14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile-phone carrier Verizon Wireless and Skype announced on Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona a partnership that would result in the inclusion of Skype into Verizon's smartphones come March 2010. According to the duo, the new Skype mobile product will offer additional enhancements to users with a data plan, via offering them a new option when it comes to calling anywhere around the world. At the same time, the solution will offer Skype users on the globe the possibility to chat with friends, family and business colleagues in the US on Verizon's network.
The two companies announced the creation of an exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering put in place for Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users, enabling them to: - make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network; - 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.
The best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones with data plans will be those to benefit first from the new offering, and the list of such devices that will receive Skype mobile include BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630 smartphones. Moreover, Verizon will also include the solution on the highly popular DROID by Motorola, as well as on the DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR.
John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “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.”
According to Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, users are keen on getting their conversations with them, no matter where they go, including on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. “Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally,” he added. Those interested in learning more on the new Skype mobile for Verizon Wireless smartphones should head over to the carrier's website.