The service will allow subscribers to receive locally charged calls on a HK number anywhere in the world through a PC
Hutchison Global Communications (HGC) is gearing up for an assault on the international direct dial (IDD) market, partnering Skype to offer a service that allows users to take a Hong Kong phone number overseas and receive unlimited calls from home for a flat rate of Euro30 ($313.31) per year.
The move could put further pressure on the city's telecommunications market. IDD rates have plummeted in recent years due to stiff competition among operators - a trend exacerbated by voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology.
A beta version of the phone-to-personal computer service, called SkypeIn, is currently available on the Luxembourg company's website. Users pay Euro30 per year for a Hong Kong telephone number, supplied by HGC, or Euro10 for three months.
With the Hong Kong number, a subscriber anywhere in the world can receive calls via their PC from fixed-line and mobile users in Hong Kong for the price of a local call.
Skype users can also buy similar SkypeIn numbers for France, Britain and the United States, allowing subscribers to receive calls from them for the price of a local call.