Oh, the community has been asking Skype for Canadian SkypeIn at least 1.5 years. And although I appreciate that it is up to the regulators, not Skype (& indeed, vonage has a related problem: Toronto is connected to the internet through the US), Skype could at least implement a "tell me when its available in my country" option.

I use vBuzzer for my Toronto number and it is great.

I use the softphone when I am on the road, and when I am at my desk, I have a Linksys SPA942 from Canada Computers that is amazing. I also have a PEI number and Washington, DC number on the phone. Total cost, about 12$/month.

Vonage has no such problem, related or not. Vonage offers Canadian phone numbers in 70 communities. There isn't even a regulatory impediment - Skype just doesn't want to play by them

Re: vonage: if you've tried to call a 1-866 number from vonage (e.g. Canadian Immigration) it doesn't go through. I was told its because its connected through the US, and that if I identify calls from my cell phone that I would have otherwise made from my vonage line, Vonage would refund me the costs.

There's certainly many people requesting SkypeIn here in Canada.
http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Askype.com+canada+skypein

If there is no regulatory reason then I have no clue as to why they are not seeking to implement it.

So does this mean you'll start using Skype more?

I've also used vBuzzer. However, vBuzzer uses port 80 which is not standard for VOIP and in any event Skype is generally better than SIP VOIP service providers in doing NAT traversal. Many other VOIP providers offer Toronto numbers so its still a mystery to me why its hard for Skype to also do so.

If you use a STUN server, NAT traversal is no problem for any hardware or software.

Being on port 80 is an ADVANTAGE for vBuzzer. By going non-standard, you get access on far more networks without even needing to configure STUN

The infrastructure and even service (Unlimitel.ca) to do SkypeIn in Canada are available. However, CRTC requires that VoIP services include an e911 capability. Skype, however, does not want to assume the liability associated with hosting a 911 service. So we have a Catch-22 situation where either we lobby for a change to the CRTC regulation or Skype changes it policy worldwide.

(Unlimitel's DID numbers have 911 capability available.)

That's so stupid. I don't have a landline at all, how is having Skype any worse than that?

Would be nice if Skype would acknowledge the issue on their SkypeIn forums. Maybe even say "this is who you should email in the government" or something.

Well, 911 is possibly a legal reason for CRTC not
to make available skypein services in Canada, however
I think that is just a 'vague excuse' to protect monopoly of several Canadian phone companies whose services are simply overpriced in comparison to US tel. providers and don't forget gvt./prov. taxes on top of all of this fun ... therefore I am not really sure if skypein feature will be implemented in the near future here in Canada.

this is of course absurd since the ability to dial out a 911 service is associated with SkypeOUT which is already functionning.. and has nothing to do with RECEIVING calls.. how does 911 have anything to do with RECEIVING ?? this is so stupid really.

and all people have to do is find out LOCAL police station numbers.. there are other ways of reaching 911 then by dialing 911 you know... sigh

I've been waiting for SkypeIN for a months but I don't want it any more. Why? it's simple, i don't (or unable) care them if they don't (or unable) care us. And I'm using a high quality VoIP service, it provides all the call in and call out features I need.

Bye bye Skype, I'm using Vbuzzer now and will probably stay with it.

I've never even HEARD of vbuzzer until researching the SkypeIN option in Canada.

I still haven't even looked at the SERVICE.

But I have to say this: The viral marketing approach (i.e. giving credits to users for SPAM marketing in Blog comments and forum discussions by giving them credit-generating links) absolutely ENSURES that I will never even look at the company's website - and I will mention the loathsome practice in every forum and blog comment I see.

People who encourage and reward spam marketing need to be stripped naked and thrown to a pack of rabid ice-weasels in a blizzard :p

I checked Vbuzzer site and couldn't find any pro-spamming policy, I also looked at the Skype forum, well, it is under the topic of SkypeIN Canada, and it is very relevant.

Almost everyone, at least as I know of, have affiliate programs that they need to track the users who send businessleads to the providers, this includes Skype. So if you carry a banner in a blog of forum and somebody purchased $10 SkypeOUT, Skype will pay you $1. I don't see Vbuzzer doing anything lower than any industry standard, and it didn't look spamming to me at all.

Hi,
I'm from Ottawa, Canada and
I recently tried to get SkypeIN, and atleast their tech-support tried to answer me "Why" they couldn't deliver it in Canada.

"Hello Richard,
Thank you for contacting Skype Support.
1) We are doing our best to add more and more SkypeIn numbers in different
locations. Sometimes there are more difficulties in negotiating with
corresponding authorities than we expect, so it takes time to introduce this
product in certain areas.
As soon as there are new locations added there will be an announcement on our
web site.
We are sincerely sorry for keeping you waiting..."

mmm I wonder what skype meant by "...negotiating with corresponding authorities..." Its obviously not Skype -they appear to be tryin' to get in.
-ok well if you read between her lines its pretty obvious that its our Canadian Monopoly Phone Companies at it again "bending" the CRTC to their Corporate whims. Bell Canada, Telus,... they are the same.
Our CRTC is a ball-less paper tiger. As Canadian taxpayers, aren't they (CRTC, gov't, ...) supposed to work for us -the Canadian Consimer. ? The United States has SkypeIN (and in quite a few area codes according to skype's site) so there is NOoo Technical reason at all, except as many of you mentioned regarding the e911 crap. When I first joined Vonage (an American Voip company) they didn't even have their e911 in Vancouver -but their rates were high enough that the Canadian Corps could prosper without competeing tooo much with Ma Bell and thus avoid pressure from CRTC.
I had Vonage (when I was in Vancouver for a year) and got rid of them. when I moved bakc to Ottawa - at $24.95/month whats the point ! they still ding you after you use up 500minutes, whether its local or acroos Canada.

~$75 Canadian/year for SkypeIN and OUT think about it. do you think
Ma Bell wants that here in Canada? We're already paying the highest Cellular rates in the World second only yo the U.K. -i think -not sure but I know its high compared to how low the States are.

Does anyone know what we can do about this. do you send an email complaint to CRTC, ? ohh -excuse me I yawned again ;:
-Do we complain to our local politicians -who would really complain to in this case that would even be able to do anything about it.?

I don't get it. as "free" Candians we should have the right to chose our own carrier be it Internet or otherwise. Geez, I might as well get aother 6-pack of Molson Canadian and complain to my Dog about it.
for FUD sakes.

cheers,
Rick.

i know this is an old post... but i just wanted to point out that the gizmo project offers call-in numbers for canada, yet at the bottom of that page it says "Gizmo does not offer 911 services and should not be used as a replacement for home service." if gizmo can do it, why can't skype?

I don't know if you guys have noticed, especially for Canadian users. With Gozmo and vBuzzer, the area code support is spotty.

For example vBuzzer claims to support the 514 area code, but when it comes to purchasing a number there is none.

Gizmo of all things only has 705 area codes available.

So my guess is that they are purchasing these numbers in chunks and then when they run out they need to reapply.

Skype probably wants to get pass this and get numbers on demand or at the very least, make numbers more freely available. Telcos like Bell is probably making it very hard for them to get numbers.

Yes, very interesting. My ISP primus, offers VOIP and some limited e911 service. But if your power is out, you're pooched no matter if you have access to e911. No 'pooter, no 911. This sounds like an administrative boondoggle. I'm currently trying to dump my landline for dry dsl and the lack of SkypeIn for Canada is a PITA. However, I can do a phone to VOIP with another service for $5 a month that apparently maps to skype okay. This might be the only short term solution for those who want to keep using Skype and want incomings in Canada.

what prog are using that maps out to skype ?

http://forum.skype.com/lofiversion/index.php/t92123.html

its a service that you can map out to skype...its a temporary fix for now until skypein gets into canada's pants.

A federation now comprising ten provinces and three territories, Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. grand canyon tours

After loosing my mind using Yahoo for calls I discovered Skype as well. I must say it changed my life. I know there are some glitches but overall it works just fine.
---
drug rehab treatment

Videoconferencing was introduced in January 2006 for the Windows and Mac OS X platform clients. Skype 2.0 for Linux, which was released on March 13, 2008, also features support for videoconferencing. cartier rezidential

I have it!
A simple and cheap solution to get a Canadian number that rings your skype anywhere in the world. its http://inskype.com. they offer most of the Canadian local area codes like:
Calgary 1-403
Edmonton 1-780
Fort Mcmurray 1-780
Halifax 1-902
Hamilton 1-905
Kelowna 1-250
Kitchner 1-519
London 1-519
Montreal 1-514
Ottawa 1-613
Quebec City 1-418
Toronto 1-416
Toronto 1-647
Vancouver 1-778
Victoria 1-250
Winnipeg 1-204
so go and get your number from http://www.inskype.com

I have heard that the reason that we do not have Skypin in Canada is because the major TELCOS would have their revenue threatened if people gave up their regular phones and they have influence over the CRTC regulators.
The reason that the CRTC gives is that Skype doesen't offer 911 service but if you think about it, 911 is a SEND function and has nothing to do with receiving incoming calls.

At everyone interested by a Canadian SkypeIn number, I invite you to add your name on this site : SkypeInCanada.com