Skype is in Verizon Company Stores

Verizon's go-to-market teams had Skype in place last week.

• Employees were oriented. Six months' ago these same employees had never tried Skype. Now they know a few talking points.
• Demo Blackberry and Android phones had Skype installed and easy to find
• Local test accounts with contacts were created for each demo phone
• Information cards for the phones were updated with Skype listed as a feature of each phone (right above Bluetooth!)
• A small Skype sign was with the phones
• The in-store phone selector software now lists Skype as one feature among many.
• Inventory comes with a shortcut to install the latest version of Skype mobile for Verizon, a thin client.

Seven things to improve:

1. Preload the whole Skype client, not just a download link. Conversion rates are much higher with a full preload.
2. International positioning. "Call your family" in Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, Ethiopian and Portuguese (my neighborhood) on store-front posters.
3. Unbury Skype. Show Skype on the first page in the phone selector.
4. Enroll. "What Skype name would you like to use with your new phone?" in the check-out procedure.
5. Top up. Accept payments for Skype credits in the store.
6. Educate. Data sheets and flyers for customers to take, explaining Skype, Skype mobile, Skype To Go, Calling Plans, and how Skype mobile is different from Skype on PCs or iSkype.
7. Front of store posters showing video calling (whoops, not this year)

Great rollout to the company-owned stores. Now to check the reseller channel.

tags: skype, verizon, mobile, usa, smartphones, android, droid, blackberry, retail, news

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