At the CES conference in Las Vegas yesterday, Skype and Nokia announced a collaboration to develop a new mobile Skype experience on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, introduced earlier this week.

The collaboration builds on the familiarity and richness of desktop Skype and makes it mobile. The Nokia N800's small size and easy wireless connectivity frees Skype users from their desktop, allowing Skype conversations to take place anywhere, as long as there is an available wireless Internet connection. Packed with features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth phone connectivity, hands-free properties, webcam, media support and messenger keyboard, the Nokia N800 makes Skype conversations captivating experience at home, at work and on the move.

"Skype is the recognized leader of Internet communications with over 136 million registered users worldwide," said Ari Virtanen, Vice President, Convergence Products, Nokia. "Nokia's new N800 Internet Tablet is designed for mobile Internet. Together, we can develop communications devices beyond expectations."

"Skype is very happy to be partnering with Nokia," said Eric Lagier, Director, Business Development, Hardware and Mobile, at Skype. "Working with the leading mobile-handset manufacturer puts us in a unique position to get Skype to the mobile masses. With the introduction of the Nokia N800, we are positioning Skype as the centerpiece of Internet conversations on this WiFi-centric device. The Nokia N800 is an excellent platform for taking Skype conversations beyond the PC."

The first implementation on the Nokia N800 is expected to be made available for download by the end of the first half of 2007.