Oct 30: Skype which led us to connect with the other Skype users free of cost has come up with a joint venture with mobile operator 3, to provide a phone that allows free calls to its customer.
The 3 Skypephone is a new handset with 3G features that allows low cost or free calls to other Skype users.
These handsets come for $179 having a specific button that shows up the Skype contact list to make calls or send instant message for free with monthly plans starting at $29 include 4000 minutes of free Skype to Skype calls and 10,000 free SMSs with regular voice call and SMS allowance.
However, people who are not logged in to Skype will be charged standard calling rates while calling from 3Skype network.
Michael van Swaaij, Global CEO of Skype said that this is going to be first such deal with mobile operators and also for the first time a mobile device has been built around Skype, rather than an application.
“Skype calling has been made much easier than it used to be in the past. Plus it is free to make Skype calls it just depends which way you make them. Now, by allowing people to make free Skype calls to anyone else Skype in the free world it opens up a world of opportunity for us and mobile operators,” he further added.
This is the first time an operator has offered such a device to make free calls over the internet from a mobile.
The 3 Skypephone will be available this year in Ireland, the UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Macau and Sweden. Skype to Skype calls will be free on the 3 Skypephone as long as users are on contract.
Chris Lewis, Skype's head of Business Development and marketing for Asia-Pacific said, "You can make free mobile calls to Skype users globally whether they are sitting at their PC in Japan or using a Skype-certified cordless phone in Hong Kong or their 3 Skype phone in the UK”.
He claimed that there were 246 million registered Skype users globally, 3 million of which were in Australia. However, he could not say how many of those registered Australians were active users.
3 CEO, Nigel Dews said, “We're embracing voice over IP, it is the future and we want to be part of it.”
"People like using Skype and enjoying free calls on their PC, so why not let Skype free on the mobile and in a way that's really easy to use," 3 CEO, Nigel Dews, added.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is cost effective utilizing single network to carry voice and data. A call from VoIP to VoIP is usually free of cost.
Skype a pioneer in this area had allowed its users to make telephone calls from their computer to other Skype users free of charge, or to landlines and cell phones for a fee. Other features include instant messaging, file transfer, short message service, video conferencing etc.
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