It seems that eBay-owned Skype has the knack of always living up to its promises – at least if its new deal with mobile giant Nokia is anything to go by.
Skype is linking up with Nokia to embed its calling software in the Finnish company’s new handsets, writes Aftab Bashir for VoIP.biz-news.
The pair announced the deal at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday.
It will see Nokia integrating Skype on its N97 handset by Q3 2009, and also in other N-series devices.
Skype is to be integrated in handset address books and will give users access to online Skype contacts.
Callers will also be able to use Skype’s instant-messaging client.
N97 owners will be able to make low-cost and free calls over the internet, using either Wi-Fi or 3G.
Skype-to-Skype calls are free while calls to mobile phones and landlines from Skype will be charged at low rates, according to the company.
Nokia isn’t alone in announcing this type of arrangement at MWC – Sony Ericsson has also revealed that it is to add new Skype panels in its Xperia X1 Windows Mobile device.
The panel will open Skype on the Xperia and offer presence, IM and calling functionality.
The addition of Skype in handsets is being seen as a boon for international travelers as well as domestic users.
As with many other VoIP providers, Skype is intent on driving down rates for international mobile calling.
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