14 March 2007

If your Aunt Tilly hasn't heard of VoIP yet, she will soon, at least if she's a Wal-Mart shopper.

The retail giant Monday put its considerable weight and consumer reach behind the IP communications market by adding Skype VoIP equipment and pre-paid Skype service cards to its shelves.

The deal foists VoIP into the mainstream spotlight and has the
potential to expose the Skype service to a huge crop of potential new
users.

Wal-Mart has opened Skype-branded sections in the electronics
departments of 1,800 stores across the United States, where it will be
selling Skype-certified hardware including headsets, Webcams and
handsets from vendors such as Plantronics, Philips and Logitech.
Customers can use the hardware to supplement their Skype service, which
offers free Internet VoIP calls between members and low-cost calls to
other phone lines.