Skype launches prepaid cards in UK: Available in over 1,400 stores, credit starts from £10

Skype has unveiled a series of prepaid cards for the UK, offering users without a credit card the ability to top-up their accounts starting from £10. A second £20 card will also be available in UK retailers including Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys and bookseller WHSmith, with both denominations redeemable globally through the Microsoft company's online portal. While Mexico got there first, we've been told that more countries can expect their own currency-specific cards later this year. You'll be able to use the prepaid credit to pay for Skype subscriptions, including unlimited world calling bundles starting from £8.49 per month -- all in time for that incoming Windows Phone 8 app.

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Skype Launches New Prepaid Card in UK

Partners with Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys' and WHSmith for launch of Skype Cards

London, November 5th 2012. Skype today announced the availability of Skype Prepaid Cards, a new way for users in the UK to purchase Skype Credit and add premium features to the free software they already use. Skype is joined in this initiative by five of the UK's leading high street names, with Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys' and WHSmith offering Skype Prepaid Cards in the gift card sections of their stores.

Now available at more than 1,400 stores throughout the UK, with more to follow, users are able to purchase Skype Credit at their preferred retail outlet to top up their Skype account online or to offer to friends and family as a gift. Skype Prepaid Cards will be available in £10 and £20 denominations and can be easily redeemed online at skype.com against Skype paid features – all designed to provide additional possibilities to share more with loved ones and to keep in touch easily.

Skype Prepaid Cards are the way to get access to a whole set of Skype paid features, such as:
· Making affordable calls to mobiles and landlines around the world
· Sending low cost text messages
· Holding video calls with multiple people
· Unlimited calls to a country of your choice
· Connection to over one million global WiFi hotspots

Katie Walley, Head of Cards and Lending at Asda Money, said: "At Asda we are committed to helping our customers save money every day. We see Skype as an ideal way to make communicating more affordable, and the Skype Prepaid Cards will be available in over 200 stores over the coming months."

Shelly Roberts, Buyer at Sainsbury's, said: "We're always looking for ways to help our customers save money so it's great news that our partnership with Skype means that these cards, which will be available in over 400 Sainsbury's stores, will allow our customers to remain in contact with their friends and family cost effectively."

This is a significant new direction in Skype's retail strategy, according to Enrico Noseda, Head of Market Development for the EMEA region at Skype: "We see Skype Prepaid Cards as yet another option for users to get more out of the Skype experience, either as a way to add Skype Credit to their account or as a perfect gift for friends and family to allow them to keep in touch more easily. The Skype Credit can be used in whichever way and on whichever device best suits the user, making it as easy as possible to be together whenever we are apart."

Redeeming Skype Prepaid Cards is easy, whether the recipient already has a Skype account or is a brand new user. After revealing the PIN under the scratch panel on the back of the card, this can then be entered via a password protected website for activation.

With calling rates to mobiles and landlines starting from 1.6p/minute (incl. VAT) Skype Credit makes for the perfect present for anyone who is planning international travel as well as for small and medium sized businesses. Skype PrePaid Cards are also redeemable against different Skype subscription calling packages, including:
• Unlimited Europe landlines – £4.99/month (£5.74 including VAT)
• Unlimited World – £8.49/month (£9.76 including VAT)
• Unlimited World including China - £13.49/month (£15.51 including VAT)

To find out more about Skype Prepaid Cards and links to store locations, go to the Skype Prepaid Cards' page at http://www.skype.com/go/prepaidcardUK for more details.