Skype is to introduce a new pricing structure from January 18, offering customers the chance to sign up for an annual flat rate fee for unlimited SkypeOut calls.

The company was giving few details away of its exact plans, although spokeswoman Imogen Bailey confirmed the pricing and plan will “probably be similar to the call charges Skype announced for the North American market”.

While Skype claims that its new structure will be more cost-effective, it also said it is introducing a connection fee of up to €0.045 per call (including VAT), around 2p.

“This connection fee will only be on our SkypeOut service,” continued Bailey. "Skype to Skype calls will still be free.”

Currently SkypeOut users buy SkypeOut calls in pre-paid chunks from £11.50 to call landlines and mobiles direct from Skype with no connection fee. Calls to many countries around the world cost from 1.38p per minute.