular and the cost-effectiveness of wireless broadband. Selected SingTel Mobile subscribers will be invited for a service trial which will allow them to use voice and data services from home and on the move through SingNet Wireless Surf Zones. The commercial launch of the service is expected to be later this year.

“Nokia is pleased to co-operate with SingTel on this industry leading initiative on our range of multiradio mobile devices”, said Chris Carr, General Manager, Customer Market and Operations, Nokia Singapore, “Consumers can now experience the power of mobility and benefit from accessing Internet services and calls without being connected to a computer.”

Vicki Brady, Vice President (Consumer Marketing), SingTel said, “SingTel is proud to be one of the first operators globally working with Nokia to bring VoIP services over Wireless LAN to our customers using Nokia devices. With SingTel’s VoIP on mobile service, our customers can make local calls over the Internet with their VoIP handsets for a fixed monthly fee.”

Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and the Nokia N80 Internet Edition are the first Nokia devices that are able to support SIP-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). All three devices work on 2G, 3G and WLAN networks. The Nokia N80 Internet Edition is the first ever handset to enable seamless home media networking between compatible TVs, audio systems and PCs.

SingTel’s VoIP on mobile service will be available to non-business customers on postpaid mobile plans, allowing them to make unlimited local calls using their SIP-enabled VoIP devices. The service can be accessed using the WiFi network at home or through more than 330 SingTel Wireless Hotspots across the island. The subscription fees for the service will be announced in due time.