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The Skype to Go service -- which allows users to call other users via any phone -- has been around since 2007, but this new capability makes it easier to use. Now, you can assign Skype's local phone numbers for up to nine of your far-flung friends, thereby making foreign phone numbers local for you. Then, according to Skype, you simply call that number as you would any other; no Internet connection required. As Skype puts it, "No more waiting around with voice prompts -- the call just goes straight through."
The result? Low-priced, extreme long-distance calling that feels like a conventional phone call. And Skype prices are indeed low, with a subscription getting you per-minute rates for less than a penny.