March 28,2006 By Diana Arterian

Lycos, Inc. has announced the launch of Lycos Phone, a VoIP softphone internet application. Through Lycos' partnership with Globe7, they were able to produce a program that brings full multimedia support for music and video for both professional and independent purposes.

On their website, consumers are able to download a free white label VoIP platform, which will enable them to convert their laptops and desktops into alternative phones. The Lycos Phone enables users to make calls and video calls from PC to PC, free of charge, as well as receive calls from mobile and landline phones from anywhere in the world.

"This partnership with Globe7 allows Lycos to team with a best-of-breed global platform, leveraging Globe7's real-time communications infrastructure to provide other innovative services like Internet Protocol television," says CEO of Lycos, Inc., Alfred Tolle. "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."

The company says the service provides advertisers opportunities. "Today, Lycos Phone supports traditional IAB advertising within the application and offers users the ability to opt in to special offers in exchange for free talk time," says Lycos Chief Operating Officer Brian Kalinowski. "Additionally, integration of Lycos content and services within the application should drive traffic to services at Lycos that Lycos can monetize through traditional channels."

Currently, Globe7 supports Windows 2000 and XP. Globe7 is working so that it will support Linux, Mac OS, Palm OS and Pocket PC in the near future.