Comments on: Attention Wal-Mart customers, Skype now in aisle voice http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:15:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Cory http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102931 Cory Fri, 18 May 2007 19:13:52 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102931 <p>I think if they are going to appeal to the Walmart demographic they need to start doing some cross promotions with Nascar or better yet, American Idol. Shelf space alone I don't think will translate into meaningful sales for Skype via this channel.</p> <p>They should have an American Idol skinned version of Skype, downloadable on the American Idol website, where they automatically populate the call-in numbers for the contestants in the Skype buddy list each week, so it's a 1 click call for he millions of people who watch that show.</p> I think if they are going to appeal to the Walmart demographic they need to start doing some cross promotions with Nascar or better yet, American Idol. Shelf space alone I don’t think will translate into meaningful sales for Skype via this channel.

They should have an American Idol skinned version of Skype, downloadable on the American Idol website, where they automatically populate the call-in numbers for the contestants in the Skype buddy list each week, so it’s a 1 click call for he millions of people who watch that show.

]]> By: --don http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102923 --don Mon, 14 May 2007 17:43:40 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102923 <p>This is huge for Skype. They want a piece of the long distance pie. I think because they don't offer internet access they are better off w/o 911 service. Too much headache.</p> This is huge for Skype. They want a piece of the long distance pie. I think because they don’t offer internet access they are better off w/o 911 service. Too much headache.

]]> By: jccodez http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102925 jccodez Mon, 14 May 2007 17:02:58 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102925 <p><</p> <

]]> By: Nick Hawkins http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102926 Nick Hawkins Mon, 14 May 2007 16:01:02 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102926 <p>You know it's a sign when your technology is hitting mainstream when it shows up on the shelves at Walmart.</p> You know it’s a sign when your technology is hitting mainstream when it shows up on the shelves at Walmart.

]]> By: Libran Lover http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102927 Libran Lover Mon, 14 May 2007 15:58:58 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102927 <p>The only thing keeping me from switching to Skype right now is the lack of 911 service, and to a lesser extent, lack of number portability. Otherwise, their value proposition is awesome, compared to other VoIP service providers!</p> The only thing keeping me from switching to Skype right now is the lack of 911 service, and to a lesser extent, lack of number portability. Otherwise, their value proposition is awesome, compared to other VoIP service providers!

]]> By: Marc Beharry http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102928 Marc Beharry Mon, 14 May 2007 15:26:35 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102928 <p>I like it!</p> <p>The big phone companies have been gouging us for years.</p> <p>Between mobile service costs and long distance they have made too much money.</p> <p>And I used to work for a few of them, so I have really seen it...</p> I like it!

The big phone companies have been gouging us for years.

Between mobile service costs and long distance they have made too much money.

And I used to work for a few of them, so I have really seen it…

]]> By: Robert Dewey http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102930 Robert Dewey Mon, 14 May 2007 14:47:33 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102930 <p>Correction (to my post): You need SkypeIn, so you're looking at $5-$6/mo total. Still not bad.</p> Correction (to my post): You need SkypeIn, so you’re looking at $5-$6/mo total. Still not bad.

]]> By: Robert Dewey http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102929 Robert Dewey Mon, 14 May 2007 14:42:36 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102929 <p>Interesting...</p> <p>One problem I see right now is that most consumers aren't technologically inclined enough to mess around with such hardware. It's far easier for them to simply plug in a $9.99 phone into their existing phone line, fed by their $19.99/mo cable-provided VoIP.</p> <p>If the Skype hardware process is cheap and easy enough, then I could see people switching - $2.49/mo, who can beat that?</p> Interesting…

One problem I see right now is that most consumers aren’t technologically inclined enough to mess around with such hardware. It’s far easier for them to simply plug in a $9.99 phone into their existing phone line, fed by their $19.99/mo cable-provided VoIP.

If the Skype hardware process is cheap and easy enough, then I could see people switching - $2.49/mo, who can beat that?

]]> By: Andy Beal http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102924 Andy Beal Mon, 14 May 2007 13:51:09 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102924 <p>I wonder how much of a difference this will make to the growth of Skype. I've seen Skype phones in my local Wal-Mart (and bought one) for more than a year now, so Skype may not get much more from this deal.</p> I wonder how much of a difference this will make to the growth of Skype. I’ve seen Skype phones in my local Wal-Mart (and bought one) for more than a year now, so Skype may not get much more from this deal.

]]> By: O.O. http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102922 O.O. Mon, 14 May 2007 09:15:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102922 <p>Hey Om,</p> <p>It's 4:14am in Bentonville, Arkansas. I'm curious as to when this news was released. Also, are there any details on the specs of the devices?</p> <p>O.O.</p> Hey Om,

It’s 4:14am in Bentonville, Arkansas. I’m curious as to when this news was released. Also, are there any details on the specs of the devices?

O.O.

]]> By: fo.unta.in http://gigaom.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102921 fo.unta.in Mon, 14 May 2007 09:08:23 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/walmart-skype/#comment-102921 <p>911 is a huge issue. Is Skype working on it?</p> 911 is a huge issue. Is Skype working on it?

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