PLEASE, PLEASE can someone quickly talk to me about SKYPE?

[DANCESwithLordPottingtonSmythe]

I've downloaded on my computer. Now, when I go into websites they often have a little button to phone them through skype. Do I pay for those calls? I don't understand! I haven't given Skype any credit card details...

Skype is free AFAIK - I've never paid for calls to my parents!

No tis free

My dh spends hours on it to his brother.

BRILL! That's what I thought when I downloaded then had a moment of panic when I pressed a button and spoke to someone on their mobile - but it was through a skype link button.

you can use it to call landlines and mobiles and THAT will cost you but modem to modem (computer to computer via a skype "username" to username) is free

Yes I love Skype, both my mum & dad have it which is great because they can see ds on it.
If you have people overseas that you'd like to speak to and they don't have Skype, it's worth setting up an account (my mum uses her skype to call my aunty in South Africa) as the call costs are very cheap.
Only skype to skype calls are free.

Skype to skype is free so I would assume that whoever you are calling is on skype too.

I use it a lot now too. DH put money on my Skype account a few months ago - and it is going down really slowly! It is .017 cent to call Ireland from Hungary!

So how did I ring a landline and a mobile from my computer when I haven't given skype any card details? Will they bill me later? This is what I don't understand...

LOL Califrau! I'm just not sure how I know whether numbers are Skype ones or just normal landlines. Ah well, I'll stick to the phone until I'm sure

same, i only call skype to skype (which is when you know someone who has it and they tell you their "skype name" and you do a search for them on skype and add them to your contacts and when they are online you can see that they are and call them. i don't know about "links" to call people on skype but as far as i know for skype to landline and mobile you would have to dial a number on the keypad which you can call up on your screen. i remember someone joining skype recently and they got "given" a credit balance of a couple of dollars/pounds and that is at the top right of your skype screen with a dollar sign. have a look at that, you might have got that and it might have just subtracted from that and when you (if you) use that up they will remind you to put your own credit on. maybe maybe! does that help?

One can purchase a skype number (called SkypeIn) and then forward that number to one's mobile, so that when someone calls that skype number from skype (which is essentially what you are doing) it's free to the caller. The receiver will be paying for the forwarding of those calls. Though actually, I think Skype has some deal where you can get Skype calls on your mobile for very little money. Calling Skype to Skype is free no matter where the caller or receiver are in the world. Just like posting on Mumsnet threads....
DANCE, there is no way that you can be charged in some mysterious way for clicking on the Skype link on someone's advertisement. Only way to get charged is if you pick up your landline or mobile and dial a number.

free!