Hi Guys, I'm new in this forum but I need to tell you something that you're all missing.
If you live in Canada like me, and have family in other countries like, YOU DONT NEED A CANADIAN ONLINE NUMBER, you can use a number from any country! de person who is calling you is gonna pay the rate for that country. I live in Toronto but I'm gonna have a EEUU ONLINE NUMBER. So when my family calls me they're gonna have to pay as if they are calling to EEUU but I will be picking up the call here in Canada. It doesnt matter where you are, you just need to say which country you PREFER for you number. It's explained here https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA256/how-do-i-se
I hope this helps!
mariii wrote:Hi Guys, I'm new in this forum but I need to tell you something that you're all missing.
If you live in Canada like me, and have family in other countries like, YOU DONT NEED A CANADIAN ONLINE NUMBER, you can use a number from any country! de person who is calling you is gonna pay the rate for that country. I live in Toronto but I'm gonna have a EEUU ONLINE NUMBER. So when my family calls me they're gonna have to pay as if they are calling to EEUU but I will be picking up the call here in Canada. It doesnt matter where you are, you just need to say which country you PREFER for you number. It's explained here https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA256/how-do-i-se
t-up-my-online-number?frompage=search&q=online+num ...
I hope this helps!
You are correct. Skype users in Canada can purchase a US-based Online Number if they want to. The main problem for the Canadian users is a simple one - they would like an Online Number in Canada, just like Skype users in the US, UK, and a couple of dozen other countries can do right now in their respective countries. They do not want their friends/family/contacts in Canada to make an international call to the USA in order to reach them. Unfortunately, the situation relates to Skype's general policy of not connecting callers to emergency-service numbers like 911 in Canada.
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requires providers of telephone services in Canada to connect callers to the 911 emergency number. This has been mentioned in many discussion threads here on Skype's forum. For the countries where Skype currently offers Online Numbers, connecting callers to emergency-service numbers is not generally required (Skype is now doing this in Australia and the UK when using certain Skype software or compatible telephones). One side (Skype) or the other (Canadian government) would need to make a change to clear this up, and nobody is moving from their current positions. Until something changes, Skype won't offer Online Numbers in Canada.
I don't think it's so obvious that it's not Skype's fault. The letter below can be found on another thread. If Skype can satisfy CRTC's requirements regarding calls that go out from users, I don't see how they could not satisfy the requirements regarding calls coming in - when in fact in these situations 9-11 issues are not a concern (if some person is dialing a Skype users number, they're obviously not dialling 911!)
What you will notice is that calls coming into Canada are not routed through a local canadian number. Calls coming into Canada through Skype come in through the US. This would seem to be financially non-sensical, but I suspect it's not. "enter"[ing] into a business relationship with a Canadian carrier" is probably more expensive than going through an American carrier that does high volumes of business with Canada and has an existing contract.
I would suggest that the answer to this thread is that:
1) Skype could offer an online Canadian number service, but does not currently have a licence to do so.
2) That Canadian regulations make this service cost-prohibative such that Skype cannot competitively offer an Online Canadian number in Canada's current regulatory environment.
3) Should these regulations change or should a Canadian carrier partner, as necessary, at a reasonable rate, Skype will attempt to provide Online Canadian numbers to their valued customers. 
-------------------
Dear Ms. T:
Thank you for taking the time to contact the CRTC regarding the availability of Skype in Canada.
The CRTC is not directly involved in regulating the services provided by Skype. Wireless, long distance and internet services are competitive services. These services are subject to very limited CRTC regulation. The Commission does not regulate their rates, quality or provision of service, or their business practices.
Skype is a software application that allows its users to make telephone calls over the Internet. Its users download its software and connect with other Skype users who have also downloaded its software for internet voice and video conversations. This "peer-to-peer" communication falls outside of the regulatory authority of the CRTC.
To the extent that Skype interconnects with the Public Switched Telephone Network in Canada – that is to say, it connects with other telephone numbers whose users have not downloaded the Skype software – Skype has certain obligations. Skype would be required to register with the CRTC; enter into a business relationship with a Canadian carrier to obtain interconnection to the Public Switched Telephone Network; and, as a matter of public safety, Skype would need to ensure that calls made to 911 are completed through 911 call centres, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). As in the case of numerous other competitive service providers in Canada, it is a business decision of Skype, if it chooses to meet these obligations and offer such a service in Canada.
Recently, certain smartphones have permitted Skype's software application to be downloaded to offer a wireless service in Wi-Fi hotspots. This is a matter of private contractual negotiation between Skype, the handset manufacturers and the wireless carriers providing the service.
For more information about the services offered by Skype, or its availability with your service provider, you should contact Skype and your service provider. If you make Skype aware of your desire for its services it may keep this in mind when it is assessing its business decisions as to the types of services it will make available.
Yours truly,
Chantal Proulx
CRTC Client Services
1-877-249-2782 /télécopieur/facsimile 819-994-0218
Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Gouvernement du Canada / Government of Canada
