Skype offers low cost cellular calls

The hook is simple. Calling somebody overseas from a cellular phone usually costs a small fortune. However, you can nominate the phone number of one friend or family member who lives abroad as your Skype to Go number.

Then - in 13 countries - you will be assigned a local number to call. With any luck, that local number will be covered by the inclusive minutes in your mobile tariff.

So the first leg of the call would then effectively be free. Next, depending on the type of number you want to call, the last leg of the call gets charged at the usual Skype Out rate. Which can be as low as 1.2 pence per minute.

So it might prove to be a very low cost method of calling the cell phone of a mate who lives abroad.

Where's the catch? Well, apart from the fact that you only seem to be able to nominate one phone number as your Skype to Go number, you also have to sign up for the Skype Pro package.

Over here in Blighty, the minimum you can get away with paying for a Pro subscription is £9.20 [£8.00 plus VAT]. That gives you five months' worth of Pro plus £2.50 towards your Skype Out bill.

After that you pay £1.50 per month but can cancel at any time.

It's not a bad offer but it will almost certainly get people hooked on Skype Pro.

The INQ tried to get Skype to reveal what kind of number it will supply as the local number in the UK. This can make a big difference if it's not covered by your inclusive minutes. So it will be worth checking out before you sign up. µ