Verizon Wireless to Offer Skype on Smartphones

At a press conference at Mobile World Congress, Verizon Wireless and Skype announced a deal to bring Skype to Verizon Wireless smartphones starting next month.


This will allow Verizon Wireless users with data plans to call around the globe with Skype, while also giving hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using Verizon Wireless.


Specifically, Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans can use Skype mobile make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user; call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates; send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and remain always connected with the ability to see friends' online presence.


Initial devices supported include the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR.


"Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game. For Verizon Wireless' more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we're effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe. And you're not limited to using a single type of phone; we'll have nine smartphones ready right at launch in March," said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.
http://www.verizonwireless.com
http://www.skype.com