Net telephone service Skype Technologies is set to make its first appearance in a U.S. retail store.

The Luxembourg-based Net telephony company, founded by the people behind the Kazaa peer-to-peer service, is expected to announce on Monday that it has struck a partnership with consumer electronics chain RadioShack.

More than 3,000 RadioShack locations nationwide on Monday will begin offering the Skype Starter Kit, which includes the software that enables a customer to use Skype's free computer-to-computer telephone service, a headset and 30 minutes of Skype's premium service, with which a user can call a landline or cell phone, company executives said. The move is an attempt by Skype, the world's largest provider of voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, to introduce its service to mainstream America. Before this deal, U.S. consumers could only get Skype service by downloading the software from the Internet. "Skype has grown rapidly among early adopters, and this partnership with RadioShack will bring Skype to the mass market," said Saul Klein, Skype's vice president of global marketing. ...

full article at http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5961010.html

Radio Shack....YUCK!!!

Skype you want to get into Best Buy, not Radio Shack. Radio Shack is the bastard step child of technology stores. Im sure if you were to take a U.S. consumer poll of technology stores Radio Shack would come in last. 1st. Best Buy, 2nd. Circuit City, 3rd CompUSA(possibly)....I dont even know where Radio Shack would fall on a such a scale.

Radio Shack...YUCK!!! Why Skype, your so much more sexier then Radio Shack?

You need to follow Vonage's lead and let Linksys sell Skype via their products....like the CIT200 and hopefully a Linksys router with Skype built in.

Chaser

[quote]Radio Shack would come in last. 1st. Best Buy, 2nd. Circuit City, 3rd CompUSA(possibly)....I dont even know where Radio Shack would fall on a such a scale. [/quote]

I agree with your ranking - but Radio Shack has one thing that the others do not: availability. They have outlets in every small town across America. For many locations, the only local source of technology is the locally owned Radio Shack franchise.

Hey floydj!

Yes. You make some good points. Radio Shack have excellent distribution in America. That is good for Skype. Gets Skype in at the street level.

I know RS has bad karma. I left HP to manage the fisrt RS Computer Centre in Vancouver, BC in 83. But I am glad I did. Yes, I sold trash 80's!!! Fond memories.

Tandy, sold the Canadian arm of RS to Circuit City last year. I hope they pick up the Skype Start-up kit.

RS know how to move product. It is a partnership that is good for Skype. Skype needs help in America, big time.

Regards,

Bill

Radio Shack has done alot for Sprint and Verizon with selling/spreading those services to the masses. I think that will be a good move. Best Buy and Circuit City also would be a good move.

That's right, RS has a big stake in the marketing of cell phones. They're also starting to sell iPods which are starting to acquire telephony functions. The days of RS selling their own [cheap] brand disappeared years ago. These are all mainline brands and Skype will do well to become associated with them. BTW, I owned two TRS80's back in the day, and loved them.

One other thing: in just a year or two cellular voice networks and wireless data networks will have become almost indistinguishable. Skype could fit into that scene very easily. Imagine a mobile WIFI/WIMAX network where VOIP (Skype in particular) is handling voice rather than a "cell phone". It's even possible that cellular voice networks could be entirely superceded by Skype over wireless IP. In anticipation of that competition, cellular companies are already selling "wireless broadband". I've been meaning to try it out with Skype (EVDO from Sprint). It's just a matter of plugging the cellphone or a PC Card into my computer and logging onto the Internet.

The problem here with getting into Best Buy, Circuit City, etc is there is no incentive for them to have Skype. If one could buy Skype credits at best buy, etc, then there would be a profit incentive. I think many who are using Skype Out in US would buy a $10, $20 etc; card at these stores, then enter a code at Skype and their credits would be updated. Of course Skype would have to update their software to do this, but this would help alleviate some of the problems people are having using pay pal to buy more credits. A simple solution that would provide more profits to both Skype and the stores. I do not think Skype has quite figured out the US consumer.

[quote=floydj][quote]Radio Shack would come in last. 1st. Best Buy, 2nd. Circuit City, 3rd CompUSA(possibly)....I dont even know where Radio Shack would fall on a such a scale. [/quote]

I agree with your ranking - but Radio Shack has one thing that the others do not: availability. They have outlets in every small town across America. For many locations, the only local source of technology is the locally owned Radio Shack franchise.[/quote]

Totally agree Floydj with your comments on availabilty. 3000 stores is a hell of an outlet at street level and all those flyers with special offers must have a huge potential audience.

Folks that are buying Skype are those with broadband in most cases. Are you saying those with broadband in small towns have bought all of their equipment at the local Radio Shack? Or are they going to the nearest Wal-Mart...???

Check out

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp...CatId=&kw=skype

for pricing.

Floyd Johnson

[quote] bought all of their equipment at the local Radio Shack? Or are they going to the nearest Wal-Mart...???[/quote]

All - possilbly
Most - not unlikely
Some - probably

The Radio Shack franchise has been in town for a number of years and has built up a reputation and relationship with the local community. Given that many locals will prefer to support the local economy, they would certainly give some of their business to the local store.

I lived in a couple of small towns - in one the Walmart was 10 miles away, the other was 20 miles away. The local community would much prefer to do business, in both cases, with the local Radio Shack store. I did too. Though I did buy my first computer (A TRS-80 Model 1) via an e-mail outlet. Software all came from the local Radio Shack store.

floydj