Money Matters, Simplified.
Skype to launch paid premium video conferencing service next week
by Neha Gupta - May 6, 2010 - comments
Skype’s future projects include installing Skype on cell phones, including all smart phones.
With an aim to expand its paid premium services, Skype has decided to charge for its new services, which enable two or more persons to video chat easily.
The existing service enables video chat between two persons. However, the latest group chat service would allow up to 5 people to video conference at the same time, Skype today announced.
Initially being offered as a free trial, the service is scheduled to be launched next week.
Skype plans to charge a minor fee for the premium function later this year.
The company has unveiled some subscription plans, which would enable it to make good profit by charging for only the extras.
Neil Stevens, general manager of Skype's consumer business segment, stated, “the service will remain free for years to come but will look into expanding its paid premium services, including paid subscription plans, group video calls and pay-as-you-go Internet Wi-Fi access”.
Internet calling plans by Skype
Skype will also launch paid plans, allowing users to make calls to mobile and landlines.
The facility would initially be available in 170 countries worldwide.
“That feature particularly targets those who make calls into developing nations, where the cost of making calls through traditional carriers can still be quite high”, said Stevens.
"A very large percentage of our revenue and growth can come from having products to call cost-effectively to the long tail" of cell phones in the developing world, he said.
The first move towards Internet calling, Skype has been offering the services free of cost for several years.
Skype’s future projects
Skype’s future projects include installing Skype on cell phones, including all smart phones.
Already been able to install its software on 12 million iPhones and iPod devices, the company now plans to launch a new version, which would offer free calls on all 3G cellular data plans used by iPhones.
Stevens said, “Skype would like to be able to also provide video calling on smart phones, but has a number of technological hurdles to clear first, such as the high bandwidth required by video calls. Apple's mobile software currently doesn't allow developers to access a device's built-in camera, he noted.
The company has begun using advertisement as a tool for revenue too. It has begun with a click-to-call service in Europe, enabling an advertiser to pay for the calls made by his potential customer.