Skype Adds Presence Feature To VoIP App

Skype on Thursday unveiled a presence feature in its Internet telephony software that a company could add to its Web site so users could see who is available for phone calls.

The feature, called SkypeWeb, has been integrated into more than 50 Web sites, the Luxembourg company said. Salesforce.com Inc., for example, has added the feature to its online customer relationship management software, so subscribers have the option of using it to know when their contacts and colleagues are available.

Other sites using the feature include Bebo, a social networking site in the United Kingdom; DBA.DK, a Danish classifieds portal; and Lunarstorm, a Swedish/U.K. community site, said Skype, which is owned by online marketplace EBay Inc.

To use the feature, Web site managers can opt in using the tools menu on their Skype application and create their own presence button by copying and pasting a few lines of HTML and script, Skype said.