On the skype groups page there is mention of using a toll-free number for skypeIn. However, I have not been able to find any information on how to do it.

From http://www.skype.com/products/skypegroups/index.html :

Toll-free numbers

Skype now supports toll-free numbers. If your company has a toll-free number, everyone that uses Skype can call you for free, from all over the world! At the moment we support toll-free numbers in France, Poland, UK, and USA, and more countries are coming soon.


I would like to register a toll-free (USA) number and begin using it as my skypeIn number. I realize there are companies that offer toll-free number forwarding services but they charge several cents per minute. I would prefer purchasing directly from skype to save trouble.

Suggestions anyone?

You got that wrong!
Skype has started to support calls to tollfree numbers, but they do not issue any. You must ask your telephone company in order to get a tollfree number.
Once you got it, you can set it up as a number to forward your received Skype and SkypeIn calls to, which requires SkypeOut credit.