Free Skype calls on mobile phones
by Bidhata Rai
Gadgets have become an unalienable part of our lives and the handier the better. What can be better than to have a mobile phone and be able to make free calls?
Nokia, one of the world’s largest mobile phone makers will soon incorporate Skype into its N-series Smartphone devices by August. The announcement was made at the Mobile World Congress.
The new revolution will provide 3G and WLAN (Wireless LAN) customers with free Skype-to-Skype voice calls.
"I have to make lots of overseas calls and I am looking forward to using Skype in Nokia," says Ram Tamang, 45, of Hounslow West, London.
The move is a relief for many who see this as a way to cut down on costs, but is also helpful to those who regularly use Skype on their computers.
Competitors beware
Nokia’s cooperation with Skype will bring this service to the masses of mobile users with established Wi-Fi networks and put phone companies that currently see lucrative mobile phone bills in jeopardy.
Nokia and Skype signed a deal to make the software dynamic and to allow users to see other Skype users who are online and use instant messaging.
This new deal is all set to give Hutchison Whampoa's 3 mobile, the only Skype provider in UK so far, a run for its money.
"The Nokia announcement is really a major milestone. When we partner with manufacturers we are able to deliver a superior experience," Skype Chief Executive Josh Silverman told Reuters.
Can service providers afford this?
With the help of Skype, it is possible to make calls over the Internet via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Using a Skype VoIP phone, you can make a call to another Skype user for free.
Mobile operators fear loss of revenue through consumers paying little or nothing for calls.
However, according to Silverman, 3 has actually seen its average revenue increase by 20 percent for Skype users. Skype had 405 million registered users in total at the end of 2008.
