Please see
my post earlier and let me know if that answers your question.
You
don't use purchased on-line numbers.
Steps for right account:
1. Go to the
Get Skype page.
2. Download the client to your PC.
3. Ignore everything about getting a paid account.
4. Get a free Skype account.
This will not be a phone number - it will be an alias, just like vblick (you can even try to use that one, they'll let you if it's available. Since I use mine for work, mine is first_name.last_name from real life.
5. Add each other as buddies, per my advice above.
Let me know if that helps.
PS - You mentioned "The video chat feature only came on if I attempted to call a skype user."
Correct - that's how Skype works. They won't support phone numbers - they don't know if that number is being used at someone's PC or at Aunt Fanny's Windows cell phone.
Videochat - until now - was a desktop feature.