Social media site MySpace will offer free Internet telephony to all its users via a new product that integrates their instant messaging client MySpaceIM with Skype.
MySpaceIM is currently used by about 25 million users worldwide, and is the fastest growing instant messaging platform. The instant messaging platform combined with voice calling technology will be offered as a new product but will not require MySpaceIM users to download any additional software from Skype.
MySpace users will also be able to link their MySpace profiles and photos or avatars to Skype. User profile settings will dictate whether or not they can be contacted via a Skype call.
“MySpaceIM with Skype is a truly groundbreaking product integration and partnership,” said Chris DeWolfe, co-founder and CEO of MySpace. “Skype has the leading technology in Internet voice communications and an enormous international user base that we’re thrilled to connect with our existing community. Our network has no geographical boundaries – Internet calling is the natural next step for how our members communicate with each other.”
News of Skype’s latest partnership comes less than a week after they announced a deal with UK mobile provider 3, which will see the free Internet telephony service incorporated into a new mobile phone that is due to be released in November.
The next few weeks could mark a turning point for Skype if these partnership announcements kick life back into a flagging VOIP sector. News of this latest partnership has helped brighten the forecast for Skype’s parent company, eBay. Current quarterly results and the future outlook for the division looks more promising especially after eBay had to admit to shareholders earlier this month that they overpaid for Skype when they acquired it two years ago. EBay stock rose today to over $40 per share today.
