Skype Journal: Should Skype have a PhoneGnome Strategy.
December 15, 2005 08:52 PMSkype’s problem now is maintaining growth. The second challenge is to get Skypers to adopt premium services and think about dropping their home phone. There are many barriers to this. The PC must be always on. There is currently no embedded Skype device. People just don't want to lose their numbers. Free local calling may apply and be an advantage, as is 911. Many early adopters that have Skype have not yet added SkypeIn (lack of numbers availability) or SkypeOut, as they aren’t making either enough calls, or they are making them on another service.
Let’s consider what a Skype partnership with PhoneGnome would enable:
1. Home Phone numbers to be associated with Skype accounts. Thus every PhoneGnome activated with a Skype Account would 1) ring when the home phone rings (anywhere!) and 2) provide cheap SkypeOut rates when dialing out of your local calling area with the home phone. Thus more integrated than doing what I now do. Which is run SoftGnome and Skype concurrently.
2. Backup/Skype solution for when a computer is not operating. All Skype calls would ring the home phone. This is no different that Skype’s call forwarding option that is offered now. However the ring for this service would be free. Device availability could be communicated as well.
3. It would substitute SkypeOut for creating an agreement with another ITSP. It would also enable dial by number for all Skypers who also have PhoneGnome. This would result in many more SkypeOut minutes being used.
4. New service opportunities for the family are opened up. Currently SkypeIn numbers appeal to a small audience. Eg a business line, or access in other countries. Create a SkypeGnome strategy and the opportunity for additional services that cater to each member is increased. Eg one home line, four extensions. Voice Mail on Skype etc.
From my perspective it’s easy. It’s also easy to test. Probably easier for Yahoo who’s IM platform is more SIP centric than Skype's. People don’t like changing their phone numbers. It’s a pain. PhoneGnome reduces the barrier and requires no permission from the current operator or regulators. That’s a strategic advantage.
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why not offer city wide skypein numbers which any skyper could call with any cell fon in any city. Thus entering the www for the price of a cellcall. Then accessing ones private skype account and calling net2net or skypeout. It wouldnt work for skypein though. Imagine youre in nyc and you grab your cell. You dial thay citys skypein number. You get into your accnt and then skypeout to a fon in japan. Entering thr www cell fon is costly. But accessing ones skype accnt could be jus a foncall away.
Posted by: s marcus at December 16, 2005 2:09 PM