Lycos Launches VoIP, MP3 Offering

Lycos announced Monday that it would offer a VoIP product that would combine IM, Video Chat, Video-on-Demand, and an MP3 player. The application will provide free PC-to-PC phone and video calls, and allow the user to receive free incoming calls from landline and mobile phones.

Customers would also receive 100 free PC-to-Phone minutes, with the opportunity to earn more through special promotions, Lycos said. The service is being offered through a partnership with VoIP company Globe7.

Multimedia that would be accessible through the client will include movie trailers, news and sports videos among others. The company said it will also provide its users a free U.S. phone number, free fax and free voicemail services.

"We are in a very unique position to now provide this audio and video distribution platform to our millions of independent content creators throughout the Lycos Network," Lycos CEO Alfred Tolle said in prepared remarks.

There is no monthly charge for the product. Instead, consumers must agree to promotional offers for services or visit advertisers in order to earn minutes. Lycos, however, would offer an option to make calls without registering at a cost of 1-cent per minute.

Currently, the service is only available for Windows 2000 and XP, although plans are in place for Linux, Mac OS, Palm OS and Pocket PC support in the near future.