Verizon Wireless and Skype today have announced Skype Mobile will be available to Verizon subscribers beginning tomorrow, the 25th of March.
The service, reads the press release will “use the Verizon Wireless voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls, providing Verizon Wireless customers with a superior experience and top-notch call quality.”
Skype Mobile will be available for devices running Android as well as BlackBerrys either at www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile or at www.skype.com/go/mobile. Visit the latter link through a PC and enter your mobile number to receive a text with a link. Both Android and BlackBerry users will also be able to download the app via their respective app stores.
The main advantages of using Skype Mobile are the following:
* make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype contact around the globe;
* send and receive unlimited instant messages with other Skype users;
* manage the Skype contact list directly from the mobile application; and
* call international phone numbers at competitive Skype calling rates.
Says Russ Shaw, general manager of Mobile for Skype: “Skype mobile will deliver an unparalleled experience for Verizon Wireless customers. It will be the best way to enjoy unlimited conversations with Skype contacts all over the world at no extra cost. In addition, Skype mobile will allow people to easily and inexpensively make calls to landlines and mobiles abroad at Skype rates.”
Result for: instant messages
After just one year of availability, Sony has announced that it will be dropping its European PSP wireless communication package Go!Messenger.
The package, which was jointly developed by Sony and BT, allows users to send voice, video and instant messages to other Go!Messenger users from any wireless Internet connection, and will work over wireless Internet - including that provided by the 2,500-plus BT Openzone hotspots around UK city centers.
The service, although interesting, lacked users, and Sony decided it was time pull the plug.
“Although Go! Messenger brought innovative communications features to the PSP community, the service has not developed the base of users that we were hoping for,” noted Sony.
“Although it proved a popular concept, achieving a significant number of registrations, it didn’t gain the number of regular users that BT and SCEE were aiming for.”
Result for: instant messages
Truphone, a new freeware application for the iPod Touch, promises to use the media player’s built in Wi-Fi to turn the device into a virtual mobile phone where owners can make phone calls using Skype.
Although you can currently only make calls to other iPod or iPhone users using the app, the developers say calls to landlines will be in place in the near future.
Geraldine Wilson, Truphone’s CEO, added: “There are a slew of new features we’re rolling out for the iPod Touch that will let users call landlines, Skype users or send instant messages. We’re talking weeks, not months, before these go live.”
“We’ve decided to focus on devices that are wi-fi enabled and have an apps-store. For the consumer, there has to be an easy way of downloading an application.”
