The latest Skype Beta introduces a new feature that allows service providers to charge either a flat rate fee or high per minute charges which are deposited to their PayPal account.

The service will work for video calls as well as voice calls expanding the type of services that could be offered using the feature. This integeration between PayPal and Skype is one of the few we have seen come out of the eBay acquisition of the peer to peer voice provider.

The feature is not backwards-compatible and both callers must be using the latest Skype (3.1.0.134 beta for Windows or newer), bvut the company has committed toroll-out the feature to the other platofrms.

Once charged, the fees for service can be withdrawn from the service provideer's PayPal account., So while the system offers a significant advbantage over traditional fixed line and mobile Permium services which are country dependent, the Skype Prime is a global system but you must reside in ta country where you are able to withdraw funds from PayPal.

To become a Skype Prime call provider you simply open the “Tools” menu and click “Earn money with Skype Prime”, and follow the on-screen instructions.

There's also a Skype Prime FAQ .

When you call someone who is a Skype Prime call provider, the provider can initiate a “payment request”, so that the call start as free, but is then switched 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.

Skype keeps a 30 per cent fee from thje total call revenue for providing the service.

Skype will not permit you to use the Skype Prime service to provide any of the following services:
• Content or Service, which is adult, sexual , pornographic or paedophiliac;
• Content or Service which is offensive or promotes or legitimates racism, revisionism, or any other form of discrimination;
• Content or Service relating to the offering of gaming, betting and lotteries;
• Content or Service provoking violence
• Content or Service provoking or encouraging reprehensible or illegal actions.
• Content or Service relating to health and therapy
• Content or Service relating to legal or tax advice