Skype has rolled out a new business funded click-to-call product and a strategic partnership with European Directories that will turn online search for businesses into calls for businesses. The company said that its business funded click-to-call makes it easier and free for consumers who are using Skype to call local businesses they search for anywhere on the internet.
According to the company, a call that is funded by a business will be highlighted with a blue ‘Free Call’ button that appears anywhere online where a phone number is displayed, including search engines, internet yellow pages or local search sites. This automatic phone number recognition allows Skype’s more than 480 million registered users to call a participating business for free.
Calls that are not funded by a business can still be connected via Skype, but at a low cost charged to the Skype user, the company added.
The company claims that the partnership with European Directories will offer consumers free calls to up to 700,000 businesses across Europe. Participating European Directories advertisers will have the opportunity to be highlighted with Skype’s blue ‘Free Call’ button anywhere their number appears on the internet.
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Don Albert, GM and VP of Americas and Advertising for Skype, said: Partnering with European Directories is a key part of bringing our new business funded click-to-call product to market and providing advertisers with solutions that can help them connect with customers in new and innovative ways.
“When a call is free and only one click away, we believe it can have a positive impact for a business because there are fewer barriers to start a call. That can result in more qualified leads, more engagement, and possibly a higher rate of conversion for a business.
Cornel Riklin, CEO of European Directories, said: By working with Skype, European Directories can now offer its advertisers leads from yet another source in addition to existing channels such as mobile applications, print publications, our own online search sites and those of our partners.
“The new Skype ‘Free Call’ button will turn search for businesses into calls and leads for businesses. It will make our advertisers stand out from competition everywhere on the internet, including in search engines.
