Skype Prime™ Beta — introducing the global expertise marketplace
Today, we put out an update of Skype 3.1 beta for Windows. [Download here.](http://www.skype.com/go/windows-beta) It contains the typical bugfixes and such from the previous release — thanks to everyone who’s been helping us with the reports. Keep them coming.
In this version, though, there’s one new feature that deserves more attention, since I believe it is really important, interesting, useful and fun. That’s a lot, I know. But bear with me. The feature is **Skype Prime Beta**. And I think it’s one of the most important innovative things that Skype has put out in quite a while.
### What is Skype Prime?
In short, it enables paid Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls. You can charge other people for calling you either a one-off fee or by the minute. Conversely, if you are the caller, you can call experts who charge for their services, and you can then pay the fee and access the expertise that the other call party provides.
Ever since Skype came out, and especially since SkypeOut was launched a bit less than three years ago and Skype first moved into the paid products space, you have been asking for this kind of feature, in addition to our free voice and video calls. “Skype is great for free high-quality voice and video, but every once in a while, I’d like to charge for my calls.” I’m happy to finally see us rolling this out, and I’m sure it will enable a whole new range of businesses. So nothing will change in our free global Skype-to-Skype calling, but on top of it, you can now have paid calls if you want.
]]>### How does it work?
When you call someone who is a Skype Prime call provider, and you both have the new version of Skype, the provider can initiate what we call a “payment request”. That is, all calls start as free, but you can then switch to the paid calling, charging either by the minute or a one-off fixed fee. The call then proceeds as a paid Skype Prime call and your Skype Credit is deducted by the appropriate amount that then goes to the receiver’s account. The provider does not get the call fees directly as Skype Credit — rather, they go into a special holding “box”. The provider then receives the revenue via PayPal.
### What’s interesting about Skype Prime?
Premium phone calls are nothing new either in the fixed line or mobile space. Typically, though, such calls have been limited to particular countries. You cannot call paid services in other countries. Call providers typically need to set up different access numbers in different countries and it may get confusing to the customer very quickly.
With Skype Prime, there are no such borders. Similarly to [global toll-free calls](http://blogs.skype.com/sites/en/2005/07/free_calls_to_tollfree_phone_n.html), Skype Prime is available to call providers and callers globally. If you are a call provider, though, see the note about PayPal countries below. If you are the caller, you just need sufficient Skype Credit and can then call providers wherever they are.
Another way how Skype is “more than a phone” with Skype Prime is that you can also have paid video calls with Prime. This has not really been possible previously in the regular phone system. Since we first launched the free Skype Video feature, we have received many moving stories about how it has really made a difference, for example from family members living on different continents who have been able to see each other’s faces again after being separated for years. We believe that Video coupled with Prime will similarly boost many services that were previously unfeasible.
With Prime, we have tried to lower the barrier of entry for call providers. Pretty much anyone can sign up, with the only requirement being that you are in a country where you can withdraw money via PayPal, and of course, subject to our [terms of service](http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=1156). The low effort for signing up, combined with more than 171 million Skype users globally who are all potential users for Skype Prime, and the possibility of making both voice and video calls, surely opens some new and interesting opportunities.
You haven’t seen too much talk on this blog about the “power of three”, or eBay-PayPal-Skype integration. I prefer action to talk. With Skype Prime, you can see how we use PayPal as the delivery vehicle for call provider revenues. It’s to date one of the more interesting integrations we have done in the wider eBay family, with Skype Buttons on eBay listings being the previous example, and more to surely follow.
### What else do I need to know?
Skype Prime is a new feature that’s not backwards-compatible. Both the caller and call provider need to be using Skype 3.1.0.134 beta for Windows or newer. We will also roll it out on other platforms in the future.
If you are a Prime call provider, you withdraw your revenues via PayPal. The availability of withdrawing money via PayPal is limited to certain countries only (though I know they are working constantly to expand their coverage). Please [ensure that you can withdraw money from your PayPal account](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-approved-signup-countries-outside) before signing up as a call provider.
### How can I learn more? How do I actually use Skype Prime?
If you wish to become a Skype Prime call provider, then first download and install the new Skype for Windows beta. Then, just open the “Tools” menu and click “Earn money with Skype Prime”, and follow the on-screen instructions. For more information, see the [Skype Prime FAQ](http://support.skype.com/?_a=knowledgebase&_j=subcat&_i=67).
### I found a bug / I have some feedback
Please see the [Skype for Windows development page](https://developer.skype.com/WindowsSkype) for feedback options, and see the new [Skype Prime forum](http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=134). You can also [come join our Skype Prime public chat](http://ui.skype.com/ui/0/3.1.0.136/en/publicchats-join?skypename=srobesky&topic=Skype%20Prime%20Beta%20Chat&blob=wN9oidKUEg23CZX3ohNxD-YSQbS7FI9BYfZ03YWH1wyFHcPfzY97L1VdHSMkoTwrkqxkLY7P7j9uzK2FMP5n).
This feature is a long time coming. I predicted this would happen some time ago, when Ether started a similar service. All that’s left to be done is for the seller to be able to create a virtual presence on eBay from which to sell the services. Can’t wait to test Skype Prime.
This is an excellent new addition! What would be nice though, is to also support a system like MoneyBookers which is quite popular in Europe and supports many more countries than paypal, or at least also have the option of money going towards your Skype credit.
30% fee for providing the service seems excessive. Do you think a $100/hr consultant wants to pay $30/hr for connectivity + billing system? I think its a difficult notion to accept.
I think this is a great service, and especially if they can hook it up with Moneybookers too, it’ll have much more global usefulness than if it’s PayPal only.
As for the 30% commission, yeah, that is a definite show stopper. It’s hard to imagine who on earth would use a service that charges a 30% commission. But let’s see who comes to the show. The rest of us will just continue using other methods.
Interesting. Are you planning to release APIs to manage Prime service from my own site as well?
We have put short intro on how Skype Prime will help online business and small business owners selling online: http://pizzaseo.com/internet-marketing-through-skype-prime
Good point , But isn’t wengo the first to do this ?
http://www.wengo.com/
You guys should just call this service what it will become anyways…. Skype video sex!
The 30% might seem high, but the POTS companies usually want 50%…
@rudy: no doubt that this’ll be the major use . But still… when I was a consultant I was dying for something like this, and the POTS companies couldn’t set me up without unreasonable cost *nor* did they have high enough per-minute rates (in the Netherlands) to allow me to make a decent income. I wouldn’t think twice to use this service if I were still self-employed atm.
Very nice and long anticipated.
I would argue however that without a proper controlled rating system, Prime will quickly become scammers nest. The importance of a rating system to score providers performance is super critical in situations, or unless will quickly sink the huge potential Prime has.
–Tzachi
I hope Skype Prime will soon be released in a Mac version!! I’m anxious to be a provider!!!!
I too hope Skype Prime will soon be released in a Mac version. I really appreciate any efforts on behalf of skype to provide services to all users !!!!
The 30 % fee seems very high, but I still think that Prime is a great option for providers that don’t sell a lot. Most payment systems charge a high monthly fee, making it totally uninteresting for somebody that sells something just once in a while. With Prime you only pay when it’s used. Seems fair, even if the fee is rather high.
If Skype company charge only 1 or 2 % soon this will became a good way to start a payed consulting system. 30% is very high and it is not good.
I know that the other companies charge 50% ( 906 calls in USA and 899 in ITaly ) and I think they are crazy as well or more than Skype Company.
Then, hey Skype staff? Are you becoming crazy?
This 30% will abort this new good idea of Skype users for receiving payed calls.
Then Skype staff: ” Go to study Marketing”
I could see this being very useful if you’re a tutor or providing a tutorial service of some sort. I have thought of teaching Photoshop to people before, and if I could do it online that would be great! You could also set up your own tech support service through this.
I like this new addition to Skype, because as an English tutor I can now use Skype, like I have been doing, to help people but now I can actually get paid for it too, and reach a much larger community.
Thanks Skype!!
Now the only thing that I wish you could do is add this feature to the chat function, that way I can help people who either do not have a mic, are in a situation where they can’t communicate with one, or they would much rather just chat because their English is not so good. No matter how you look at this is a great feature to add to Skype.
Sounds good in theory, though in any case I will have to wait for a Mac version. It would be interesting to know what percentage of peopel use this service for personal calls as opposed to, say, giving professional advice via Skype. I agree 30% is high and although it wouldn’t put me off completely, it will make me look at alternatives. Good luck everybody.
I just saw the charging details. Who is going to want to wait 4 months in arrears for their earnings to be transfered to their paypal accounts, which (in the UK) take a further 5 working days to transfer to their normal bank accounts. I think this system is unfair to the service provider here.
Also I noticed that the caller seems to have more of a say than the service provider. If a caller can reject the payment of a call what is to stop them gaining the information they want then just cancelling the call. How is the service provider protected against this?
Otherwise I like the idea and would sign up if not for the terrible one-sided approach. Skype please try to make this great tool more accessible and fair.
Thanks ... !
I predict that, along with the fantastic concept that was Second Life, Skype will become overrun with porn!
What a shame.
I hope that the Skype Beta could be a better way to comunication between people of different countries.
I congrat’ the Skype equipment for all the interest to be a better company each day.
I need SkypePrime BETA for Mac!!!!
Wow. Paid video calls with Skype Prime. I can see the live webcam porn sites falling over each other to sign up for this !
In many ways, I think this could be a fabulous tool for online teaching and, as a teacher, I’m very interested to see how it develops. The main thing that impressed me was the inclusion of video which could make a lot more subjects feasable for online delivery.
I would be interested to know if the conference call option will eventually be incorporated into the service, allowing one teacher to teach a number of clients at once.
Also, the ability to also be able to offer supporting documents (handouts) would be very useful too.
Can anyone tell me if there are any plans to offer an alternative model for charging instead of per minute? I can imagine it being very frustrating for a pupil if the teacher gets cut off, mid topic.
Skype Prime for MAC PLEASE.