Skype have installed a new service called Skype Prime in their latest beta. Skype Prime allows you to set a cost for receiving a call. This feature places a cost on your time and voice when someone rings you using Skype. It’s basically like having 1800-Skype-Me:username instead of the standard SkypeMe:username method. Here is the low down from Skype…
Once you are registered as a call provider whenever someone calls you a ‘Charge’ button will appear on your Call tab - simply click the ‘Charge’ button to start charging for you call service. Once your caller has accepted, you will see a message telling you that payment has started. Your Skype Prime earnings will be paid into your PayPal account. You will need to specify the details of your account when you set yourself up as a call provider. Your earnings will be paid four months after you hold your service call. This is to enable the Skype team to check details and make sure we are happy that there is no fraudulent activity.
This looks like a fantastic media opportunity for selling your service over the internet. A VoIP based Yellow pages if you will. This revenue model paves the way for services such as Internet Consultancy, Tech Support, Marketing advise, receiving quotes on car/house insurance and of course Sex Lines.
Without doubt those involved in 1-800-hanky-panky will see the $$$ appear in front of their eyes. Or will they? Skype’s terms & conditions include the following blacklist activities…
- Content or Service, which is adult, sexual , pornographic or paedophiliac;
- Content or Service which is offensive or promotes or legitimates racism, revisionism, or any other form of discrimination;
- Content or Service relating to the offering of gaming, betting and lotteries;
- Content or Service provoking violence
- Content or Service provoking or encouraging reprehensible or illegal actions.
- Content or Service relating to health and therapy
- Content or Service relating to legal or tax advice
- Call providers must not promote their service or content on web pages which may be contrary to public order or good morals or likely to violate any law or to constitute a criminal offence.
Skype are advocating the following categories for use under Skype Prime:
- Astrology & Spiritual
- Business & Finance
- Computing
- Creative services
- Coaching and tutoring
- Relationships
- Sport
- Others
Others eh? There is an exploit waiting to happen! Dave over at Irish Developer has already jumped on the Skype Prime bandwagon by offering his ASP service via Skype (note the Skype icon in his sidebar). I’ll be following that closely to see if Dave gets many clicks. I wonder what service I could sell over Skype….swimming lessons over Skype?
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11 responses so far ↓
1 wismai // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:23 pm
And in other news two Stanford students have developed an algorithm to rank and index web pages. Will those involved in pornography see the $$$ appear in front of their eyes ?
2 Dave Rooney // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I forgot and you forgot the part about payment, its through Paypal and you have to wait 120 days! And you don’t get interest but there bank accounts get a load of money they get interest on.
3 Dave Rooney // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I also think that there will be an increase in random calls on Skype with people requesting money.
4 Cormac Moylan // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:27 pm
More than likely…yes!
Ebay will make big money from this service but it also open the possibility of porn via VoIP.
5 Cormac Moylan // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Yeah, I saw that Dave. I thought I mentioned that in my post…mm, that’s what I get for writing a bit of this post this morning and finishing it now
6 Cormac Moylan // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Skype’s cut is 30% btw. Just re-read over my post and I also forgot about to mention that…bah!
Ahh, I did mention the 4 month delay in my quote from Skype’s site. It’s a not perfect system but of course it is in beta so it should evolve into a more accessible system.
7 Dave Rooney // Apr 18, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Wismai has just proved that Estonia is 10 years behind the rest of us with internet development!
8 Chris Gallagher // Apr 19, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Can you even swim cormac?
9 Cormac Moylan // Apr 20, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Skype me, buy a new bathing suit and find out.
Yes, that’s right I called it a bathing suit. Big woop! Wanna fight about it?
10 Ivan Veretelnyk // Jul 2, 2007 at 7:17 am
There is many “charge for call” platforms like “wengo” or bitwine, but they all have own software and not promote Skype Prime. There is site that was build to work with only Skype Prime and no additional software needed. If you are interested please visit
http://www.primeskype.com/
11 Alois // Sep 26, 2007 at 4:36 pm
My opinion is that Skype’s 30% cut is really too much. I can stand the delay, but their percentage is too high for me. I rather use other services.
Regarding the directory of Skype Prime services: the original and I think first independent directory of skype prime services was http://www.primewho.com .
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