Skype & Wal-Mart Connect

The deal between these two giants will see Skype Certified Hardware and Pre-Paid Cards on the shelfs of 1800 Wal-Mart stores across the US.

This move will allow Skype to better meet the growing demand and popularity for VoIP services in the US by making its products and services more accessible for consumers looking for affordable calling options. This will also see the first Pre-Paid cards being launched by Skype.

The Telecommunications Industry Association estimates that 9.9% of all landlines in the U.S. were VoIP lines in 2006, and this will rise to 34.1% by 2010.

Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America said they applaud Wal-Mart for recognizing the popularity of Skype and making it more accessible to Wal-Mart shoppers.

With more than 196 million registered users around the world Skype is already the largest VoIP provider in the US and will likely continue their strong growth, reaching a larger segment of the masses with the Wal-Mart roll out.

“We have taken a sharp focus to launch the products and brands that consumers are moving toward at the most affordable prices,” said Kevin O’Connor, vice president and general merchandise manager, Wal-Mart Electronics. “The Skype hardware and pre-paid cards are a great fit with Wal-Mart because they offer long-term money-saving solutions at the right time for many customers: parents, grandparents, college students and military families.”

Wal-Mart will be the first retailer in the U.S. to offer Skype’s pre-paid cards. These cards include a $20 pre-paid card redeemable for Skype credit to make cheap international calls and a three-month subscription to the Skype Unlimited Calling Plan Cards for just $8.85 that gives consumers three months of unlimited Skype calls to any landline or cell phone number in the U.S. and Canada.