Skype says the goal of the program is "to establish a qualified network of channel partners in the United States that can assist companies interested in using Skype to improve their productivity and optimise their communication costs."

It is seeking value added resellers and systems integrators that it will certify to provide installation, configuration and support services to its business customers.

Skype said that: "Any plans to roll-out to other countries will be announced once established." A spokeswoman for  Skype Asia Pacific told iTWire: we do not have further plans beyond the US to share at this point.

Qualified channel partners will receive training, sales and marketing collaterals, customer tracking and reporting tools, as well as support and account management from Skype. Skype says that once trained and certified they will be equipped to provide their own consulting, installation, configuration, maintenance and support services to business customers who wish to use Skype's business solutions, including the Skype Business Client, Skype Manager and Skype Connect.

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Channel partners will not receive any margin on Skype services. Skype tells prospective partners: "Business customers will continue to purchase Skype products directly from the Skype website in the same way as they do now'¦Skype has relied for some time on this global direct sales model via the web and therefore we do have direct accounts'¦ Skype does not classify its channel partners as resellers because there is no reselling of Skype by the channel partners (either Skype products or Skype credit). End customers will be required to purchase Skype products and Skype credit directly from Skype."

It adds: "The services that you provide to configure, install, support and manage Skype products should provide you with upfront and ongoing revenues from your customer'¦By selling Skype certified hardware accessories (for example, headsets, video conference equipment, IP-PBX systems) channel partners will be able to generate incremental hardware sales revenue."

Skype's US subsidiary, Skype Inc, has already enrolled and trained 20 US VARs and system integrators that have started marketing and selling their own services and third-party hardware and software for use with Skype's business solutions.

Skype says it will also work with manufacturers of the IP-enabled PBX and UC systems that have already been certified as interoperable with Skype Connect to introduce the Skype channel partner program to their existing channel partners.