For all its shortcomings (closed network, high calling rates, etc.), Skype is going (very) strong. Skype has some good options for making cheap unlimited international calls. However if you want to receive calls on Skype, you need to pay $18 for 3 months or $60 for a full year for a SkypeIn number. Here’s a great tutorial to receive calls on your Skype account without paying these exorbitant charges.
Ring2Skype provides a great method to receive calls on your Skype account for FREE. It is also surprisingly easy to use. All you need to do is register for an account, you only have to enter your Skype id and the region where you want the your number. Currently, you can select regions from NYC, California, Florida, Maine, and New York only. Honestly, this is still a good selection.
Once you have completed the registration, you will get a local number for your Skype ID.
That’s it!! Just circulate this number to your friends/family and you are ready to receive unlimited free calls on your Skype account.
That is not all, you can also use RingSkype to make free calls to your Skype contacts. All you need to do is click the “Add a new number” (look at the above image) and you can enter the details of your friend to get a local number.
Note, however, that Ring2Skype only provides free USA number. If you are outside USA, you can make unlimited free calls to USA and Canada using Bueno or use iCall on your iPhone to make free calls to USA. Also, if you are using Skype, I would again remind you to try Skype Phones.
Now you can make free calls to your Skype contacts and also receive free incoming calls on your Skype account…isn’t that great!!!