With the Skype 3.1 beta you can now charge for voice and video calls thanks to Skype Prime by a “one-off” fee or by the minute. Or if you’re the caller, you can call experts who charge for their services and you can then pay the fee and get the support being provided.

If you want to start charging for calls download the Skype 3.1 beta and install it. You’ll need to link your Skype account to your PayPal account, this can be done through your Account Page. Then select, “Earn Money with Skype Prime” in the Tools menu of the Skype client. A wizard will open and walk you through the setup process.

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.

The revenue is paid out to the provider via PayPal, minus a 30% fee. Which in my opinion is a pretty steep service fee.

Note: To charge for calls both sides of the call must be using the latest version of Skype for Windows (3.1.0.134.) Updates are coming for the other clients.

[Skype Prime™ Beta — introducing the global expertise marketplace]

Tags: skype, skype prime, skypeprime, tech support