LUXEMBOURG-Skype Technologies S.A. launched a program designed to encourage content providers and application developers to deliver their wares through its Voice over Internet Protocol service.
The company said it is looking for software developers to create voice services, such as traffic reports, daily horoscopes and language learning tools that could be offered free or for a premium to Skype users.
“We are committed to opening the endless possibilities for voice b y creating a marketplace for our thriving ecosystem of partners and developers to make it easy for their innovative services to be available to our millions of callers worldwide,” said Niklas Zennstrom, Skype’s chief executive officer. “We challenge the world’s most creative content providers to work with us and our partners … to develop these new and exciting forms of Internet voice services.”
Skype’s efforts to move out from behind the desktop into wireless have made news twice during the past week. The company inked its first wireless partnership with German operator E-Plus GmbH, which said it will bundle Skype software with its wireless service to allow subscribers to access the Internet through laptop cards. Earlier this week, Skype announced a joint venture with Tom Online Inc. to develop and market a stripped-down Chinese version of its offering.
