TECHCRUNCH
MARK HENDRICKSON
3 APRIL 08
BitWine
started off in late 2006 as a place where people could find experts to answer their questions over Skype for a consulting fee.
The company has since realized that not everyone in its target market, the United States, has installed Skype or even owns a microphone. So it has taken steps to liberate itself from Skype while still providing the Skype plugin as an option.
Users can now engage experts through a browser-based instant messaging application built from the ground up by BitWine. This app not only makes it easier for consulting dialogs to start; it also keeps track of the time that has passed in a given session. Experts can charge their clients either by the minute or a simple flat fee. Clients pay by PayPal and the money gets sent to experts as soon as the sessions end.