The largest VoIP service provider, Skype, has announced the addition of a ringtone service to its offerings after signing a partnership with Warner.
This is a commercial service that will incur additional charges for users opting for Skype’s premium services. Each 30-second music clip will be priced at $1.50 and will function like any other standard ringtone.
The ringtone market is attracting attention from major players in the recording industry, with some analysts indicating that approximately two-thirds of the $1.1 billion in digital music profits could come from this lucrative segment.
The music clips will be available as an option to users within the next two months. The entire music library from Warner Music, which is currently accessible to mobile phone manufacturers, will also be available on Skype, starting with the iconic artist Madonna.
Tracks from Madonna’s new album, “Confessions on a Dancefloor,” will be prioritized in Skype’s online library when the new service officially launches. Already, ringtones from this album are available through Sprint Nextel’s service.
Following its significant steps to expand market share, such as collaborations with eBay and D-Link, Skype is now partnering with Warner. Skype is gradually dominating the promising VoIP market that other giants, like Microsoft, are eyeing.
SNOW FROST
