Now It’s MySpace + Skype

Social network MySpace has joined with Skype to offer free online calls to members.

Perhaps it was inevitable that social networking and VoIP would join forces. However, the announcement of a deal between MySpace and Skype seems to have taken people by surprise.

MySpace has 110 million global users, and Skype (which was bought by eBay for afigure the company has said might be overvalued) has 220 million.

The deal, for which no financial figures were released, mans that MySpace users will be able to make free online calls toothers MySpace or Skype users as part of the MySpace Instant Messaging feature, without downloading any additional software. Calls to landlines and cell phones, as well as other options, will not befree.

Those whose profiles are set to private will only be able to receive calls from people on their friends list.

In a joint press release, the companies said, “With morethan 110 million monthly active MySpace users and 220 million Skype registered users around the world, this partnership connects two of the most popular communications platforms on the Internet tocreate the world’s largest online, voice-connected community.”  The service is set to begin next month.