Skype is offering all French-based people the chance to call their friends and family on landlines in France, for free. Calls from one Skype software account to another across the world, remain completely free. Skype has now significantly lowered the cost barrier for its French customers wanting to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates.

This offer is valid in France from September 7 to December 31 2006. Previously, French-based Skype users were required to pay for all SkypeOut calls from their PCs to traditional landlines.

Skype anticipates that free calling to all landlines in France will expand Skype’s increasing penetration into the French market. “At Skype, we remain faithful to our desire to innovate and revolutionise the world of communications” said Jerome Archambeaud, French Market Development Manager for Skype. ” French consumers will have the opportunity to make free, unlimited calls to landline phones across the entire French population – that’s a total of 60 million people. All you need is broadband connection and a Skype account. “

After the huge success of a similar initiative for Skype users based in North America in May this year, France is the first European country where Skype has launched free internet calling.

There are over 113 million Skype users today and when coupled with the soaring growth of worldwide broadband penetration which has reached 62% (Source: Ipsos-Insight) internet calling is rapidly becoming the communications medium of choice. Aside from making free calls to all landlines in France, SkypeOut remains unchanged to French-based Skype users who can purchase credit to call mobiles and international phone numbers at very competitive rates.