NO Skype is NOT A FREE service, similar to HANGOUTS. I think that some calls, like Skype to Skype callers are FREE, like if I called my Nephew in Germany on his SKYPE number. I mistakenly called his landline or cells number once, and it was deducted from my credits. BUT SKYPE is CHEAP. I signed up for, after firing GREEDY ATT as my LONG DISTANCE carrier, Skype's UNLIMITED in the U.S. & Canada plan for just $2.99/mo + their 2 cents international fee, since they are out of Lichtenstein I believe. So IMO $2.99/mo is near enough to free to BE FREE :-).

But be careful, I tried using, "SMS," a form of texting once to see how it worked, and was charged 12 cents from my CREDITS to my surprise. Won't be doing that again :-)