Skype: We never said we'll be the cheapest

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has extended its Google Voice calling plan and lowered the fees for international calls, as has Vonage (NYSE: VG), with its new iPhone "Time to Call" app that allows 15-minute calls to 100 countries for less than $5. And Skype?

The company, which makes a fair share of its cash from international calls, said it has no plans to lower its rates despite the competition.

"We've never said we'll be the cheapest," said Neil Stevens, Skype's vice president and general manager of products and marketing.

The company said it's seeing more calls placed via its one to three-month subscription plans, which cost $3 to $14 per month, and said its Skype Premium plan, which includes unlimited U.S. and Canada calls, are enough to hold onto customers.

"Google is certainly a competitor but it's not that different from the other competitors we've had over the years, such as telcos and cable companies," says Stevens.

For more:
- see this Forbes article

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