Word on the street was that, as of last year, Skype was banned in Burma.

Is it still?

No skype is not banned in Burma, nor has it ever been. It's just that the internet connections are so slow that they often cannot support skype. (They are often so slow that they can't support email!) I know people who have called to Yangon from Europe or the US on skype.

Kathie,

My understanding is that it was blocked (along with other VoIPs) in the midst of political turmoil.

For reference:
http://www.businessinsider.com/burma-bans-skype-2011-3

My daughter was able to use Skype once in June.

I used it in July

Great...good to know!

And I have, as well, heard all about the slow internet in Burma. Luckily I've been doing some research on places in Yangon especially that have much faster internet -- faster of course being a relative term. (Thorntree is a great place for this kind of info!)

But not planning on communicating much while we're there. Only is nice to know that Skype is available in the off-chance we should need it.

Listen, when there has been political turmoil in the past, the internet (not just VoIP) has been blocked all together. I have my doubts about that business insider article, as I was communicating with Min Thu and with Santa Maria at that time and had no interruption in service.