Skype Phone Service Joins MySpace

MySpace is adding Skype Web calls to the U.S. social-networking Web site’s instant-messaging feature to create the world’s largest online voice network.

The revenue-sharing collaboration, to begin next month, is intended to gain more users and broaden the distribution of their two services, the companies said Tuesday.

MySpace users will be able to call people through MySpace’s instant messaging. MySpace users also will be able to link to Skype’s network and integrate features of their profile into Skype.

MySpace claims 110 million unique users visit its site each month and that 8 million actively use its IM service. About 220 million people have downloaded Skype’s software, the Luxembourg-based eBay Inc. unit said.

Separately, MySpace said Tuesday it reached a deal to license music and video content from Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc., the world’s second-largest recorded music company.

Under the deal’s terms, Sony BMG — a joint venture of Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG — will receive an undisclosed share of advertising and licensing revenue when Sony BMG artists put their songs and music videos onto their MySpace profile pages, the companies said.

MySpace agreed to promote the music company’s artists throughout the site.

Many musical acts maintain MySpace pages to promote themselves and interact with fans.