As far as the gateway “answering” the call, I don’t know. I don’t have direct access to my mobile phone bill as it gets sent direct to Nokia and I never see it. In terms of “domestic” calls, if you don’t want the call to pass thru Skype’s infrastructure, even for a domestic call, don’t make the call through Skype.

Funneling a call through Skype also masks my Caller ID, which is a side benefit.

it would both cost skype less(in connection charges on flat rate plans they do not receive any additional per call revenue from) and likely improve call quality(by way of passing through fewer codec conversions) to have domestic calls dial out directly even if selected from the skype contact list.

what makes the 3 skypephone so unique and interesting has nothing to do with technology but with the unique business model. you buy the phone and than all skype calls are free of charge in any country with a 3 network. there is still no way to get that deal on any other phone/carrier.

any prediction about the possibilities of a future ’skype GSM SIM card?’ i am thinking a totally carrier neutral roaming SIM. you would pay a per country roaming charge but 100% of calls would terminate via skype and akypein would be your inbound numbers.