Microsoft is trying to find new ways to monetize its vastly popular product, Skype. Naturally, the best way to monetize an online product is with online ads and that is precisely what Microsoft is adopting. For now, the ads are to be restricted to such members who either don’t use  Skype Credit or use Skype for Windows.

And as if to complement the news ads on Skype and to show how powerful a revenue stream can this be for Microsoft, the company has released Skype stats which, we must say, are quite impressive.

According to the stats revealed by Microsoft, Skype had more than 145 million active users back in 2011! The average time of a Skype session is 13 minutes. What is quite interesting is that a majority of Skype users comprise of females, with females accounting for 54% of the overall user base.

Also, some 34% of Skype users are college graduates or those with higher education. The one number that makes Microsoft very hopeful of its Skype ads strategy is that 78% of Skype users have shopped online during the last 30 days. This essentially means that advertisers can rest assured that their ads are being directed at an audience which is hooked to the web and does make online purchases.

Currently, Microsoft isn’t including Mac Skype users or mobile Skype users, so we can assume that for now, the ads will be rolled out to a limited number of Skype users. Also, some have speculated that currently, the ads are viewable only to Skype users in U.S. and that this figure is pegged at 41 million which is huge! Essentially, by rolling out these stats, Microsoft has told prospective Skype advertisers that Skype has a huge reach in the online audience.

Source: Microsoft

Courtesy: TNW

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