Nokia, the world’s largest handset maker, and voice-over-Internet company Skype have also released a service for the Finnish company’s Symbian-based smart phones, which will give users access to Skype via a mobile data connection.
The Skype for Symbian service allows users to make free Skype-to-Skype calls internationally, save money on regular international calls and to share files including pictures and video.
Luxembourg-based Skype, which is 30% owned by eBay Inc., has grown its footprint in the telecom industry as operators look to boost sales of expensive data plans to offset lower voice traffic.
Last month, U.S.-based telecom operator Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc, said it will launch a Skype application in March which enables free domestic and cheap international calls for users who subscribe to a data service plan.
Verizon Wireless hopes that its Skype service, which will be available with a number of devices including phones based on Google Inc.’s Android and Research In Motion Ltd.’s Blackberry, will spur adoption of smartphones with pricier voice and data plans.
It has no restrictions on its customers using Skype, but is looking to introduce a range of tariffs to suit VoIP users and non-VoIP users to achieve a fair balance. But there is little impact on voice traffic overall as people tend to use VoIP services to make calls they might not previously have made, such as long-distance to friends and relatives living abroad.
Skype for Symbian service is compatible with any Nokia device running the latest version of the mobile platform, including the N97 and E72 smartphones. Skype will soon make the service available for other Symbian phones from vendors including Sony Ericsson.
