Sell Your Time For Money on Tom-Skype

Written by Tangos on March 2, 2006
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Ether, a still private beta test service, has gotten some buzz in recent days. However, in China, Tom Online (NASDAQ:TOMO), Skype’s China partner, just launched a similar service by using Skype.

Tom Skype IVR service I don’t know what is exact English name for this service, let me just call it Tom-Skype Voice Service(TSVS). TSVS provide similar service as ether, the only difference is that the service is based on skype.

In TSVS, you can register as a service provider or a listener. For service provider and podcaster, you should set up an account by providing some personal information, including copy of your ID card, and your skype ID, set the time available and the price ranging from RMB 0.5-3 Yuan per minutes. Tom will allocate a free phone number binding with skype ID for them. Listeners, who should also be skype users, can search for service and use skype to call service provider if they agree the price term. Tom will charge 20-50% of fees.

The service is based on Tom’s IVR(Interactive Voice Response) infrastructure and platform. Skype in and Skype out are not available in China due to policy restriction, so Tom find nother revenue sources for Skype, TSVS is just another tom’s Skype-IVR intergrated service.

Michael Arrington thought it difficult for others to compete with ether, “given the capital intensive infrastructure needed to do something like this“, however, will Skype be a ideal platform to build up an Ether killer? Tom-Skype may have the answer.

3 Responses to “Sell Your Time For Money on Tom-Skype”

  1. Paul Denlinger on March 3rd, 2006 1:20 am

    So why can’t Tom/Skype offer the service to users outside of China who can use Skype In/ Skype Out, and do not have to register user IDs to use the service?

    I have Skype and use it, so it would be easy for me to plug in the service. Lift the restriction on fees per minute so that I can set the rate any way I like, and define my use terms, and I would use it!

  2. Tangos on March 3rd, 2006 9:39 am

    Since the service is based on Tom’s IVR infrastructure and platform, and Tom only have those infrastructure in China, that’s why Tom cannot provide that service in US.

    And the service is rendered via skype, so it does not require skye in/out.

  3. wuying on October 10th, 2006 4:51 pm

    This kind of service is just becoming a point for all the internet companies.
    The French Voip leader Wengo also launched their service like this: Wdeal (www.wdeal.com).
    Wdeal has got some much attention from French media.

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