Skype, the VoIP service acquired by eBay last year [1], said it will begin charging an annual $30 fee for unlimited calls to landline and mobile phones within the U.S. and Canada. Those types of calls have been free because of a promotion that began in May, but previously Skype users had to pay per call. The service's pricetag is still far below other VoIP plans--like those offered by Verizon and AT&T, which charge about $25 a month for VoIP. The new rates come with a promotion of their own: Sign up by Jan. 31st to get a 50 percent discount on the annual fee, about 100 minutes of free international calls and $50 in coupons for Skype gear.

For more on Skype's new rate plan:
- check out this article [2] from USA Today