Skype's free calling anywhere in the USA - will it change phonebanking?
For years, Skype has provided free internet calls between Skype members - while charging 2 cents a minute for landline calls. Now, even those landline calls are free through the end of the year.
Will campaigns in 2006 take advantage? It seems pretty straightforward. All you need is a computer, a broadband net connection, a headset, and the free Skype software - and you've got a phone bank station. Particularly in statewide campaigns that would otherwise require long-distance calling to reach voters from the phone bank, the announcement from Skype could have huge implications.
Of course, if it all ends in 2006, it'll be a short-lived impact. But who knows what eBay - who owns Skype - will do next?
Kari Chisholm | June 27, 2006 | Comments (3) |
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We are a democratic organization in SE Texas, and we discovered Skype this week. We were using a $40/line Vonage phone bank, but Skype looks like it will change all that. I will bookmark and return with my review.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 22, 2006 9:08:02 AM
Thanks, Mark. Let us know how it goes.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Aug 1, 2006 8:33:40 PM
I work for a nonprofit, Public Broadcasting Station. My staff are considering a Skype phone bank for the Pledge Drives. Consider the overhead that non-profit's are charged for all of their phones and the volunteer phone banks during the pledge drives. Skype looks like it might be a cheap replacement for the old expensive setup from the phone company. If anyone knows how to get Skype phones tied into a PBX, to allow incoming phones to cycle thru 18 skype phones, We would appreciate the point in the right direction. :)
Posted by: Bryan | Mar 12, 2008 10:11:56 AM
